Dan Campbell’s 2026 Lions NFC North title push and division race
The Detroit Lions hold a 7-4 record following a 34-27 overtime win against the Giants, keeping them in the hunt for the NFC North title. The division race intensifies as the Chicago Bears rebuild following the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus.
The NFC North race
The Detroit Lions hold a 7-4 record through Week 12 and remain in the hunt for the NFC North title. They secured a 34-27 overtime victory against the New York Giants after Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 80 yards and scored one touchdown. Amon-Ra St. Brown recorded 139 receiving yards on 11 catches, while Jared Goff completed 27 of 42 passes for 331 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Jameis Winston threw for 366 yards and two touchdowns for the Giants, including a receiving touchdown, in the loss to Detroit. Jahmyr Gibbs also reached a long run of 14 yards while David Montgomery added 42 yards on eight carries. Kicker Jack Bates converted four of five field goals for 13 points and punt returner Khari Raymond recorded 33 yards on three returns. The Lions’ season includes a Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers on November 27, followed by matchups against the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers before the year ends. The division race intensifies with a Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Vikings and a final Week 18 contest against the Chicago Bears. Will the Lions manage to win their upcoming divisional matchups to secure the top seed?
The Chicago rebuild
The Chicago Bears lead the division with eight wins after a 31-28 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. Caleb Williams threw three touchdown passes during the win, although he only totaled 212 passing yards and one interception. The team showed a persistent inability to win one-score games. Matt Eberflus was an incompetent head coach for the Bears, and the team fired him on Friday after three seasons in Chicago. His record stands at 14-32, including only three road wins and two division wins. You should note that the Bears’ roster remains in a state of rebuilding after starting the year with significant buzz. Caleb Williams had a receiving touchdown in a different contest, but in this recent win, he threw for 212 yards while tight end Cole Loveland caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Walker added 36 receiving yards and one touchdown, while D’Andre Swift added 40 yards on 10 carries. In their first year under Ben Johnson, the Bears can finish the year on a 2-4 stretch and still have double-digit wins for the first time since 2018. The Bears also travel to face the Green Bay Packers on December 7 and December 20.
Packers, Vikings, and analytics
The Green Bay Packers sit at 7-3-1 and maintain a position in the divisional race after defeating the Minnesota Vikings 23-6. Matt LaFleur keeps the Packers in the hunt for second place because the team holds a one-tie advantage. The Vikings trend toward last place in the NFC North with a 4-7 record following a loss where J.J. McCarthy threw two interceptions and only gained 87 passing yards. The Lions show a 0.0% fourth-down conversion rate across their two NFC North victories. These victories include a 20-17 win over Green Bay on October 25 and a 19-15 win against Minnesota on November 1. The Lions’ defense recorded 50 total tackles. Jack Campbell provided 11 of those tackles, while Aidan Hutchinson recorded one sack. The defensive unit also produced three tackles for loss. Their 3DWN% in divisional play sits at 43.5% while they have scored 50 total touchdowns in these games. The Packers play the Denver Broncos on December 14 and the Baltimore Ravens on December 28.
