Green Bay Packers

NFC North Notebook: Packers are divisional underdogs in Week 11

Published Nov. 17, 2015 4:00 p.m. ET

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Since winning the Super Bowl in February of 2011, the Green Bay Packers have dominated the NFC North. They've won four straight divisional titles (2011-2014); a fifth one appeared to be on the horizon after Green Bay's 6-0 start this season.

However, the Packers have dropped three in a row since then. The losses to Denver and Carolina in Weeks 8 and 9 could be justified, but last Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions seemed to signal a meltdown. Green Bay's usually potent offense has averaged less than 20 points per game during this skid.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings are riding a five-game winning streak. They have established themselves as the most consistent team in the division. As a result, the Vikings are alone atop the NFC North with a 7-2 record.

The Packers can take back their lead in the division with a win over the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday. Head coach Mike McCarthy will bring a cool head with him on the road trip.

"I'll never panic because that's not the way you play the game, and that's not the way you coach," McCarthy said, according to quotes from Press-Gazette Media. "I think to have a little bit of fear in losing your job is healthy. I think any young assistant coach that goes through the league has that, and should continue to have it.

"But you can't play cautious or panicked or whatever word you want to put on it. We're not going to coach that way, and our team won't play that way."

The Packers have won nine of their last 11 meetings with the Vikings, including a 24-10 playoff victory following the 2012 season. This streak of dominance will be put to the test on Sunday.

This game will set the stage for a Week 17 rematch at Lambeau Field that could have major playoff implications.

Langford may be Bears' back of the future

The Bears may have something special in rookie running back Jeremy Langford, a fourth-round draft pick who has accumulated 324 yards from scrimmage over the last two weeks. His playmaking ability was on full display during an 83-yard touchdown reception against the St. Louis Rams in Week 10.

Head coach John Fox is a fan of the 23-year-old's explosive style.

Fox on @J_Lang33: "He's an explosive player." ???
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 17, 2015

Langford's well-rounded efforts have lifted the Bears to back-to-back victories. Chicago's offense has reached a new level of productivity with him in the lineup, so what's the team supposed to do when starting running back Matt Forte makes a return from his knee injury?

Splitting the snaps will be tough, but not as tough as the decision Chicago will have to make after this year. Forte, who has led the team in rushing each of the last seven seasons, is supposed to become a free agent next spring. The Bears may not re-sign him, if they are comfortable moving forward with Langford as the featured back.

Before his injury, Forte was averaging more than 100 yards of offense per game. He has seven weeks to prove that he's still one of the franchise's few irreplaceable players.

The Lions win, but not in the long run

Winning at Lambeau Field for the first time since 1991 must have felt like a playoff victory for the Detroit Lions, only because it's been just as long since they've experienced any postseason success.

The Lions entered their Week 10 matchup with the Green Bay Packers as the team with the worst record in the NFL. Now, they're 2-7 and projected to pick sixth overall in next year's draft, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

Sixth? Detroit didn't fire its team president and general manager to get a pick outside the top five. The Lions are going to need a lot of help in the draft, and legitimate difference-makers like Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and California quarterback Jared Goff may all be off the board by the time they pick.

There's plenty of games left for the Lions to lose and inch back toward that first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. However, after experiencing the thrill of winning a big game at Lambeau, this team may take on a spoiler role at the expense of next year's draft position.