NFC North real or not: Bears a solid favorite? Cousins puts Vikings in command?

No one in the NFL was on a bigger high coming out of last weekend than the Green Bay Packers.

They trounced the defending AFC champion New England Patriots 45-27 and put together their best performance of the season to improve to 6-3.

And then Packers coach Matt LaFleur killed the buzz: "The reality is this: We're in last place in our division right now."

Such is life in the NFC North, the most victorious division in football, where the Chicago Bears are on top at 7-3, followed by the Detroit Lions (6-2), Minnesota Vikings (6-2) and Packers (6-3).

The NFC North is the seventh division since 2002 with all four teams above .500 through Week 9, according to ESPN Research.