Packers: NFC North power rankings ahead of Week 13

The Packers remain on top of the NFC North power rankings.

December football is here and the playoff race is heating up. For the Green Bay Packers, they are potentially just a couple of wins away from a home game in the postseason.

We’ve seen some great NFC North races in the month of December in recent years. The Packers have battled all three division rivals for the NFC North title in Week 17 over the past decade.

This year, the race isn’t quite as exciting. Although for Packers fans, that’s perfectly fine.

1. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

Previous ranking: 1

The Packers were already the clear frontrunners in the NFC North before last week’s game. Now after their 41-25 win over the Chicago Bears, they’ve all but secured a spot in the postseason.

With a three-game lead, Aaron Rodgers playing some of the best football of his career, and three division rivals all below .500, it’s a matter of when, not if, the Packers secure the NFC North title for a second year in a row.

Green Bay’s focus will soon need to move onto playoff seeding. What we know is that it’ll almost certainly be one of the top three seeds.

2. Minnesota Vikings (5-6)

Previous ranking: 2

The Vikings kept themselves in the playoff race with a one-point victory over the Carolina Panthers last week. Despite winning four of their past five, this doesn’t feel like a team set for a deep postseason run.

Minnesota is now just a game behind the Arizona Cardinals in the wild-card race but has tough games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints to come.

3. Detroit Lions (4-7)

Previous ranking: 4

The Lions desperately needed to make a change at head coach. They have fallen short of expectations once again this year, but perhaps the coaching change will inspire some better performances in the final weeks of the season.

Detroit is still officially in playoff contention but would almost certainly need to run the table. That won’t be easy with a brutal upcoming schedule with games against the Packers, Tennessee Titans, and Buccaneers to come.

4. Chicago Bears (5-6)

Previous ranking: 3

What has happened to the Bears?

Led by a strong defense, Chicago raced out to 5-1 start to the season and looked to be back in the playoff picture. But the Bears have fallen apart since then and looked like a team that had given up as the Packers eased the ball down the field on Sunday night.

The Bears have now lost five straight and are in danger of finishing last in the NFC North.