When the Vikings travel to play the Lions on Sunday afternoon at Ford Field in Detroit, they will be playing for pride in the short term, while also trying to send a message in the long term.

Even if the Vikings no longer have much to play for at this point — the New York Times simulator gives them a 3 percent chance of making the playoffs — it’s imperative they bounce back from last week’s embarrassing 33-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.

To put forth that performance in such an important game was unacceptable. The response will say a lot about the Vikings.

“You truly are tested in the moments like this,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Do we have the type of culture that allows us to have mental toughness?”

That remains to be seen.

Nonetheless, after a disastrous stretch defined by injuries, the Vikings (7-9) are suddenly in danger of finishing as the cellar dweller of the NFC North for the first time in a decade. The current four-team standings feature the Lions (11-5) in first place, the Packers (8-8) in second, the Vikings in third and the Chicago Bears (7-9) in fourth.

The positioning at the bottom will depend on this weekend’s games. Fittingly, the Vikings play the Lions, and the Packers play the Bears. Those matchups should provide a snapshot of what the NFC North could look like moving forward.

Where do the Vikings fit into the equation? Let’s take a look:

Lions

There’s no question that the Lions are the class of the NFC North at the moment. After living in irrelevance for the past couple of decades, they finally have turned a corner.

It starts at the top with head coach Dan Campbell. He brought an identity to the franchise from the moment he talked about biting kneecaps in his introductory press conference. It’s no surprise that the Lions play with ferocity on both sides of the ball considering who is leading them into battle each week.

The offense is run by veteran quarterback Jared Goff, a prolific pocket passer, who has revitalized his career over the past few seasons. It certainly helps that Goff has an extremely talented offensive line keeping him upright and playmakers all over the field. The combination of veteran running back David Montgomery, rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, star receiver Amon Ra St. Brown and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, among others, has the Lions able to move the ball with ease every time they have possession.

The defense is improving with star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and his 9 1/2 sacks serving as the straw that stirs the drink. He should get some help this spring with the Lions capable of making a splash in free agency if they choose to go that route.

Packers

The future of the Packers in the NFC North will depend on quarterback Jordan Love continuing to develop. It was pretty clear that something clicked this season for Love as he took a big step forward with his play on the field. The fact that the Packers are in playoff contention despite not having a Pro Bowl selection on their roster is a testament to how good Love has been down the stretch.

The pass catchers will grow alongside Love, with rookie receiver Jayden Reed looking very much like a star in the making. Add in speedy receiver Christian Watson and possession receiver Romeo Doubs and it’s not hard to envision the offense taking it to the next level.

There are playmakers on defense who could probably benefit from a new voice. It seems like only a matter of time before defensive coordinator Joe Barry gets shown the door. Whoever takes his place will have some talent in place, with pass rusher Rashan Gary instilling some fear off the edge.

Bears

There’s a world in which the Bears ascend to the top of the NFC North in short order. Not only have they quietly been among the hottest teams in the league over the past month, they already have secured the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft courtesy of the Carolina Panthers, and they could be big players in free agency with more than $60 million at their disposal.

The big decision for the Bears will be whether they want to stick with polarizing quarterback Justin Fields, who has shown a lot of improvement, or draft a top prospect to replace him. If they hold on to Fields, they could trade the No. 1 pick for a boatload of draft capital. If they use the No. 1 pick on his replacement, they could trade Fields to the highest bidder for a pretty decent haul.

Plus, the Bears will have their own draft pick, which will likely be borderline top 10, meaning they can select another impact player.

Though the offense could use an infusion of talent, receiver D.J. Moore is among the NFL’s best players at his position. As for the defense, there are playmakers at every level, including pass rusher Montez Sweat, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, among others.

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