How many of those blowouts became blowouts because the offense couldn’t do anything, leading to the defense getting worn out? Marginally better QB play wouldn’t turn them into a 10-1 squad but it would give them a fighting chance in at least some of those contests.

If you’re an optimist, no. Since we have two games left with the Lions and we’re two games back, the loss means that if we win both of those games and match Detroit for the rest of the season, we win the division.

If you’re a pessimist, yes. The Packers’ win means that they’re only one game behind us for a playoff spot.

The stratification of each conference is so strange. In the NFC the Vikings are a game and a half clear of everyone chasing them. Meanwhile there’s 6 teams in the AFC within a game of the final two playoff slots.