Packers: Next five weeks key for every team in the NFC North

It’s not just an important five weeks for the Green Bay Packers, but each team in the NFC North.

The division won’t be won in the next month or so, but we’ll learn a lot about each team.

For the Packers, they enter about as tough a five-game stretch as it gets. Their next five opponents have a combined 23-10-1 record this season. Four of the games are on the road.

But the Packers aren’t the only team in the division with a tough run.

Here’s how the next five weeks looks for each team in the NFC North:

Next five weeks in the NFC North

Packers (3-2-1): at Rams, at Patriots, vs. Dolphins, at Seahawks, at Vikings

Vikings (4-2-1): vs. Saints, vs. Lions, BYE, at Bears, vs. Packers

Bears (3-3): vs. Jets, at Bills, vs. Lions, vs. Vikings, at Lions

Lions (3-3): vs. Seahawks, at Vikings, at Bears, vs. Panthers, vs. Bears

Minnesota gets a bye in Week 10, but must play three division games in the next five weeks. Before that, the Vikings host the red-hot New Orleans Saints who have won five games in a row.

Chicago has now lost consecutive games but has an excellent opportunity to get back on track in the next two weeks against the NY Jets and Buffalo. Beyond that the schedule gets tougher.

The Bears meet the Lions twice in three weeks, including on just four days rest at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. In between they host the division-leading Vikings.

The best case scenario for the Packers here would be each team beating each other.

Not including the Packers, the Lions probably have the toughest schedule in the division.

This week’s home game against Seattle won’t be easy. The Seahawks are fresh off their bye and have been a tough team to beat this season. Following that is a difficult road game against the Vikings.

They then travel to Chicago for the first of two meetings with the Bears, with a home game against the Panthers in between.

The next five opponents present a challenging enough schedule for the Lions as it is, but following this run they host the LA Rams.

While the next five weeks could define Green Bay’s season, each team in the division faces a tough run. The key will be the games being played within the division.

All three of the Packers’ division rivals play each other at least once in the next five weeks. Green Bay only plays one divisional game, at Minnesota in Week 12.

If the Packers can win at least two of these games and enter Week 13 with a record of 5-5-1 or maybe even 6-4-1, they will almost certainly still be in the NFC North race.

The schedule looks much more favorable in the final five weeks of the season. The Packers just need to stay in contention over the next five.