If you were looking for some pressure off the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, you didn’t get it. The Chicago Bears handled the New England Patriots to move to 5-2 on the season. The win climbs them up to second place in an extremely competitive NFC North, and makes this week’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions even more important.
Let’s take a very early look at the NFC playoff picture through six weeks and “Thursday Night Football.”
NFC North standings:
- Vikings (5-0)
- Bears: (5-2)
- Packers: (4-2)
- Lions: (3-2)
Chicago is looking like a Super Bowl contender
with an offense that is much more under control with Caleb Williams under center, and a very disruptive defense. However, both of their losses have come against divisional foes, which could be a huge tiebreaker factor when it comes to playoff seeding.
Meanwhile, the Vikings will take on the 2-4 Colts Sunday afternoon out of their bye week to try and keep their undefeated season alive. Whoever wins between the Lions and Packers will establish themselves as the third contender in the division.
NFC playoff standings:
Division leaders:
1. San Francisco 49ers (6-0)
2. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
3. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
4. New York Giants (3-2-1)
Wild Card teams (top three advance):
5. Chicago Bears (5-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
7. Detroit Lions (3-2)
8. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
9. Atlanta Falcons (2-4)
10. New Orleans Saints (2-4)
11. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
12. Dallas Cowboys (2-4)
13. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
14. Los Angeles Rams (2-4)
15. Washington Commanders (1-4-1)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)
Currently, the Lions hold the final playoff spot in the NFC. The bad news is that the NFC North is extremely competitive and a loss this week would put them in a serious hole in the division.
The good news is the rest of the NFC is not looking very good. Even if Detroit loses this week, they may keep their spot in the final Wild Card position, because the only team that could catch them—the Seattle Seahawks—is playing the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles, Cowboys, Rams, and Buccaneers have all been massive disappointments. And while there’s enough time for those teams to turn it around, Detroit has a little wiggle room at the moment to figure out some of their own issues.
