Well, maybe the NFC North is just bad. The Lions (who previously led the league in scoring) were shut out by the Patriots. The Packers gave up 27 points and put up just 20 against a team with two good players on offense and maybe one on defense. The Vikings barely beat the Bears. And the Bears still suck, as always. Let's get into the madness. 

Detroit Lions

The Lions were blanked by the Patriots, 29-0.

Game Notes

• Turns out it isn't sustainable to have the highest-scoring offense in the league if your QB is a poor man's Kirk Cousins. Goff was 19/35 for 229 yards and a pick and looked frustrated and confused all day against the Patriots' varied blitz packages. 
• The team hasn't really had to rely on Goff so far this season because the run offense has been so good. Belichick shut it down as well. The Lions totaled 101 yards rushing but it took 27 carries to do it in a game where they were down 2 scores for the entire second half. 
• The defense was poor as always. The Pats' Bailey Zappe-led offense managed 29 points and 176 rush yards.
• It's certainly fun to laugh at the Lions now but are they what the Packers could look like two seasons from now? A poor defense with a fun run game and meh QB? Let's hope not. 

Former Packers

• Jamaal Williams was held to 56 yards on 15 carries.  

Next Week

The Lions, mercifully, have a bye next week. You could argue that the Patriots just had one. 

Minnesota Vikings & Chicago Bears

The Vikings beat the Bears 29-22.

Games Notes

• The Bears came within a terrible block in the back call of going up on the Vikings in the fourth quarter and possibly pulling out a victory. 
• Justin Fields had his best game, throwing for 208 yards and a touchdown with no picks and adding another 47 (would've been 100+ without the bad call) more on the ground. 
• Unfortunately for the Bears, no one else stepped up on offense (David Montgomery averaged 1.7 YPC and was their top receiver with 4 catches) and it just wasn't enough to beat the very average Vikings. 
• On that side of the ball, Cousins had another just-OK performance with 296 yards, a TD, and a pick on 41 attempts. Again, Cousins is fine when everything goes well but he just doesn't turn a good team into a great one. 
• Dalvin Cook did have a great day with 18 carries for 94 yards and 2 TDs and Justin Jefferson had another pro-bowl performance with 12 catches for 154 yards. That Eagles game is looking more and more like an outlier for Jefferson. 

Former Packers

• Za'Darius Smith had 1 TFL and half of a sack. 
• Equanimeous St. Brown had 2 catches for 24 yards. 

Next Week

The Vikings travel to Miami to play the Dolphins and the Bears play the Commanders on what may be the worst Thursday Night Football game in history.