ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions closed in on their first division title in 20 years, and didn't even have to play a game to do it.

It's been that kind of season.

Joique Bell helped lead Detroit to a 40-10 win against Green Bay on Thursday. On Sunday, the Lions put even more distance between themselves and their division rivals.

Detroit is just 7-5 and has lost two of its past three games, yet continues to get help from others. On Sunday it was Chicago, which was upset 23-20 in overtime against the short-handed Minnesota Vikings.

That means the Lions now lead Chicago (6-6) by one game, while holding the tiebreaker. They also lead the Packers by 1.5 games, and would hold the tiebreaker there as well (division record) should it become relevant.

In other words: Detroit effectively has a two-game lead with four to play. That puts their magic number at three to end a division title drought that extends 20 painful seasons.

The Lions, who haven't played a home playoff game since losing 28-24 against Green Bay in 1993, currently are the third seed in the NFC. They would host San Francisco in a first-round game if the season ended today.

Detroit, who was off Sunday after throttling Green Bay on Thanksgiving, continues action next Sunday in Philadelphia against the surging Eagles. Philadelphia has won four straight, and quarterback Nick Foles has 19 touchdown passes without throwing a pick.

That could prove to be Detroit's most difficult remaining game, though. They finish home against the Ravens (6-6) and Giants (4-7), then in Minnesota against the Vikings (3-8).

Chicago finishes with Dallas (7-5), at Cleveland (4-8), at Philadelphia (7-5) and Green Bay (5-6-1). Green Bay finishes with Atlanta (2-9), at Dallas (7-5), Pittsburgh (5-7) and at Chicago (6-6).

Both Chicago and Green Bay are scuffling to the finish -- they're a combined 1-6-1 the past four weeks -- and are still playing without their starting quarterbacks. The Bears looked particularly dreadful Sunday, failing to beat the hapless Vikings despite Minnesota blowing a would-be game-winning field goal with a penalty at the end of regulation, and Chicago kicker Robbie Gould missing a would-be winner in overtime.

"That game could have cost us the playoffs, and that's on my shoulders," Gould told reporters after the game. "You know what? I'm going to bear that."

Detroit, despite its imperfections, should now be considered a heavy favorite to win the North for the first time since the division was formed in 2002.