The Packers are on top of the North at 5-2-1, followed closely by the Bears and Lions at 5-3 each and the Vikings at 4-4. It's the only division in the NFL in which every team is .500 or better.

The Green Bay Packers are 5-2-1 and still on top of the NFC North after losing to the Carolina Panthers. Major issues, however, have cast serious doubt on the team’s Super Bowl worthiness.

Not only did the Bears stay afloat in the NFC playoff race, but they also gained some ground in the NFC North. There were some very “Bears-friendly” results on Sunday’s out-of-town scoreboard.

Why, you ask? Well, the Minnesota Vikings are now firmly in the mix. The club went into Ford Field and took down the Detroit Lions, 27-24. On top of simply notching a divisional win, the key development in this game and what makes the victory hold bigger ramifications for the second half was the return of J.J. McCarthy.

Even though the Detroit Lions are second in the NFC North standings, their first home loss must sting. After a 27-24 week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Lions quarterback, Jared Goff, called for accountability across the team.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is a logical trade candidate. The 14-year NFL veteran lost his job to Michael Penix Jr. late in the 2024 season, and despite returning for a spot start in Week 8, Cousins remains No. 2 on the team's depth chart.

The Lions, like the Packers, lost a game they probably should have won, and did so in their own stadium. Detroit was nearly a double-digit favorite against division rival Minnesota on Sunday, but instead allowed the Vikings to grab an early lead and largely control the game from start to finish.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy remains undefeated in the state of Michigan, coming off a triumphant win over the defending NFC North division champion Detroit Lions. It was a long-awaited return for McCarthy,