Week 12 NFC North predictions: Lions look to pad division lead; Vikings hope to keep pace

It's NFC North on NFC North crime in Week 12 as all four teams engage in inter-divisional battles. 

The Lions will host the Packers on Turkey Day, looking to increase their already significant lead in the division, while the Vikings hope to keep pace with a win over the Bears under the primetime lights. 

Here are our predictions for Week 12 in the NFC North: 

Green Bay Packers (4-6) at Detroit Lions (8-2): The Lions have won three in a row and can take serious command of the NFC North with a win over the Packers. It would mean a season sweep for Detroit and help them pull even further away from the pack (no pun intended), potentially increasing their division lead to nearly insurmountable four games. 

The Packers enter Week 12 hurting on both sides of the ball, with 15 players, many starters, on the injury report. On offense, they'll be without tight end Luke Musgrave (abdominal injury) and running backs Aaron Jones (knee) and Emanuel Wilson (shoulder), but A.J. Dillon (groin) could also miss the Thanksgiving Day tilt. 

Meanwhile, the status of cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder), linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (neck) and defensive lineman Kenny Clark (shoulder) are all up in the air. 

Thursday aims to be a get-right game for the Detroit defense, which has allowed 227 passing yards and 127 rushing yards on average over the last four games. 

Furthermore, QB Jared Goff and the Lions' offense should eat against the short-handed Packers, who averaged over 400 (426) yards of combined offense in the previous four games. 

With a victory on Thursday, the Lions would improve to 9-2 for the first time since 1962, per Stathead. 

PREDICTION: Lions, 38-16 

Chicago Bears (3-8) at Minnesota Vikings (6-5): While the Packers and Lions will start the week, the Bears and Vikings will finish it on "Monday Night Football." The Vikings' miraculous win streak ended in Week 11, but they'll have a golden opportunity to get back in the win column against the Bears, who are also coming off a hard-luck loss. 

Upon QB Justin Fields' return from injury, he looked good, and so did the Bears' offense against the Lions. Fields finished 16-of-23 for 169 yards and a touchdown through the air while also rushing for 104 yards (18 carries). 

He'll have a chance to do damage against the 17th-ranked pass defense (226 YPG) in the NFL, but Fields and the running back duo of D'Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert might run into problems taking on the Vikings' seventh-best rush defense (94 YPG). 

Meanwhile, Vikings QB Josh Dobbs ran out of magic in Week 11 against the Broncos but still had a decent showing, throwing for 221 yards while finishing with two total touchdowns. However, the Vikings could be without RB Alexander Mattison (concussion) and star wideout Justin Jefferson, who has yet to be activated from IR nursing a hamstring injury. 

They'll be up against a Bears defense that forced four turnovers a week ago in a five-point loss to the Lions (31-26). 

The Bears fought hard with the division-leading Lions a week ago and could certainly give the Vikings a challenge at home. Nonetheless, Minnesota has too much to play for to let this one slip away. 

PREDICTION: Vikings, 27-20