In what could become a common occurrence, it was a dark week in the NFC North as all four teams lost their matchups. Luckily, we don't have to discuss how and if Joe Barry or AJ Dillon or a 4th-down delay-of-game penalty lost the game for the Packers in this space, we can just revel in the misery of the other three NFC North teams, because they, obviously, deserve it and were overrated all off-season. 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings just barely missed a huge embarrassing loss to the Eagles on Thursday night, getting the final score to within, 34-28.

Game Notes

• Stop me if you've heard this before, the Vikings got down big and then once the game was basically out of hand, Kirk Cousins turned it on and loaded up the stat sheet. Cousins ended the game 31/44 for 364 yards and 4 TDs. Fueling the fire of even more Kirk truthers who will no doubt spend the offseason touting his ability, despite the fact that they didn't spend the season actually watching him. 
• Anyway, the Vikings really did make it interesting toward the end thanks to timely passes from Cousins to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The two first-round picks both played well, Addison had a 62-yard TD and Jefferson had 11 catches for 159 yards. 
• The run game was meh, again, Alexander Mattison led the way with 8 carries for 28 yards.
• The Patriots use a very innovative dime-based defense where their linebackers can play outside corner snaps sometimes, their safeties play everywhere, and they often use cover-0 pressure. Brian Flores, who is a Bill Belichick disciple, is trying to bring that defense to Minnesota, but they just don't have the guys. They spent much of the game with only one 300-lb down lineman and the Eagles took advantage. D'Andre Swift had 175 yards on 28 carries and Boston Scott added 40 more. The gameplan was likely designed to defend the Eagles' pass game, but then the Eagles got up big quickly and the Vikings didn't adjust.      

Former Packers

• Dean Lowry played 39 snaps and assisted on one tackle.

Next Week

The Vikings and Chargers have a loser-goes-home matchup. 

Chicago Bears

Tampa Bay took care of the Bears 27-17

Game Notes

• Justin Fields at least completed some passes downfield in this one. Unfortunately, two of those were completed to Tampa Bay. He was 16/29 for 211 yards with a TD and two picks. 
• DJ Moore had the big downfield catch, with a long of 33 yards on a 6 catches for 104 yards day. 
• The defense is also still bad - to the point that Twitter users, in 2023, were talking about how well Baker Mayfield was playing. Baker finished 26/34 for 317 yards and a TD.
• It wasn't just the pass D that was bad, Rachaad White had 17 carries for 73 yards and a TD. 

Former Packers

• TJ Edwards had 12 tackles and Jack Sanborn had 4.
• Lucas Patrick didn't attack anyone for a legal hit in bounds.

Next Week

The Bears take on the Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. 

Detroit Lions

The Seahawks pulled off a 37-31 OT victory over the Lions. 

Game Notes

• The Lions looked fine to good on offense again. Jared Goff was 28/35 for 323 yards 3 TDs, and a pick. the Sun God had 6 catches for 102 yards and Josh Reynolds had 2 TDs. Putting up 31 points in the NFL is impressive, Detroit obviously has an above-average offense.
• The defense still stinks. 
• The Seahawks moved the ball at will on the Lions and had 10 explosive plays on the day. Geno Smith had 328 pass yards and looked unstoppable in the 4th Q and OT. This Lions team and the Packers have a lot in common. Great, creative offense; bad defense. For the Packers, who have 7 first-round picks on defense, most people think coaching is the problem. 
• For the Lions, a lot of the players are still bad. Alim McNeil, who was supposed to be their breakout d-tackle this season, has graded out as the 96th-best interior d-lineman YTD. Cam Sutton, their prized free agency acquisition, isn't graded as a top-32 corner. Alex Anzalone is bad and always has been. Chauncy Gardner-Johnson, the other prized off-season acquisition in the secondary and one of the few players on the defense who has played well this season, is probably out for the year with a torn pec. The defense probably isn't going to get better anytime soon and it will prevent the Lions from being a top team in the NFC.

Former Packers

Still none.

Next Week

We'll get our first comparison game as the Lions take on the Falcons. Let's hope they lose by more than 1 and have two bungled QB sneaks.