The Green Bay Packers secured a victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, which was crucial given the tight competition in the NFC North.
With the Minnesota Vikings (5-0) on a bye week, the other teams in the division enjoyed significant wins. This marked the first time since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 that all four teams in a division have at least four wins through Week 6.
**NFC North Standings**
– **Minnesota Vikings:** 5-0
– The Lions have recently achieved convincing victories over the Seahawks (who were 3-0 at the time) and the Cowboys (who had won two straight).
– In contrast, the Bears have won all four of their games against teams with just one win, including the Titans, Panthers, Rams, and Jaguars, who collectively hold a record of 4-18.
– The Packers’ four wins have come against teams with a combined record of 7-15, with their most notable victory against the Colts, who are 3-3 and have beaten Chicago.
**Upcoming Challenges**
How strong is the NFC North? Could it truly be the best division in NFL history, as some claim?
Next week, the Packers will host the Texans (5-1), the Vikings will face the Lions, and the Bears will have a bye. In Week 8, the Bears will take on the rising Commanders (4-2) in Washington. Week 9 will see the Packers host the Lions, while the Lions will visit the Texans in Week 10 during the Packers’ bye. Week 11 will feature the first matchup between the Packers and Bears in Chicago. By the end of November, the schedule includes Lions at Colts, Vikings at Bears, and 49ers at Packers.
**NFC Playoff Standings**
Currently, the Packers sit in eighth place in the NFC, meaning they’re on the fringes of the playoff picture. They are one of nine teams in the conference with a winning record, while only five teams have losing records.
1. Minnesota Vikings: 5-0
2. Atlanta Falcons: 4-2
3. Washington Commanders: 4-2
4. San Francisco 49ers: 3-3
5. Detroit Lions: 4-1
6. Chicago Bears: 4-2
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-2
8. Green Bay Packers: 4-2
9. Philadelphia Eagles: 3-2
10. Dallas Cowboys: 3-3
11. Seattle Seahawks: 3-3
12. Arizona Cardinals: 2-4
13. New Orleans Saints: 2-4
14. New York Giants: 2-4
15. Los Angeles Rams: 1-4
16. Carolina Panthers: 1-5
Despite their 4-2 record, the Packers find themselves in last place in the NFC North. They would be tied for first in the NFC East, South, West, and the AFC North.
“It’s never easy in this league,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur after their 34-13 victory over the Cardinals. “It was great to be back home, and that definitely helped us today. You can’t take anything for granted; you have to earn it. All the preparation from Monday to Saturday is what leads to performances like this on Sunday.”
**Historic Point Differential**
The Buffalo Bills, playing the New York Jets on Monday night, could change the dynamics, but currently, the NFC North teams hold the top four spots in point differential:
– Vikings: +63
– Lions: +60
– Bears: +47
– Packers: +41
– Bills: +36
This might be a first in NFL history. A claim on social media suggested that the last time a whole division swept the top spots in point differential was in 1942, but that year the Lions finished 0-11, so that can’t be accurate.
In 1935, the four-team NFC West, consisting of the Lions, Packers, Bears, and Chicago Cardinals, all had winning records and positive point differentials, but the Giants, who won the NFC East, had a notable Week 1 victory by 35 points and ended up third in the league in differential.
When looking at point differential per game:
– Vikings: +12.6
– Lions: +12.0
– Bears: +7.8
– Bills: +7.2
– Packers: +6.8
**The Asterisk**
The Vikings’ undefeated record is legitimate; they’ve defeated the 49ers, Texans, and Packers, in addition to winning against the Jets in London. Their five victories have come against teams with a combined winning percentage of .552.
