NFC North roundup: A Week 11 full of thrillers in the division
Week 11 proved to be a thrilling Sunday across the NFC North. All three games involving the four teams in the division wound up being decided in the final minutes, with two winners and two losers.
The Lions, of course, eked out a 31-26 win over the Chicago Bear in Ford Field to improve to 8-2. With the rest of the outcomes on Sunday, Detroit holds a three-game lead atop the division entering the final seven weeks of the season.
NFL: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is introduced…
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is introduced before the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
NFL: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) gets inside position…
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) gets inside position on Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) and smacks the football out of the hands of quarterback Justin Fields (1) late in the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
NFL: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) celebrates with his teammates…
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) celebrates with his teammates after forcing a fumble against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
NFL: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) catches a touchdown…
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) catches a touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert is tackled by the Detroit Lions defense, including Quinton Bohanna…
Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert is tackled by the Detroit Lions defense, including Quinton Bohanna (90) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back David Montgomery celebrate the 31-26 win…
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back David Montgomery celebrate the 31-26 win over the Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
NFL: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) and Chicago Bears…
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) and Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) chase after the loose ball late in the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter…
Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions fans celebrate a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Ford…
Detroit Lions fans celebrate a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields during the second half…
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts during the…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: David Montgomery #5 celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown with Jared Goff…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: David Montgomery #5 celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown with Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions during a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Dan Campbell celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown during a…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Dan Campbell celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown during a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Jared Goff #16 and Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Jared Goff #16 and Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions celebrate a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at the end…
Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at the end of the first half at Ford Field on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the first…
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill (54) pressures Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the…
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill (54) pressures Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: David Montgomery #5 of the Detroit Lions hands the ball off…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: David Montgomery #5 of the Detroit Lions hands the ball off to Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions during the second quarter of a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions reacts during the first…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions reacts during the first half of a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Equanimeous St. Brown #19 of the Chicago Bears comes down with…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Equanimeous St. Brown #19 of the Chicago Bears comes down with a pass during the first quarter of a game as Jerry Jacobs #23 of the Detroit Lions looks to make a tackle during a game at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Roschon Johnson #23 of the Chicago Bears stiff arms Jack Campbell…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Roschon Johnson #23 of the Chicago Bears stiff arms Jack Campbell #46 of the Detroit Lions during the third quarter at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
NFL: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (33) gets a pass interference…
Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (33) gets a pass interference call on Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) tries to tackle Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2)…
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) tries to tackle Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) during first half action at Ford Field Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions and head coach Dan…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions and head coach Dan Campbell react after a fourth quarter safety during a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs the ball against Chicago Bears during second half…
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs the ball against Chicago Bears during second half action at Ford Field Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs against Chicago Bears during the first half at…
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs against Chicago Bears during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions cornerback Cam Sutton celebrates a play against the Chicago Bears during the first half…
Detroit Lions cornerback Cam Sutton celebrates a play against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions leaves the field after…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions leaves the field after a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker III takes a selfie with fans after the 31-26 win over…
Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker III takes a selfie with fans after the 31-26 win over the Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions runs with the ball…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 19: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions runs with the ball during the second quarter of a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
Chicago Bears
The Bears blew a 26-14 lead in the final four minutes, allowing Detroit to score two touchdowns, a 2-pt. conversion and a safety in the final 3:26.
After the game, rampant criticism on the Bears organization has rained down from national media, but especially local media in Chicago. Former Bears TE Martellus Bennett summed it up nicely (read his whole thread on X),
Bears ownership lacks futurism. The entire business model is built on selling the past. The 85 bears. They're always trying to recreate that old product instead of buying into and producing a new product.
— Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) November 19, 2023
The Bears, now 3-8, will attempt to regroup before playing the Vikings in Minnesota on Monday Night Football in Week 12.
Green Bay Packers
While the Lions were beating the Bears, the Packers hosted the Los Angeles Chargers in a back-and-forth thriller of their own. The two teams traded scores and the lead all afternoon.
It came down to one final drive. The Packers took a 23-20 lead with just over two minutes to play on a Jordan Love-to-Romeo Doubs touchdown pass. The Chargers went 3-and-out quickly, then forced the Packers into a 3-and-out of their own. With 1:27 to go, down three with no timeouts and 80 yards to go, Justin Herbert had a chance to throw a dagger into the hearts of the Lambeau Field faithful. And he nearly did it…
Nearly.
On 3rd-and-6 from the Chargers 30, Herbert threw a deep strike up the right sideline to first-round rookie wideout Quentin Johnston, who had two steps on his defender and a clear path to the end zone once he caught the ball. Except Johnston bobbled and bumbled the perfectly thrown ball off both hands not once but twice and it flew away from glory onto the cold turf. The Packers got a stop on the next play and prevailed.
Green Bay won for just the second time in seven games, improving to 4-6. The Packers visit Ford Field on Thanksgiving, hoping to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Minnesota Vikings
Much like the Bears, the Vikings did an excellent job snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Minnesota led the Broncos in Denver from early in the second quarter through deep into the fourth, limiting the Broncos to five field goals on numerous drives where Russell Wilson seemed poised to get Denver into the end zone. Down 20-15 after a Greg Joseph field goal for Minnesota, Wilson got one last chance to get his Broncos into the end zone.
Mission accomplished. Wilson hit Courtland Sutton for a touchdown strike with 1:03 to play. The 2-pt. conversion failed (badly), leaving Minnesota and QB Joshua Dobbs a minute to get into field goal range for Joseph.
The Broncos might’ve provided a blueprint for how to play defense against Dobbs in crunch time. Instead of sitting back, the Broncos brought constant pressure on Dobbs and forced a meek effort that wound up losing net yards. Denver won 21-20.
The Vikings are now 6-5, which is still good enough for the No. 7 and final playoff spot in the NFC. Just below them is Green Bay at 4-6.
