NFC North Round-Up: Only 1 Game in Week 14
Josh Frey
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It was a quiet week for the NFC North in Week 14 as only one game took place involving teams within the division. That was a rivalry matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. Even still, there is news to discuss across the division. Here are all the headlines as we head into Week 15.
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The Bears Have NFL’s Toughest Remaining Schedule
With matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills in back-to-back weeks, and then another game against the 10-3 Vikings in Week 18, the Chicago Bears officially have the toughest remaining schedule in terms of opponent record.
You probably won’t find a single Bears fan that is upset about that, either. At 3-10, the Bears currently hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, putting them in prime position to select a star as they continue their rebuild.
Detroit Lions: A Playoff Team?
After the Detroit Lions started the 2022 season with a 1-6 record, perhaps the only person that would have told you we’d be in this position after 14 weeks is Dan Campbell. After defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14, these frisky Lions have now won five of their last six games and sit at 6-7 with four games remaining.
Compound that with the New York Giants falling flat on their faces against the Philadelphia Eagles, and it looks like the Lions have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs this season. As things stand right now, they stand just 1.5 games behind the Giants for that seventh and final playoff seed in the NFC.
Green Bay’s Playoff Hopes Are Bleak
The Packers could begin to hope that they could make the playoffs this year if the Lions fell to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. No cigar, though, as Detroit won, and they now essentially hold a two-game lead over the Packers after Week 14 due to tiebreakers.
Essentially, the Packers need to go 4-0 to close out the season if they want to have a hope at the playoffs. This includes a Week 18 game against those very Lions that could decide the fate of each team.
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.