Bears' and Packers' Inconsistencies Help Detroit Lions in Battle for NFC North

The Detroit Lions completed the season sweep of the Chicago Bears in their 21-19 victory at Soldier Field last Sunday to give them sole possession of first place in the NFC North. Detroit hopes to even the season series at one game apiece on Thanksgiving when the Green Bay Packers visit Ford Field and try to stay in the division race.

But with the injuries and inconsistencies the Bears and Packers have to overcome in the final seven weeks of the NFL season, both teams will be hindered in the NFC North.

Both Green Bay and Chicago have injuries at quarterback and a myriad of other injuries on their respective rosters. Down the stretch, it’s essential that the teams have stability at QB.

Matthew Stafford remains the only quarterback who hasn't missed a game in the NFC North, while his division foes have had at least one switch at that position this season. That dependability at quarterback has propelled Detroit to the top of the proverbial mountain of its division.

Taking a deeper look at the Packers, injuries to Clay Matthews, Brad Jones, Eddie Lacy and recently, Aaron Rodgers, several key players have missed time, which has affected Green Bay and its usual dominant role in the conference.

The Packers' shaky 1-2 start didn't help their cause in their bid to win their third straight conference title. With "The Bad Man" Rodgers being shelved, it will be a struggle for Green Bay to climb back into the mix in this competitive division race. Here is a look at the remaining schedule of each team fighting for the NFC North:

NFC North Contenders Remaining Games

	Detroit Lions	Chicago Bears	Green Bay Packers
Week 11	@ Pittsburgh Steelers	vs. Baltimore Ravens	@ New York Giants
Week 12	vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	@ St. Louis Rams	vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 13	vs. Green Bay Packers	@ Minnesota Vikings	@ Detroit Lions
Week 14	@ Philadelphia Eagles	vs. Dallas Cowboys	vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 15	vs. Baltimore Ravens	@ Cleveland Browns	@ Dallas Cowboys
Week 16	vs. New York Giants	@ Philadelphia Eagles	vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 17	@ Minnesota Vikings	vs. Green Bay Packers	@ Chicago Bears

                              

According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, Rodgers wants to return before the game against the Lions on Thanksgiving. However, No. 12 shouldn't hastily return from an injury that can linger through the remainder of the season, as he may do his team more harm than good.

With the Lions in the driver’s seat, Rodgers needs to plan his return carefully if he hopes to give his squad an opportunity to win another division title.

The Bears have been inconsistent all-around all season: Against New Orleans, Jay Cutler finished 24-of-33 for 358 yards and two touchdowns. The defense held the Saints offense to 26 points. Yes, that's a lot, but against the Saints in the Dome where they're so good? I’d say that's good D.

In the first meeting with the Lions, Cutler finished 27-of-47 for 317 yards and two TDs but accounted for four turnovers—three picks and a lost fumble. Detroit also lit up the scoreboard, earning 40 points on Chicago at Ford Field.

With Bears backup Josh McCown taking over for the injured Cutler, Chicago has restored some consistency at QB. However, with the injuries at various other positions, especially on defense, the Bears’ search for stability remains a burden.     

While the Lions have had their various injuries to key players this season (Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush, Nate Burleson, Ziggy Ansah, etc.), other players have stepped up and filled the void left by those respective players.

The O-line's magnificent effort to be Stafford’s force field this season (just 10 sacks in nine games) has played a vital role in the offense's success. The defense has also buckled down on third downs; of the 117 plays ran against Detroit on third down, only 37 have gone for first down, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. That ferocious third-down defense and the ability to produce on offense have boosted the Lions ahead of their competition.

Detroit is the only team in the division that has never hoisted the NFC North title and has not taken the division since 1993, according to Joshua Huffman of Yahoo! Sports. With the advantages the Lions have over their divisional foes, and with their remaining opponents boasting a 25-39 record, the Lions have to pick up wins where expected to snag the title this season.

Jim Schwartz and his boys need to beware of trap games: The New York Giants are on a three-game win streak and in the second-to-last week of the season, they may play the role of spoilers in the NFC playoff picture. Also, the Philadelphia Eagles are looking much improved with Nick Foles as the play-caller and cannot be taken lightly.

As the competition remains tight between Green Bay, Chicago and Detroit, the Lions need to separate themselves in the next three weeks if they want that allusive NFC North crown.

Stats and schedules from NFL.com unless otherwise noted. Follow me on Twitter @MrMarcDiddy to discuss other sports banter.