The Vikings picked a rotten weekend to lose to Seattle.
While Minnesota was getting their helmets handed to them by the Seahawks, the rest of the NFC North was busy winning.
The Bears had the most impressive victory, a 51-20 pasting of the Tennessee Titans. Chicago is now 7-1, with a game-and-a-half lead over the Packers.
Green Bay got to 6-3 — a full one-game lead over the Vikings — with a 31-17 win over Arizona.
The Lions, meanwhile, are back to .500 with a 31-14 win over Jacksonville.
That means next Sunday at Mall of America Field, the Vikings, 5-4, can only stay out of the division cellar with a win over the Lions.
