NFC North has empathically restored its status as NFLs gold standard

The “Black and Blue Division’’ is back.It’s the gold standard of the NFL at the moment. The NFC North, nicknamed that in its golden-era days of Vince Lombardi in Green Bay, Dick Butkus in Chicago, the Purple People Eaters in Minnesota and, later, Barry Sanders in Detroit, was celebrated as the most competitive, difficult division in the NFL. It has returned to glory this year, with all four teams in the division having posted an eye-opening combined 17-5 mark.

All four have a winning record, something that none of the other seven divisions in the league can boast. The Vikings are 5-0, the Lions 4-1, the Bears and Packers 4-2. Just two other divisions among the other seven have a combined record of better than .500 — the AFC West (13-9) and the NFC East (12-11).The worst of the NFC North is good enough to be leading or tied atop five other divisions. It’s been a fascinating first six weeks in the NFC North, and it reaches its most compelling point to date Sunday when the Vikings and Lions battle in Minneapolis. “With how well everybody’s playing in our division, these division games are going to be really important,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said this week. “What a test we’re going to have this week,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said.

“These guys are playing really good football.” All four teams are playing good football.The Vikings, coming off their bye week, are the only undefeated team in the NFC and one of only two in the league, along with the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

The Packers host the 5-1 Texans on Sunday, and the Bears are in their bye week. The last time the Lions played at Minnesota was when they defeated them last season to clinch their first division title in 30 years.Detroit coming off their 47-9 annihilation of the Cowboys last week in Dallas.

The Lions enter this game having won three straight against the Vikings and four of the past five. The primary key to the NFC North’s across-the-board...