They didn't play each other, but each won their respective contest.

This moves the Bears (8-3) into a seven-game winning streak, solidly ahead in the division, still up two games over the less floundering Vikings (6-5). The Vikings have a comfortable two-game buffer over the Lions (4-7), who they play next week.

The Vikings didn't play excellent ball, but they did some good things. Three turn-overs (taken by the Vikings) each turn into touchdowns, the first offensive bashing in a long time. The final score of 12-24 is not indicative of the real game play, as the Browns scored a last-minute touchdown (missing the extra point) when they really needed three to win. I'm not going to say the Vikings "gave up," but they certainly didn't appear to be as worried about the score so late in the game. I probably wouldn't have been either; I may have even let them score just to get control of the ball back, but who am I to give coaching advise?

Next week the Vikings visit the Lions. There's a two-game gap, so if the Lions should win, that would bring the Vikings to 6-6 and the Lions to 5-7, leaving still a one-game buffer. Should the Vikings win (which they should!) the gap will spread to 7-5 and 4-8, giving a nice three-game lead, all-but eliminating the chances for a Lions come-back into second place.

The Bears two-game lead puts the Vikings in a hard spot to catch up, but there's a good shot at a wildcard spot in the playoffs.

The Packers (2-8) game at the Eagles is in progress now. Even with a Packer win bringing them to 3-8, they're long out of playoff potential, with a best-case of 8-8. Go Eagles!