Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Dec. 7, 2025.

The Chicago Bears entered Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season with a narrow lead in the NFC North race. They will exit it now in second place in the division after a close loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers earned a 28-21 victory over the Bears at Lambeau Field despite a strong comeback effort from Ben Johnson's offense.

Chicago got the ball at their own 26-yard line with 3:26 remaining in regulation after Josh Jacobs scored a go-ahead touchdown for the Packers on the previous possession. Caleb Williams was able to strike quickly, completing passes for 27 and 24 yards to quickly get the Bears near the red zone.

However, with 27 seconds left in regulation, the Bears were facing a fourth-and-1 at the Green Bay 14-yard line. Johnson and the Bears called a rollout to Williams' left that the Packers defended well, taking away the young quarterback's checkdown to D'Andre Swift and his running lane.

As a result, Williams tried to heave up a prayer to Cole Kmet in the end zone. Keisean Nixon intercepted it to seal a Packers victory.

Green Bay's win changed the power structure of the NFC North and will create an intriguing three-horse race within the division and the NFC wild-card race down the stretch of the season.

Here's a deeper dive into the NFC North standings and which team will be favored to take home the division title in 2025.

NFC North standings

Below is a look at the pecking order in the NFC North with four weeks remaining in the 2025 NFL season.

  1. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
  2. Chicago Bears (9-4)
  3. Detroit Lions (7-5)
  4. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)

The Packers have the inside track to win the NFC North by virtue of their half-game lead in the standings. Beyond that, they are well-positioned to win tiebreakers over both the Bears and the Lions should it come to it.

The Packers have already earned a sweep of the season series against the Lions, beating Detroit in Week 1 and on Thanksgiving, giving them the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Green Bay now also owns a head-to-head tiebreaker over Chicago by virtue of its Week 14 win. And even if the Bears can bounce back and beat the Packers when they play in Week 16, Green Bay is still guaranteed to have a better divisional record than Chicago. The Packers are 4-0 against the NFC North this season, while the Bears are just 1-3.

As such, the more interesting tiebreaker to watch will be the one between the Bears and Lions. Detroit presently owns a head-to-head tiebreaker over Chicago by virtue of the Lions' 52-21 Week 2 victory, so the Week 18 game between the two teams could be crucial in determining which squad will have a better chance of making it into the playoffs.

Of course, the Bears and Lions will still have time to gain ground on the Packers. Chicago remains just a half-game back of Green Bay while Detroit sits just a game and a half back of the Packers after its win over the Dallas Cowboys on "Thursday Night Football."

All it will take is one slip-up from Green Bay for the division to tighten further or for a new power structure to take place in one of the NFL's tightest divisions.

Packers remaining schedule

The Packers will face the NFL's eighth-hardest schedule the remainder of the season, per Tankathon. They have two remaining matchups against teams with winning records and two contests against divisional opponents.

Below is a look at Green Bay's remaining opponents:

  • Week 15: at Denver Broncos
  • Week 16: at Chicago Bears
  • Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens
  • Week 18: at Minnesota Vikings

Bears remaining schedule

The Bears have a schedule nearly identical to the Packers'. Tankathon rates Chicago's remaining schedule as the ninth-hardest league-wide, as the team still has to face three teams with winning records and two divisional opponents.

Here's a look at Chicago's schedule for the final four weeks of the season:

  • Week 15: vs. Cleveland Browns
  • Week 16: vs. Green Bay Packers
  • Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers
  • Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions

Lions remaining schedule

The Lions actually have the toughest path to the postseason among the three NFC North contenders, according to Tankathon. Detroit has the seventh-hardest remaining schedule and will draw tough matchups with the Bears and the Los Angeles Rams, who are currently tied for the NFC's best record, down the stretch.

Below is a full look at Detroit's remaining schedule for the 2025 NFL season:

  • Week 15: at Los Angeles Rams
  • Week 16: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings
  • Week 18: at Chicago Bears

NFC North division winner odds

The Packers are now favored to win the NFC North after beating the Bears, according to odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Below is a look at each team's chances of winning what might be the NFL's best division.

  • Green Bay Packers (-230)
  • Chicago Bears (+290)
  • Detroit Lions (+750)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFC North standings: How Packers win over Bears impacts playoff odds

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect