Packers: Three teams to root for in Week 13 during the bye

The Green Bay Packers might not be playing this week, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some important games to watch.

While we can’t cheer on a Packers victory this weekend, other teams can help them out in both the race for the NFC North title and NFC’s top seed.

Here are three teams for Packers fans to root for in Week 13:

Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

Stop laughing. Yes, I’m talking about a scenario in which the Detroit Lions win a football game. I know it’s yet to happen this season — or since December 6 of last year, to be exact — but they are due a win soon, right?

This week, the Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers can actually win the NFC North as early as next week, but only if the Vikings lose their next two games.

Maybe the Lions can help out this week.

Chicago Bears (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

I know, rooting for another division rival? Yes. The Bears are 4.5 games behind the Packers in the NFC North. It would take a miracle for Chicago to overtake Green Bay in the standings.

But Matt Nagy’s team can sure help us out in the race for the NFC’s top seed.

Should the Bears beat the Arizona Cardinals, the Packers would move back into first place of the conference without even having to take a snap in Week 13. Arizona would fall to 9-3, the same record as Green Bay’s, but it’s the Packers who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Should the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also improve to 9-3, Green Bay would lead the NFC based on conference record.

Atlanta Falcons (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

It would only make sense to root for a Bucs loss too.

Tampa Bay remains very much in the race for the No. 1 seed. Should we eventually see a playoff rematch, we’d much prefer it to be at Lambeau Field.

An Atlanta Falcons win this week would be most helpful. Rise Up!