The Green Bay Packers are no different than most teams (except those in the NFC LEast) in how they prepare for and break down the season. Four, 4-game quarters and benchmark goals along the way. They reached one of those goals Sunday, in their 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Consider the North defended as Green Bay clinched their 2nd straight NFC North Championship. A benchmark goal and an important step in the quest to retrieve Vince’s trophy.

This was no gimme, games at Ford Field always have a weird air about them. Between a Hail Mary, 5 missed kicks by Crosby and losing on Thanksgiving, the Packers have been through it in Detroit. The Lions made them sweat it out again in this one-score final.

The Packers victory also secured a nice little side dish, as they became the first NFL franchise with 800 wins. Side dishes aside, Green Bay’s main course remains a work in progress.

Step one is complete, now on to step two. That was also helped by Sunday’s win and a little help from last week’s opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles. They defeated the New Orleans Saints, sending them to 10-3. By virtue of Green Bay’s head-to-head tiebreaker against New Orleans, the Packers now occupy the top seed in the NFC.

I said it before and I’ll say it again; Green Bay needs to handle their business. Do so, and step two is obtainable.

The Packers will continue work on step two, Saturday, in a prime time clash with the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau.