Let’s dispense with this right away: Your 1-7 Minnesota Vikings of 2013 are no longer in the hunt for the NFC North division title.
Aside from that breaking news, the Lions, Packers and Bears are, oh my, all knotted up at the top of the division at 5-3, with Chicago pulling off a huge upset at Green Bay on Monday night.
Da Bears landed at Lambeau with starting quarterback Jay Cutler not dressed for the game, but taking his sideline clipboard duties very seriously. He’s still out with a groin injury, which one Chicago sportswriter has called “a blessing.” Boy, talk about below the belt.
Add to that a four-game winning streak for the Pack, a six-game streak over the Bears, the old home-field advantage, and Green Bay was a 10-point favorite to win the game.
Anyway, Josh McCown filled in admirably, but the bigger blow came when GB QB Aaron Rodgers left the game after the first series due to a shoulder injury, and journeyman back-up Seneca Wallace had to guide the Pack. Mostly, they handed the ball to Eddie Lacy to the tune of 150 yards, all sorts of MNF craziness ensued, and Chicago prevailed 27-20.
What does this mean? It means it’s a hot mess atop the NFC North. Detroit had a bye week after clipping the Cowboys by one point the week before.
So all three are 5-3, and get this: All are 2-1 within the division.
More intrigue: Detroit travels to Chicago Sunday. The Packers host the Eagles, who are 4-5 but still in the hunt in the somewhat pathetic NFC East.
In short, it’s anyone’s division.
Anyone, that is, except the Vikings, who host 3-5 Washington Thursday, a game that will likely have no affect on the NCF North standings.
