The Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions have often resided at the top of the NFC North in recent years. At this point in the season, the two clear best teams in the North are the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. Even without former Trojan Caleb Williams, the Bears still look like a top team in the NFC.
Here are my takeaways from Week 3 in the NFC North from each team:
(3-0) Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray returned as the starter, and he pulled off a victory in his official debut. He was not the main reason for the Vikings, as the defense headlined this victory. Kyler Murray and Jordan Addison showed great chemistry as Justin Jefferson went down. If this offense can just be average, this team still has a very high ceiling. This team right now, as it stands,
is the best in the North, not just because of their unblemished record.
(2-1) Chicago Bears
No Caleb Williams, no problem. Ben Johnson and Case Keenum put together a special offensive outing, and it was evident that this team is building something special this season. They looked on a whole other level in comparison to the Philadelphia Eagles. The defense has stacked 2 really great performances as well. The Bears should be at the top of the standings when Caleb Williams returns.
(2-1) Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions' defense still gave up a solid offensive outing to the Jets. Geno Smith played well, and the Jets gave another NFC North team a scare. The Lions were the more talented team, so they were able to pull away, but by no means is this a win that's encouraging for their contending status.
(1-2) Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers this season are in the conversation for one of the worst teams in the league. Adding Micah Parsons may improve their defense, but this team has way too many holes that one player cannot fix. The Packers are headed for a disastrous season at this rate, and more than likely will stay put at the bottom. The Bears could continue their reign of terror on the Packers this season.
Overview
The Bears showed that even without Caleb Williams, they are a team that can beat up on some of the best teams in the league. Ben Johnson put his name in the conversation for one of the best offensive minds in the league this past week. Minnesota still should be considered the best team in the conference for now, but when Caleb comes back, it will be a great battle to watch between the two teams. The Packers and Lions both look way behind Chicago and Minnesota. This division is looking to come down to the Bears vs. Vikings as things currently stand.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: With Caleb Williams' status uncertain, Bears find a way to improve
