Lions move to 1st in NFC North after Vikings, Packers lose

Lions take 1st place in NFC North during their Bye Week.

Nov 13, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) breaks through the line and scores a touchdown during the first half against the Green Bay Packers at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Things couldn’t have gone any better for the Lions after both the Vikings and Packers lost Sunday afternoon, giving the Lions a division lead. Green Bay got blitzed at home by Marcus Mariota and Titans, starting the game down 21-0 in the 1st quarter. The final score was 47-25 Titans, as Aaron Rodgers threw 2 interceptions and DeMarco Murray ran the ball straight down Green Bay’s throat. The Vikings were on the road for a very tight 26-20 loss to the Washington Redskins. Sam Bradford again was impressive on stat-sheet (307 yards, 2 TDs, and a 104.9 QB Rating) but Minnesota came up just short, yet again.

The Packers are in 3rd place at 4-5, while Minnesota (5-4) falls to second place after their 5-0 start. The Lions, at 5-4 — with the tie-breaker against the Vikings — are actually alone in first place in the NFC North for the first time since week one of the season. With momentum from winning close games, rest from a much-needed Bye Week, and an improving offensive line, the Lions are in great position to make a real Playoff push. QB Matthew Stafford is playing the best football of his career. Here’s a look at what the standings look like after Week 10, courtesy of @LombardiAve.

The Lions will face a similar situation that they’ve faced over the past few seasons, a chance to seize the NFC North while the Packers underachieve. Look for our coverage next week of their upcoming opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7). It’s easy to think this is a win at Ford Field, yet Blake Bortles is much more talented than some of the QBs that have already torched this Lions secondary. Fortunately, they should have a healthy Ziggy Ansah, Darius Slay, Riley Reiff, and if the stars align, DeAndre Levy.

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