The big jump is finally here.
After demolishing the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers 38-17 on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers have now made the leap into the top three of SB Nation's NFL power rankings. The win, the team's fourth in as many weeks, has positioned the Packers atop the NFC North and among the elite teams in both the NFC and the league at large.
Green Bay officially slides in behind only the 5-1 Denver Broncos and the 6-1 Dallas Cowboys, meaning the Packers finish ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, two NFC teams with better records.
As for the NFC North, the Lions moved up as well by virtue of their comeback win over the Packers next opponent, the New Orleans Saints. Detroit is now at 8th, while the Chicago Bears come in at 20 and the Minnesota Vikings bring up the rear at 27.
Taking a look the internet, the Packers performed well in other power rankings. NBC's Pro Football Talk placed them sixth overall. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco slides them in at five, with Yahoo! Sports slotting them in fifth position as well.