The Green Bay Packers are the best third-place team in the NFL.
OK, fine, so that is not exactly a spicy take.
How about this: The Packers could end this season as one of the best first-place teams in the NFL.
It’s not probable, but it is possible. After the Packers stomped the Seattle Seahawks 30-13 in front of a prime-time audience Sunday night, they picked up a game on the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
The Packers improved to 10-4 and won for the eighth time in their past 10 games. They moved within two games of the Lions, who fell to 12-2 after a wild 48-42 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Both teams have three games remaining before the postseason.
Green Bay will wrap up the regular season with a home game against the New Orleans Saints, a road game against the Minnesota Vikings, and a home game against the Chicago Bears. They should be clear favorites against the Saints and Bears, and their visit to Minnesota will be tough but winnable.
Detroit finishes the regular season with back-to-back road games against the Bears and San Francisco 49ers, followed by a home finale against the Vikings. The odds to win at least two of those games looks good for Detroit, but crazier things have happened, especially when injuries come into play.
Unfortunately for the Lions, injuries are very much coming into play.
After Sunday’s loss against Buffalo, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he worried that three important players sustained season-ending injuries. Those players included defensive tackle Alim McNeill (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis (knee) and cornerback Khalil Dorsey (leg).
The Lions already were limping with injuries to top players, including defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6. Several other defensive players are expected to miss the rest of the season, including defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo (knee) and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (knee), both of whom were injured on Thanksgiving Day and are not expected back until 2025.
Could Detroit’s injury misfortune open a path for the Packers to clinch the division?
It would be wrong to ignore the Gjallarhorn in the room. The Minnesota Vikings are 11-2 as they prepare to face the Chicago Bears on Monday night, but they face a tougher finish with a road game against the Seattle Seahawks, a home game against the Packers and a road game against the Lions.
Back to Green Bay, which has outscored opponents by 92 points on the season.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur is one of the best play-callers in the league. He will keep the pressure on as Green Bay wraps up its season against New Orleans, Minnesota and Chicago.
Jordan Love is coming off a winning performance against Seattle in which he completed 20 of 27 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. He posted a 123.8 passer rating.
Josh Jacobs is a prototype running back. Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed lead a talented receiving corps that includes capable tight ends such as Tucker Kraft.
The Packers’ defense is solid under first-year coordinator Jeff Hafley. He has guided a unit that includes Xavier McKinney, who has seven interceptions, and Rashan Gary, who has 6 1/2 sacks.
If Green Bay played in the NFC South, it would be leading the division. The same is true for the NFC West and the AFC South, and the Packers would be tied for first if they played in the AFC North.
But the Packers happen to play in the best division in the league (not to say we told you so, but…).
Will Green Bay overtake Detroit to win the NFC North?
It’s not probable. But it is possible.