NFC playoff picture: Lions win to jump Packers

All of the NFC North teams are in the playoff picture. It’s that kind of year again. The Detroit Lions vaulted the Green Bay Packers by beating them in Week 7. The Minnesota Vikings are the only undefeated team in the NFL. The Chicago Bears pushed their record to 5-2 on Thursday night. The Lions are 4-2 and the Packers are 4-3.

Currently, all the Wild Card teams are from the NFC North with the Seattle Seahawks just outside.

Let’s take a closer look at the NFC playoff picture after Week 7, with “Monday Night Football” between the Eagles and Cowboys still to come.

NFC North standings after Week 7

1. Minnesota Vikings (6-0)
2. Chicago Bears (5-2)
3. Detroit Lions (4-2)
4. Green Bay Packers (4-3)

The Vikings continue to scoot by with an absolutely punishing defense, but an offense still desperate to find themselves. That makes them vulnerable, but someone has to figure out Brian Flores. All of their last five opponents have been held to 16 points or less. The Lions have the next crack at them, and Jared Goff has generally fared well vs. Minnesota, but last year Flores bested him.

The Chicago Bears continue to look like the most well-rounded team. Their Thursday night win over the Patriots was just as much about their defense than it was Ben Johnson’s offense. But they’ve got a tough matchup in Seattle next week on Monday Night Football.

The Lions are starting to look like a more balanced team, with the defense leading the way to victory against the Packers. While the injuries continue to mount for a Green Bay team that can’t seem to find an offensive identity outside of deep shots.

NFC playoff standings after Week 7

Division leaders:

1. Minnesota Vikings (6-0)
   2. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)
   3. New York Giants (4-2-1)
   4. Carolina Panthers (3-3)

Wild Card race (top three advance)

1. Chicago Bears (5-2)
   6. Detroit Lions (4-2)
   7. Green Bay Packers (4-3)

2. Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
   9. Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
   10. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
   11. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) – Monday Night Football
   12. Dallas Cowboys (2-4) – Monday Night Football
   13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)
   14. New Orleans Saints (2-5)
   15. Arizona Cardinals (2-5)
   16. Washington Commanders (1-4-1)

While the Lions are two game behind in the division, they nearly have a two-game cushion in the Wild Card race. Of the teams behind them, only the Packers and Seahawks have three losses—the other eight teams have at least four. The Lions are also in pretty good standing when it comes to tiebreakers. Their current 3-1 record in conference games is only bested by the Vikings (4-0) and 49ers (4-1), and they haven’t yet dropped a divisional matchup.