NFC North Week 15 Report: Lions and Vikings win, Packers and Bears lose
By Adam Carlson
The NFC North was decided in Week 15 which included wins by the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions and losses from the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
It’s been a while since the NFC North has been decided as early as Week 15 of the NFL season, but the Minnesota Vikings were able to clinch a division title thanks to their win over the Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium.
But they weren’t the only team in the division getting a win. The Detroit Lions got a win to keep their playoff hopes alive while the Packers chances of a postseason berth got slimmer. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears fought for respect while on the outside of the playoffs looking in.
Let’s take a look at how each team in the NFC North fared in Week 15, who they face next week, and the standings as they sit.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
As the only interdivisional matchup of the week, the Bears traveled to Detroit for a Saturday game that put a rookie quarterback on display against a team clinging to playoff hopes. An amazing catch by Marvin Jones, three interceptions, and two touchdown throws from Matt Stafford proved to be a big difference maker for the Lions during the game.
- FINAL SCORE: Lions win 20-10
- KEY STAT: CB Darius Slay – 2 INTS on Trubisky
- LIONS RECORD: 8-6
- BEARS RECORD: 4-10
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- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals
The Vikings were given a chance to clinch the NFC North in Week 15 against a Bengals team depleted on defense. They took the opportunity and soared out to a massive lead before pulling their starters and letting the second team offense and defense get some snaps, with Teddy Bridgewater returning to the field for the first time since the 2015 season.
- FINAL SCORE: Vikings win 33-7
- KEY STAT: QB Case Keenum – 20/23 for 236 yards and 2 TDs
- VIKINGS RECORD: 11-3
Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers
Aaron Rodgers made his return to the Packers only to come up short in a game Green Bay needed to win in order to keep realistic hopes for the playoffs alive. Instead, Rodgers struggled in a big way, throwing three interceptions while Greg Olsen tore up the Packers defense with 9 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.
- FINAL SCORE: Packers lose 31-24
- KEY STAT: QB Cam Newton – 4 touchdown passes and 58 yards rushing
- PACKERS RECORD: 7-7
More from The Viking Age
- 6 biggest draft steals in Minnesota Vikings history
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
Week 16 matchups
- Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (Saturday Night Football – 7:30 pm CT)
- Chicago Bears vs Cleveland Browns (Sunday noon CT)
- Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday at noon CT)
NFC North Standings
- Minnesota Vikings (11-3)
- Detroit Lions (8-6)
- Green Bay Packers (7-7)
- Chicago Bears (4-10)
Next: Ups and Downs from Week 15 vs Bengals
So far, the Minnesota Vikings are the only team to clinch a playoff spot in the NFC North, but there is still hope for the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers (if the Falcons lose to the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football in Week 15). Congrats to the Vikings on a division title, but there is more work to be done in Green Bay next week!