The Chicago Bears control their own destiny entering Week 14 as they sit atop the NFC North with a record of 9-3 on the season. While there is still plenty of work to be done before Ben Johnson and his roster can call themselves division champions, the Bears received a bit of help from one of their NFC North rivals on Saturday, which could play in Chicago's favor down the stretch.
While the Minnesota Vikings look like they are not going to be a factor in the race to close the regular season, the Bears are going to have to do their best to hold off the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to set themselves up with the most favorable path to the Super Bowl possible.
Fortunately for fans in the Windy City, what was expected to be an answer to an issue facing one of those two teams has all but blown up in its face following the Thanksgiving Day showdown between the two.
Lions Losing Frank Ragnow Works in Favor of Bears' Defense
The Lions announced that Frank Ragnow was coming out of retirement to assist the offensive line down the stretch. While the idea of a reunion was something that fans in the Motor City were excited about, that hope was short-lived as the team revealed on Saturday that Ragnow had failed his physical and would not be joining the roster after all.
Detroit was facing issues up front long before the news that Ragnow's return will not be much of a reunion at all. Whether it is Tryston Colon or Kayode Awosika, the Lions have some real problems along the interior of the offensive line that opponents have exploited in recent weeks. Now, they are back to square one with no other direction to pivot, barring another outside signing, which presents its own issues this late in the season.
This clearly isn't a place Lions fans want to see their team in with the calendar turning to December. For Bears fans, though, it is a welcome advantage that Ben Johnson, Dennis Allen, and the rest of Chicago's coaching staff can only hope to key in on when these two teams square off in Week 18.
Given how close these three teams are in the standings entering Week 14, whatever advantage the Bears can gain over Green Bay and Detroit will go a long way toward locking up the NFC North title.