For the past couple years, the NFC North has been pandemonium. In my opinion, it all started with the 2010 NFC North Championship. As a reminder, that's the year when Green Bay played Chicago in Chicago.* That year, the Bears went 11-5 and the Packers went 10-6 with the Lions and Vikings having losing seasons.
The 2011 season, we saw a shift in position:
Packers went 15-1
Lions took 2nd at 10-6
Bears 8-8
Vikings 3-13.
The 2012 season brought yet another jockeying for position:
Packers: 11-5
Vikings: 10-6
Bears: 10-6
Lions: 4-12
This year is no different. Before last week, the Lions looked like they were going to take the NFC North, with the Bears nipping at their heels, the Packers in 3rd, and the Vikings dying with a losing record. But after two games the Lions the Lions are no longer in first, and the Bears are only half a game ahead of the Packers (the Vikings are still losing). If either the Packers or the Bears win out (meaning, one has to beat the other in the last game of the season) then they will win the NFC North.
Frankly, I just can't decide if winning the division will be a theft or the price of parity. To be on top for so long, and then to fall from grace just seems unjust for the Lions. On the other hand, it's their own damn fault for losing to a team that scored no touchdowns. We'll see what happens.
At the end of the day, it's really of no import who represents the NFC North. Or the NFC East for that matter. Mark my words, the NFC Championship game will comprise of teams from the NFC South and/or the NFC West. With the way they are playing, it may very well be an inter-divisional rivalry between the 49ers and the Seahawks.
*Incidentally, the first time the two have ever played in a championship game.
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