The Chicago Bears took care of business on Thursday Night Football and were able to sit back and watch the Detroit Lions take down Green Bay on Sunday. It was an underwhelming win on both sides as the Lions escaped with a 20-17 win. But injuries and self inflicted penalties piled up on the Packers, and allowed Detroit to help Chicago out in the division picture. While you never want to see another NFC North team win, there is no doubt who Bears fans were pulling for in the matchup.
There is a special level of hate that only Green Bay can inspire in Bears fans, while the Lions and Vikings remain clear rivals, they cannot touch the distaste fans have for the Packers. With this mind, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Chicago fans were happy with Sunday's result as it both did the franchise a favor and allowed the Packers to pick up a needed loss to allow the Bears to climb the division standings.
Both matchups against Detroit are remaining on Chicago's schedule while the team has already dropped the first game against Green Bay due to Caleb Williams remaining on the shelf. With this in mind, it is huge that the Packers took the divisional loss and have the worse record.
Any tiebreaker isn't going to fall Chicago's way right now based on the two games that were lost both coming in division matchups. Still, there is plenty of time for the Bears to right the ship when it comes to their current standings with four divisional games remaining.
Bears can't help but enjoy clear favor that Detroit offered beating the Packers in Week 7
Chicago has plenty of time to correct early division struggles and right now remains focused on accomplishing what would be an undeniable message to the rest of the league. Beating the defending AFC champion New England Patriots was a clear message that cannot be ignored and it sent confidences sky high.
If the Bears are able to follow this up by beating a Seattle Seahawks team coming off ending the Kansas City Chiefs undefeated season in dominating fashion, all the division talk will be lost. Green Bay's struggles and the inevitable quarterback situation catching up with Minnesota will become the NFC North story.
Fans outside Chicago will have a far easier time embracing the Bears as serious contenders, understanding just how inconsistent Green Bay has been. Sunday's loss was an impactful one and helps clear the runway for the Bears to continue their ascension as the NFC's premier contender.
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