The Green Bay Packers picked up a massive win on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions, finishing the regular-season series sweep.

With the win, the Packers improved to 8-3-1. However, Green Bay remains in second place in the NFC North because the Chicago Bears won on Friday to improve to 9-3.

The win extended the Packers’ division lead over the Lions, but coach Matt LaFleur wants his team to remain focused on what’s ahead.

Matt LaFleur States How the Packers Can Remain Resilient

For the first time in a long time, the Packers are in a battle with the Bears at the top of the NFC North.

However, the winner will likely be decided by their head-to-head matchups over the next five weeks.

The Bears sustained themselves as a serious contender for the playoffs in Friday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles, who are the reigning Super Bowl champions, but they’ll continue to be tested down the stretch of the season.

However, so will the Packers. Green Bay will face the Bears twice, the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos, the playoff-hungry Baltimore Ravens and then the Minnesota Vikings to end the regular season.

LaFleur knows Thursday’s win over the Lions was big, but he wants the team to remain focused on what’s ahead.

“We believe that you’re either getting better or you’re getting worse; you’re never staying the same. I’m proud of our guys, but we’ve got to keep building on this,” LaFleur said. “We can’t think that we’ve arrived by any stretch because as soon as you do that, you get beat. We got to keep fighting and clawing and trying to get a little bit better.”

Despite their 8-3-1 record, the Packers have had an interestingly rocky season. The Packers lost to the 2-win Cleveland Browns earlier this season and the Carolina Panthers.

Now, the Panthers have looked much better recently, but it was still a game the Packers were heavy favorites in. However, the Packers also have two wins against the Lions, a win in Pittsburgh, and a win against the Washington Commanders before their season fell apart.

“Every game’s going to have its ups and downs. You got to stay resilient. I think the best teams are able to do that and overcome their mistakes,” LaFleur said. “You got to keep that belief. I think the confidence is critical in every game.

“I do think that if you’re able to battle through adversity and come out the other side of it, you’re usually better for it. I’m really proud of our guys.”

LaFleur added that nothing’s ever going to be perfect, but the good teams battle through those imperfections.

However, that doesn’t take away from the preparation for each game. There’s a lot of talent in the NFL and coaches who know how to use it effectively.

“I think every game is a new challenge,” LaFleur said. “I just never want to feel like, ‘Okay, here we are. We got to figure it out.’ Because you got to put the work in.”

As Packers fans know, there have been moments of frustration throughout the season where it feels like the team is playing down to its competition.

That’s when you can’t be satisfied and have to find ways to get better each week that show up on Game Day.

“I still don’t think we’re where we want to get to. I just don’t think you can ever be satisfied,” LaFleur said. “You got to keep fighting. You got to put the work in. There’s no substitute for the work, and thankfully, I’m around a bunch of guys that embrace the challenges and embrace putting in the work.

“There’s no shortcuts in this league and you just got to keep fighting.”

The Packers have high expectations for this season, and LaFleur’s group can’t afford to get complacent.

Green Bay currently has a 43.6% chance to win the NFC North and an 83.1% chance to make the playoffs, according to PFSN’s NFL Football Playoff Meter.

With Green Bay’s acquisition of Micah Parsons before the season began, the goal is the Super Bowl, and to get there, the Packers will have to continue to get better each week.

That starts in Week 14 with first place in the NFC North on the line against the Bears.