The Detroit Lions got a much-needed bye in Week 6 after a 3-2 start to the season filled with injuries. Their defense could use a massive overhaul, and the offense is good enough to win a Super Bowl, but the Lions need more complementary football.
With the Packers beating the Cowboys on Sunday night, the division is starting to really take shape as one of the best in the NFL.
Where do the Lions stand in the NFC North power rankings after a Week 6 bye?
1. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota got the week off, and it hasn’t really played anyone since the first two weeks of the season, with the Buccaneers struggling, the Dolphins being one of the worst teams in the NFL, and the Saints sitting at 1-5. A 5-0 team in the NFL is still a 5-0 team. It doesn’t really matter who they beat because winning in the NFL isn’t easy.
The Vikings also deserve to be No. 1 because they beat Green Bay and Chicago to begin the year. Don’t be surprised if the Vikings come back down to earth soon.
2. Green Bay Packers
Part of me really wanted to declare the Packers dead after three weeks and a 1-2 start, but all Green Bay has done since is win three straight games, and two have come against potential playoff teams. They’re the only other team in the NFC North with a division win, so that has to put them at No. 2 ahead of the Bears and Lions.
Green Bay beat Chicago 31-7 two weeks ago and then dominated the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football to improve to 4-2 and slide in right behind the Vikings in the North.
Detroit will get a chance to leapfrog the Packers in Week 7.
3. Detroit Lions
Detroit was supposed to win the division this year, and the Lions very well may, but they have a ton of work to do. Dan Campbell’s team got the week off and got to rest up and regroup before facing Green Bay at home on Sunday. That’ll tell us a lot about what this Lions team is capable of.
The Lions have scored the most points in the NFC North, but they have also given up the most points. The offense is elite, but the defense is holding them back.
The two losses came on the road against playoff teams, and the defense gave up a combined 73 points. Something needs to be figured out because the offense is Super Bowl-contention-worthy.
4. Chicago Bears
You know the division is really good when the last-place team in the power rankings is 4-2 and won the NFC North last season. The Bears aren’t quite ahead of the Lions yet, but that could change in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, we won’t see a head-to-head between the two until Nov. 26.
Ben Johnson has a good team on his hands, and they just got Caleb Williams back, but their best win came all the way back in Week 1 against Carolina, and the Bears have lost to two division rivals since then.
Williams raises the ceiling, but the two division losses have to put them at No. 4.
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