GREEN BAY, WI — The Green Bay Packers woke up to a perfect Monday morning — a win on the field and an even bigger victory in the NFC North standings.

After defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 27–18 at Lambeau Field on Sunday, the Packers not only bounced back strong from their Week 5 bye, but also climbed to first place in the division

— thanks to the Detroit Lions’ primetime collapse against the Kansas City Chiefs.

It wasn’t the most dominant showing from Green Bay, but Jordan Love and company got the job done. Tight end

Tucker Kraft and Love connected for a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown that sealed the win, keeping the Bengals from mounting a comeback.

Then came the bonus. Hours later, the Lions — previously leading the NFC North — fell 30–17 to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on

Sunday Night Football. Mahomes threw for 257 yards, three touchdowns, and added one on the ground, torching Detroit’s injury-depleted secondary.

Meanwhile, Detroit’s offense struggled to find rhythm. Running backs

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for under 90 rushing yards, and frustration boiled over when safety Brian Branch threw a post-game punch at Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, drawing league-wide backlash and potential suspension.

The result? A seismic shift in the NFC North race. The Packers, now sitting at 3–2, control their own destiny heading into next week’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals — while the Lions, once red-hot at 4–2, face discipline issues and mounting pressure.

Green Bay didn’t just win on Sunday — they took back the top spot and momentum in the NFC North.