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If not for two atrocious penalties against the Detroit Lions that cost them a game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, the NFC North would have every single team with a record above .500.

Instead, the Packers were the beneficiaries of two horrendous hands to the face calls on defensive end Trey Flowers, which helped the Packers climb to 5-1 on the season.

After Week 6, the Chicago Bears sit in third place in the NFC North at 3-2, trailing those 5-1 Packers and 4-3 Minnesota Vikings. With Monday’s loss, the Lions fell to 2-2-1.

While the Lions currently sit in last place in the division, it’s abundantly clear that the NFC North is the best division in the NFL.

The Bears are 1-1 in division games this season, including a heartbreaking 10-3 loss to the Packers in the season opener and a 16-6 victory over the Vikings in Week 4.

Chicago still has two division contests against the Lions in November, as well as one more game against the Packers and Vikings in December.

But the focus for the Bears right now is their upcoming stretch of games, which is perhaps their most challenging yet. Chicago will host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday before games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams.

While teams like the Chargers, Eagles and Rams have struggled as of late, things can change on a weekly basis in this league. The Bears will need to be at their best — on defense, offense and special teams — with them chasing the Packers in the NFC North.