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It was the end of November and the Lions were in control of the NFC North. The franchise looked as if it would potentially win its first divisional title since 1993. Then, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers suggested his team could run the table. He and the Packers did that until losing in the NFC Championship Game. So it's of little surprise Rodgers and the Packers are part of the group leading the way with the most players on ESPN's All-NFC North team.  Rodgers was one of six unanimous Packers picks -- and one of 10 overall. Green Bay and Minnesota tied for the most selections on the 30-player team with 10, while Detroit and the Chicago Bears each had five selections.
The team has 30 players because of ties in voting between the four NFC North beat reporters: Rob Demovsky (Green Bay Packers), Jeff Dickerson (Chicago Bears), Ben Goessling (Minnesota Vikings) and Michael Rothstein (Detroit Lions). Rodgers led the division in touchdown passes (40) and yards (4,428) and had the highest touchdown-to-interception ratio among qualifying quarterbacks (5.71). Chicago rookie Jordan Howard and converted receiver Ty Montgomery of Green Bay were unanimous selections at running back. Howard, who gained 1,313 yards, was the NFC North's leading running back by 774 yards. Montgomery was third in rushing in the division with 457 yards. Green Bay receiver Jordy Nelson was a unanimous pick after leading the division with 97 receptions, 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns. Detroit's Golden Tate, the other selection at wide receiver, was the division's only other 1,000-yard receiver (1,077 yards) and was second in the division in catches with 91. Minnesota's Kyle Rudolph led NFC North tight ends in catches (83), yards (840) and touchdowns (seven). Green Bay and Chicago split the offensive line, with the Packers having three picks (David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga and T.J. Lang) and the Bears two (Josh Sitton, Cody Whitehair). Three of the top four sack leaders in the division made the team: Minnesota defensive ends Everson Griffen (8.0) and Danielle Hunter (12.5) and Green Bay linebacker Nick Perry (11.0). The division's interception leaders, Minnesota cornerback Xavier Rhodes and Green Bay safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, also made the team. Defensive end is one of two positions -- along with special teams -- that resulted in a tie and more than one player making the team. Hunter and Chicago's Akiem Hicks tied with two votes each. At special teams, Detroit's Don Carey, Chicago's Sherrick McManis, Minnesota's Kentrell Brothers and Green Bay's Jayrone Elliott all got one vote and made the squad. While the top two tacklers in the division -- Detroit's Tahir Whitehead and Chicago's Jerrell Freeman -- did not make the team, Minnesota linebacker Eric Kendricks (109) and free safety Harrison Smith (91) did. Detroit punter Sam Martin, who led the division in yards per punt (48.55) and net yards per punt (44.19) made the team, as did Lions kicker Matt Prater, who made 86.1 percent of his field-goal attempts -- including all seven of his chances from 50 yards or beyond. Minnesota's Cordarrelle Patterson, who led the division in average with 31.68 yards per kick return, was the unanimous pick.
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