GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Here’s the good news: At 6-1 the Detroit Lions are off to their best start in nearly 70 years. The bad news? The race for the NFC North is far from over.
The Detroit Lions sit in first place, not only in the division but in the conference, but all three teams in the North are hot on their tail.
The Lions will put the top spot on the line this Sunday when they travel to Green Bay for their first game against the Packers. The 6-2 Packers would take over first place with a win — half a game ahead of the Lions in the hypothetical standings.
Despite a two-game losing streak, the Vikings still sit at 5-2 and even the 4-3 Bears are only two games back, thanks in part to a heartbreaking loss on a Hail Mary pass Sunday to Washington.
When the NFL expanded its playoff field to 14 teams in 2020, it became possible for all four teams in a division to make the playoffs. It has yet to happen, but the NFC North is making a push.
If the season ended on Monday, Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota would all make the playoffs, and the Bears are only one game behind for the final wild-card spot.
Through eight weeks, the NFC North has the most wins of any division in the league at 21. The AFC West has the second-most at 18. And mind you, Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota are three of the 10 teams that have already had their bye weeks, meaning they have played one less game than the 22 other teams.
The Lions and Packers will square off in Green Bay at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. That game will be televised on Fox. Chicago will travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals (4-4). The Vikings will look to get back on track at home with a Sunday night showdown against the Colts (4-4).