OK, so the Lions got no help from Dallas. 

The Chicago Bears, with Josh McCown at quarterback, were totally dominant in the 45-28 smack-down in the freezing temps at Soldier Field on Monday night. That's Alshon Jeffery in photo making a 25-yard touchdown catch.

So now the Lions and Bears are tied at 7-6 atop the NFC North. The Lions hold the tie-breaker because they have beaten the Bears twice.

If Detroit wins out, they win the NFC North. It’s all in their hands.

The Packers (don’t forget these guys) are 6-6-1 and still very much in the mix, especially if Aaron Rodgers returns this week. (He hasn’t been cleared to return yet from his broken collarbone, but that could happen when he visits the doctor on Wednesday.) The Lions and Packers split their two meetings.

The Bears and Packers cannot both win out because they play each other in the season finale.

Here’s a look at the next three games for each team:

LIONS: Against the Ravens on Monday night at Ford Field; Giants at Ford Field on Dec. 22; at the Vikings on Dec. 29.

BEARS: At Cleveland on Sunday; at Philadelphia on Dec. 22; home to the Packers on Dec. 29.

PACKERS: At Dallas on Sunday; Steelers at Lambeau on Dec. 22; at Chicago on Dec. 29.

It could all come down to the final weekend.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)