NFC North Round-Up: Lions Avoid Elimination in Week 13, Packers Do Not
Josh Frey
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Week 13 brought another slate of entertaining football across the NFC North, and along the way, the Minnesota Vikings eliminated another contender from the race for the division crown. Here’s a quick breakdown of all the action that took place on Sunday.
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The Bears Continue to Be Owned by Aaron Rodgers
Despite jumping out to an early lead behind 197 total yards from Justin Fields, the Chicago Bears fell to the Green Bay Packers for the eighth consecutive time. It was Green Bay’s first game at Soldier Field since Aaron Rodgers’ declaration that he owned the team after a touchdown scramble in 2021.
This time around, Rodgers didn’t do much with his legs, but he connected with rookie wide receiver Christian Watson for a pair of touchdowns. Watson now has eight touchdown receptions in Green Bay’s last four games. After their 28-19 victory, the Packers remain in contention for a playoff spot, but they still are eliminated from the NFC North.
The Lions Stave off Elimination
With a Minnesota Vikings win and Detroit Lions loss in Week 13, Detroit would have been eliminated from the race for the NFC North crown. However, the Lions staved off elimination for another week by dominating the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 40-16.
The biggest storyline this week in Detroit was that Jameson Williams was activated for this game, but he never saw action in this game. Luckily for the Lions, he was not needed as Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 11 passes for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In order to stay in the hunt following Week 14, though, the Lions will have to beat the Vikings themselves.
The Vikings Become Second Team in Double-Digit Win Club
By defeating the New York Jets on Sunday, the Vikings improved to 10-2, and they join the Eagles as the first two teams in the NFL to surpass the 10-win threshold. The Vikings defense came up with a big stop at the end of the game as safety Cam Bynum intercepted a Mike White pass to seal the 27-22 victory.
It wasn’t all good news, though. For the second time in as many games he’s played, CB Akayleb Evans has entered concussion protocols. He had just missed a pair of games due to concussions prior to this week’s victory. Minnesota now heads on the road to take on the Lions in an attempt to clinch the NFC North.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.