We've reached Week 16 of the NFL season and that means there's only three games remaining in the regular season to determine how things finish in the NFC North. Detroit and Minnesota are tied atop the division at 12-2 with Green Bay still alive but needing help. While out of the race for the playoffs and division title, Chicago is still a factor with games against Detroit and Green Bay in their final three.
Where do Detroit, Minnesota, Green Bay and Chicago stand in the division and the NFC playoff picture heading into the final three-game stretch? Let's take a look:
DETROIT
Record: 12-2
Current playoff seeding: No. 1
Remaining opponents: at Chicago (4-10), at San Francisco (6-8), vs. Minnesota (12-2)
Remaining opponent record: 22-20
Twentyman: It will be interesting to see how the Lions come out of the gate Sunday in Chicago after losing their first game in over three months last week. Detroit hasn't lost back-to-back games since they started 1-6 in 2022. They are the only team in the NFL that can say that over that span. Detroit still controls their own destiny for the No. 1 seed and NFC North title. Can they navigate all the injuries that are piling up and get back on track in Chicago Sunday?
MINNESOTA
Record: 12-2
Current playoff seeding: No. 5
Remaining opponents: at Seattle (8-6), vs. Green Bay (10-4), at Detroit (12-2)
Remaining opponent record: 30-12
Twentyman: After losing back-to-back games against the Lions and Rams in October, Minnesota has rolled off six straight wins to even their record with Detroit with three games remaining. It isn't an easy stretch for Minnesota to finish the year as they play at Seattle and home vs. Green Bay before a potential monster matchup in Detroit to finish the regular season Week 18. This could come right down to the wire between Minnesota and Detroit with huge playoff implications on the line.
GREEN BAY
Record: 10-4
Current playoff seeding: No. 6
Remaining opponents: vs. New Orleans (5-9), at Minnesota (12-2), vs. Chicago (4-10)
Remaining opponent record: 21-21
Twentyman: The Packers are coming off an impressive 17-point win in Seattle and still hold out hope for an NFC North title if Detroit and Minnesota falter in the coming weeks. Either way, they are playing good football, and teams won't feel all warm and fuzzy inside seeing them as a potential playoff matchup.
View photos of the starters for the Chicago Bears.
Interim Head Coach: Thomas Brown
Interim Offensive Coordinator: Chris Beatty
Defensive Coordinator: Eric Washington
Special Teams Coordinator: Richard Hightower
(AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
WR DJ Moore
(AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
LT Braxton Jones
Backed up by Kiran Amegadjie
(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
LG Teven Jenkins
Backed up by Ryan Bates
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
C Coleman Shelton
Backed up by Doug Kramer Jr.
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
RG Matt Pryor
Backed up by Jake Curhan
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
RT Darnell Wright
Backed up by Larry Borom
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
TE Cole Kmet
Backed up by Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis
(AP Photo/David Dermer)
WR Keenan Allen
Backed up by Tyler Scott
(AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
WR Rome Odunze
Backed up by Collin Johnson
(AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
QB Caleb Williams
Backed up by Tyson Bagent
(AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
RB D'Andre Swift
Backed up by Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
DE Montez Sweat
Backed up by Darrell Taylor and Jacob Martin
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
DL Zacch Pickens
Backed up by Byron Cowart
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
DL Gervon Dexter Sr.
Backed up by Chris Williams
(AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
DE DeMarcus Walker
Backed up by Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy
(AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
LB T.J. Edwards
Backed up by Amen Ogbongbemiga and Noah Sewell
(AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
LB Tremaine Edmunds
Backed up by Jack Sanborn
(AP Photo/David Dermer)
S Elijah Hicks
Backed up by Tarvarius Moore
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
S Kevin Byard III
Backed up by Jonathan Owens
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
DB Kyler Gordon
Backed up by Josh Blackwell
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
CB Tyrique Stevenson
Backed up by Terell Smith
(AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
CB Jaylon Johnson
Backed up by Ameer Speed
(AP Photo/David Dermer)
K Cairo Santos
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
P Tory Taylor
(AP Photo/David Dermer)
LS Scott Daly
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
CHICAGO
Record: 4-10
Remaining opponents: vs. Detroit (12-2), vs. Seattle (8-6), at Green Bay (10-4)
Remaining opponent record: 30-12
Twentyman: After starting the season 4-2, Chicago has lost eight straight contests, including Monday's 30-12 loss to Minnesota. Chicago hosts Detroit Sunday and played the Lions tough in a 23-20 loss a few weeks back. Chicago has had some issues on offense over the last couple months, scoring less than 20 points in six of their last eight losses.
