The Talking Heads posed the question “Well, how did I get here?” in the 1980 song “Once In A Lifetime.”

It’s applicable to anyone, of course, with football fans and their respective favorite teams being no exception. Football Insiders is taking a division-by-division look at the turning point in each franchise’s recent history that can answer that very question.

Our next stop is the Black and Blue Division, the NFC North. Dominated by the Packers in the ‘60s, Vikings in the ‘70s and Bears in the ‘80s, the division went through two decades of relative parity until Aaron Rodgers and the Packers took a stranglehold the last four seasons.

Green Bay Packers
Turning Point: Trading for Brett Favre

Few NFL franchises have had more sustained stability over the course of the last two decades than the Packers. Pittsburgh is likely the only team in the same neighborhood.

But in the 1970s and ‘80s, no franchise floundered more than the Packers, who split time between Green Bay and Milwaukee and seemed like an anachronism in an increasingly big business. Over the course of those two decades following Vince Lombardi’s departure, Green Bay made the playoffs twice.

That table turned on Feb. 11, 1992 when Green Bay traded for Falcons backup quarterback Brett Favre. In his second year, the Packers were in the playoffs for the first time since 1982. In the 21 seasons that have ensued, they’ve made 16 playoff appearances.

While the leadership of Mike Holmgren and bombshell free agency signing of Reggie White were also factors, few players in NFL history have done more to transform a franchise’s fortunes. Favre brought a swagger to Green Bay that hadn’t been present since the Lombardi Era, transforming Lambeau Field back into one of the NFL’s most intimidating venues. And just as the Colts had the good fortune of getting Andrew Luck to continue carrying Peyton Manning’s legacy, Rodgers is carrying Favre’s torch today.

Minnesota Vikings
Turning Points: NFC Championship Game OT nightmares

Perhaps no NFL team has done more to warp the minds of its fans than the Vikings – not even the Browns or Bills.

I once had a cable guy who was a Vikings fan. And he sincerely believed that Gary Anderson was paid off to miss his only field goal of the 1998 season in the NFC Championship game – a 38-yarder that would have put Minnesota up 10 with four minutes left. Instead, the Falcons tied the game in the final minute and then won it in overtime.

Those 15-1 Vikings ended up in the same dustbin as the 16-0 Patriots – the greatest teams to never win it all.
Yet it’s not the only NFC title game nightmare Minnesota fans have endured.

The Vikings finally seemed to have the answer a decade later when old nemesis Brett Favre looked to stick it to his old team and lead Minnesota to a Super Bowl. With Minnesota driving into field-goal range at the end of regulation in a tie game, the Old Gunslinger uncorked one of the worst throws of his career, a cross-field nightmare that was picked off by Saints cornerback Tracy Porter to assure the game would go to overtime.

New Orleans won, of course, scoring a field goal on the first possession of overtime – an outcome that led the league to change its playoff overtime rules.

It’s all so very Vikings.

Chicago Bears
Turning Point: Losing to the Packers in Week 17 of 2010 season

The Bears had already clinched the NFC North title heading into the final week of the 2010 season, but there was still very much something to play for – a win over the rival Packers meant Green Bay would miss the playoffs.

It turns out the inability to do so ended up costing much more than swallowed pride.

Green Bay pulled off a 10-3 win, scoring the lone touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The teams met three weeks later in the NFC Championship Game. Jay Cutler sprained his MCL in that game, but his demeanor on the sidelines as he sat out the second half led to a groundswell of criticism that has not subsided in the time since. Granted, those critics were simply looking for a reason to call out Cutler. But they’ve had plenty of opportunities since.

The Bears haven’t made the playoffs since that title game appearance, and will enter next season on their third head coach since fatefully allowing the future Super Bowl champions into the field.

Detroit Lions
Turning Point: Firing Matt Millen

The Ford family has made some poor decisions over the years – just ask anyone who ever drove an exploding Pinto.

None, however, was more disastrous than putting Matt Millen in charge of their football team. Millen masterminded the only 0-16 season in league history before finally being put out to pasture.

Fortunately for the Lions, Millen didn’t leave the team completely paralyzed in his wake. After missing the playoffs for 10 straight years, the Lions have reached the postseason twice under Martin Mayhew’s front office regime.

They still haven’t won a playoff game since 1993, but when you get to the bottom of the barrel it’s never too easy to climb back out. At least Detroit is finally heading the right direction – though after losing Ndamukong Suh it will be interesting to see if it continues moving that way.