Around the NFC North

News from around the NFC North including the Division defending champion Green Bay Packers as well as rivals Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

Chicago Bears:   3 PM, November 4 is the NFL trade deadline and if you listen to the rumors it may be a date of significance for the Bears. 

Clearly the Bears are in a rebuilding mode and they have a couple of players that would be attractive for a contending team.  The most notable rumor has running back Matt Forte being moved with one possible landing spot being Dallas.  At 29 years of age and making $7.1M this year the handwriting may be on the wall.

As one un-named league executive noted,   "They (Bears GM Ryan Pace) basically say, 'Don't be afraid to ask (about available players).'"

Another player rumored to be available in a trade is WR Alshon Jeffery.

The Bears future at wide receiver is this year’s first round pick Kevin White who has been injured and was on the PUP list since training camp.  White is eligible to come off the PUP this week - should he prove to be healthy enough to contribute.

Last Week:  OT Loss in Detroit

This Week:  Bye

Season Record: 2 - 4

Place in NFC North:   3rd    

Detroit Lions:  Fresh off their first victory of the year at home against rival Chicago, the Lions look to string a second victory in a row when they host the Vikings on Sunday.

The desperate Lions pulled out all stops for their first and only victory of the season.   The Lions executed a successful fake punt with 5:18 left in the game and the Bears leading 31-24.  Special teams’ coordinator Joe Marciano told his team to watch how the Bears lined up, and to call for the fake if the Bears’ alignment was going to give S Abdul-Quddus room to run. It did.  The result was a 30-yard gain which helped the Lions win the game.

The Lions will need all the points they can get and in any manner that they can get them against the Vikings.  The Detroit defense is yielding a miserable 28.7 PPG – fourth worst in the NFL.

The Vikings on the other hand are giving up a very respectable 16.6 PPG which is the second best in league - just marginally better than the 16.8 PPG mark of the number three club, the Green Bay Packers.

Last Week:  OT win at home vs. Bears

This Week:  1 - 5

Season Record:  Home vs. Vikings

Place in NFC North:   Last

Minnesota Vikings:  There is a rising star in the Vikings receiving ranks as of late.   Stephon Diggs, the rookie from Maryland, had six catches for 87 yards in his Week Four debut.  Diggs followed up that effort with a seven-catch outing good for 129 yards.  Injured starter Charles Johnson may have a tough time reclaiming his job once he returns from an injury which has shelved the former Packers player for the past two weeks.

HC Mike Zimmer was ambiguous about the situation when he said, “You don’t lose your starting job because of injury, but you do lose your starting job because of performance,” in comments made to ESPN.com.

Don’t count on a Vikings and Lions scoring shootout.  The Lions are currently the 26th ranked scoring offense in the league.  That mark is still better than the Vikings who come in at 29th with an anemic 19.2 points scored on average per game.

Last Week:  Win at home vs. Chiefs

This Week:  At Lions

Season Record:  3 - 2

Place in NFC North:   2nd

Green Bay Packers:   Although their week six win at home vs. the San Diego Chargers wasn’t pretty, style counts very little in the NFL.  6 – 0 does matter a great deal however and that is where the Packers reside.  The Pack is all alone in first place heading into the much needed bye week.

The injury-riddled Packers should be getting back a number of their injured players when they return to play at Denver on November 1.  It is expected that WR Davante Adams, NT B.J. Raji, and S Morgan Burnett will return.  Other possibilities for a return are OLB Nick Perry (shoulder sprain) and rookie WR Ty Montgomery (ankle sprain). 

The Packers will need all able-bodied hands on deck for the Broncos’ contest which will feature two of the NFL’s 5 remaining unbeaten clubs.

Where the Bronc’s as a whole are doing well, the same cannot be said of future HOF QB Peyton Manning.  He is struggling big-time.  Just two seasons ago Manning threw for 55 touchdowns against only 10 interceptions. But just this past week in an overtime victory vs. the Cleveland Browns Manning threw only one touchdown to go with three interceptions, giving him seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions through six games this season.  Three of those INT’s have been returned for touchdowns.  

As a team the Broncos have scored only five offensive touchdowns in their six games and they are currently a very un-Manning like 29th in the league in total offense averaging 325.8 YPG, but are 13th in scoring with a 23.2 average.

While the end may be in sight for Manning, who at 39 years of age may have finally hit the wall, they are far from being dependent on Manning for their success.

Much like the 2015 version of the Green Bay Packers, Denver no longer relies on just their QB to win games.  Their defense which is ranked second in the league has yielded a skimpy 281.3 YPG average.

In what will be an intriguing matchup, the Packers offense is number five in scoring (27.3 PPG) and number 10 in total offense at 364.2 YPG.

First-things-first will be getting their battered team some much needed R & R and their injured players back on to the field for the final 10-game push to the Super Bowl.

Last Week:  Win at home vs. San Diego

This Week:  Bye

Season Record:   6 - 0

Place in NFC North:   First (still, and all alone)

 

 

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Comments (21)

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Evan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:11 am

"The Bears future at wide receiver is this year’s first round pick Kevin White..."

I'd say, at 25, Jeffrey is every bit the Bears future at WR as White. And it's not like teams use only one WR.

But, by all means, Chicago, trade a young, playmaker away.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:42 am

Jeffrey is a free agent after this year. There is some speculation that he is not interested in being part of a rebuilding process and will test the free agent market after this year. No idea if this is true. Rappoport wrote that jeffrey is content with Chicago.

One year rental issue comes into play.

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Evan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:45 am

A FA already? I feel like he just came into the league.

EDIT: Wow, this is his 4th year? I thought it was his 3rd.

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DaTomkat's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:24 am

How does the bye week work ? I know a lot of the healthy players are talking about going home and hanging out and resting up. What about the banged up guys ? Do they have to stick around GB for treatment to make sure they are ready for the next game ? Thanks

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croatpackfan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:31 am

It depends on injury, but, as we can see from injury report, those banged up players will receive instructions what to do and will be on their decision if they will go home or stay in Green Bay...

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Evan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:44 am

TJ Lang tweeted a pic of himself on a boat yesterday.

So, I assume he's not in town. Though it has been warm around here lately.

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DaTomkat's picture

October 21, 2015 at 08:39 am

Warm even up here in Tomahawk. Hope its "real cool" in Denver for our next game. We all know how much Payton loves cold weather. Thanks CroatpackFan for the reply above.

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croatpackfan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:29 am

Regarding those talks about Vernon Davis, I would prefer Martellus Bennett. He is 28, but I think few years is still left in tank! If he is beast with Jay Cutler, can you imagine how Aaron and our ofensive coaches can use him...
But, I really do not think Packers will take that path!

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Evan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:43 am

I've been joking/saying that for weeks now. It'll never happen, but he's definitely who I'd target.

Or Steve Smith. I've always loved him.

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RCPackerFan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 07:55 am

Yeah, it will never happen but would be great to see.

Never say Never though. As we know Thompson had trade deals all but done to get Randy Moss and Marshawn Lynch until the other teams upped the anti.

Bennett would look great wearing Green and Gold.

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J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

October 21, 2015 at 10:34 am

I can't see Chicago Oking a trade that will make the Packers even better. They'd more than likely only trade out of division or preferably the conference. The Chicago Bears aren't exactly in the best position to dictate the terms so who knows, I suppose.

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RCPackerFan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 10:42 am

Yeah, I don't see it happening. But you never know I guess...

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Since'61's picture

October 21, 2015 at 10:43 am

Totally agree on Steve Smith. The Ravens are 1-5 and their season is probably done. Smith plays all out and is still a very capable deep threat. He would be a great fit for the Packers and I'm sure that he would love to have one last shot at a Super Bowl. He has already announced that this will be his last season. TT may be able to get him for a 4th or 5th round pick. It would be well worth it to get a legitimate deep threat back on our offense and improve the Packers chances for reaching the SB. He is the only missing link on our Super Bowl contending team. Bennett would be an excellent pick up as well but will be much more costly to acquire than Smith. Go Pack! Thanks, Since '61

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Evan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 12:26 pm

4th or 5th round pick? I'd say 6-7 at most. I love him and he has some gas left, but dude is 36.

A Steve Smith trade has Patriots written all over it.

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Since'61's picture

October 21, 2015 at 02:33 pm

Even better for a 6-7 pick. But you're correct, a Steve Smith trade definitely has the Cheatalots written all over it. Thanks, Since '61

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J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

October 21, 2015 at 03:08 pm

Is old man Steve Smith really still a legit deep threat?

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Evan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 04:14 pm

I don't know about "deep threat" or not. I just know he's still a badass WR.

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croatpackfan's picture

October 22, 2015 at 03:58 am

Guys, while I agree with you both, you are in serious danger. There is lot of Packers fans there who can seriously attack you for passing Jeff Janis as deep threat for Packers. For them he is the best receiver on Packers team and they honestly thinks coaches and Aaron hate that guy. So, be careful when you suggesting trade for deep threat other then Jeff...

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Big_Mel_75's picture

October 21, 2015 at 03:07 pm

Could you imagine a 6-8 TE for Rodgers?? Drool!!!

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Vince Maiuri's picture

October 21, 2015 at 11:26 am

Don't know if anyone cares, but I've noticed this site misspells Peyton Manning a lot. It's Peyton, not Payton.

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RCPackerFan's picture

October 21, 2015 at 11:40 am

Interesting Read.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/32for32x151021/ranking-most-banged-n...

What I find interesting is 4 of the 5 undefeated teams are all in the top 10 rankings as far as most banged up.

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