Around the NFC North: 2023 Week 14
Here's what's happening this week and next with the teams in the NFC North.
By Mike Price
About as weird of an NFC North Sunday as you could reasonably predict. The Bears upset the Lions in a game that wasn't even close at the end and the Vikings won in the lowest-scoring indoor game ever. Let's start with the Vikings.
Vikings
The Vikings beat the Raiders 3-0. It's a good thing that Davante Adams forced his way out of Green Bay to not play with Jordan Love. Otherwise, his legacy might get tarnished.
Game Notes
- Josh Dobbs was benched in this game and for good reason. He was 10/23 for 63 yards, took five sacks, and threw a literal hospital ball to Justin Jefferson. Nick Mullens was 9/13 for 83 yards in relief.
- Jefferson likely has cracked ribs, according to Twitter doctors, which means he'll be out again through the Packers game. TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison managed a combined 80 yards in his absence.
- Weirdly, Alexander Mattison had a strong game with 66 yards on just ten carries.
- The defense had a great performance again and four different players had sacks. It's time to really start hoping that someone hires Brian Flores as a head coach next season.
Former Packers
- Davante Adams had 53 yards on 10 targets in the loss.
Next Week
The Vikings play the Bengals on Saturday.
Bears & Lions
The Bears made easy work of the Lions, 28-13.
Game Notes
- Justin Fields didn't have an all-pro-level performance, but he clearly played better than Jared Goff. Fields was 19/33 for 223 yards and a TD through the air and 58 yards and a TD on the ground. Goff was worse at just about everything. He had a lower completion percentage, lower yards per attempt, he threw two picks, and he had zero rush yards. I'm not ready to crown Fields just yet, but we may be able to officially say that we were right to make fun of the Lions for believing in Goff for so long. Get ready for him to throw for 600 yards next week.
- On the ground, the Lions were still plenty productive, Montgomery and Gibbs both had at least 60 yards on 6 yards per carry - it just doesn't matter how well you're running the ball if your QB is turning it over and you're out of the game script all game.
- Defensively, the Lions continued to be bad - they gave up 28 points to the Bears. The Bears just might be good on defense.
- The Bears have been top-ten in just about every defensive metric that matters since the Montez Sweat trade. Part of that is certainly because of Sweat's ability but it's also because Eberflus is running the defense himself now. He made his reputation running strong defenses every season in Indy, which has gotten worse since he left, it makes sense that he's been able to improve a defense with a lot of capital invested in it. It will be interesting to see if the Bears stick with this coaching staff to keep evolving.
Former Packers
- The former Badger linebacker crew might be down to just TJ Edwards as Jack Sanborn played only 11 snaps in this matchup (though he did have a few highlight plays in the run game).
Next Week
The Lions play the Broncos on Saturday and the Bears play the Browns.
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved form Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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Comments (12)
T7Steve
December 13, 2023 at 11:18 am
Thanks for the run down, Mike.
I'd like to think that I'd only want the Packers to go to the playoffs on their own merits, but it would sure help if all three of these teams lose this week and the Packers take care of business at home.
The Packers merit a break from just bad stuff, and it would just be fun.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 13, 2023 at 12:48 pm
Yeah, I didn't know those details about the Viqueens. Ramifications for our game against them.
Da Bares will be an interesting season closer, hopefully not decided by injuries.
ImaPayne
December 13, 2023 at 01:14 pm
I dont see this packer team the way its playing now winning any more games. I guessed six wins, seven tops for this team pre season and I'm right on so far.
Packers are just average at best
LLCHESTY
December 13, 2023 at 06:49 pm
Just like your Vikings team. Average at best.
dobber
December 13, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Always enjoy this column.
The Bears are not a terrible football team. I said it. The defense has been pretty good at getting off the field, and Fields hasn't thrown a pick since he returned from injury. Those are the key determinants in their success, IMO....until last week, they hadn't beaten anyone of note, though. Three of their last four are against playoff hopefuls, and I don't think those teams will take them lightly. They just lost Ngakoue for the rest of the season, so we'll see how that impacts how teams defend Sweat. I think the Chicago fan base has soured enough on Eberflus that the Bears will need to beat the Packers in the finale AND get at least 7 wins to save his job.
The Lions go as Goff goes, and he goes badly when he's getting pressured and pushed around. Their OL is beat up right now and struggling to protect him. Their recent inability to dictate game flow with their offense has exposed a secondary that still isn't good. I think they'll be in a dogfight at home with Denver this week, who has done a good job of getting to the QB since they beat the Packers. Denver, statistically, is still suffering from the mauling they took by Miami in September but they haven't surrendered more than 23 points since their comeback win against Chicago...and that was a long time ago. If they survive the Lions' opening punch, they should be able to give the Lions a battle. The Lions have two slap-fights left with the Vikings--who knows how those will go--and will likely take a beating from Dallas in Arlington. They could very well finish the season with a whimper and lose all 4, but I think 2-2 and a division title seems about right.
The Vikings have lost 2 of their last 3 and have scored a whopping 11 ppg in those games. In comes Nick Mullens (he was destined to take over from Dobbs at some point) who will throw the checkdowns, struggle to create with his feet, really limit their downfield game, and give the ball away too much. On a team that struggles to run the ball, he and Dobbs will likely be trading starts from here on...which doesn't bode well for their playoff chances. They play a desperate Bengals team this week on the road, then finish with home-and-home games against the Lions and one in the glass monstrosity against the Packers. I think 2-2 will secure a playoff berth (and one of those wins would need to be against the Packers)...but they very possibly could lose out. I think 1-3 sounds about right--with a killer loss to the Packers--and they miss the playoffs.
ImaPayne
December 13, 2023 at 01:12 pm
I see the Vikes winning the last four games. Their defense is stellar and with Mullins at the helm he can move the offense with all those weapons available.
The vikes receivers and tight ends all have speed and good hands and route running so they will be tough to stop. The Lions will be two victories and the Pack three so just beat the bengals and you got the division title again without your best receiver and QB. Quite a feat.
barutanseijin
December 13, 2023 at 06:38 pm
Mullins moved that Vikings O really well, ever so deftly avoided the end zone. A real force to be reckoned with.
dobber
December 16, 2023 at 05:46 pm
"I see the Vikes winning the last four games. "
Um...whoops.
ImaPayne
December 13, 2023 at 01:07 pm
The Vikes D has consistently saved the bacon of this team and the Raiders game was another example. I think the Vikes with Mullins can continue to win, they have a lot of weapons on offense, running backs who can catch and a strong defense. All things missing on the packers.
The Lions are a joke. They have no QB, Goof looks lost and the O line is pourous. They will be lucky to make the playoffs and if so will go down early. This team has seriously regressed from last year thats for sure. Even though their record says otherwise the Lions of now arent very good.
The Bears are coming around and a couple of late acquisition on Defense has turned the team around to being competitive. The thing is they have the first pick and dont have to tank.
The Packers are in the mix only because the Lions are dying and the Bears are out of it. I see the Pack losing to the Vikes and the Vikes beating Detroit twice to take the division. and everyone had this dead to right but that defense is one of the best in the league and they refuse to go down.
LLCHESTY
December 13, 2023 at 06:54 pm
You sir are a joke that fools no one. Go back to a Viking site where you belong.
Leatherhead
December 13, 2023 at 01:50 pm
Fields is starting to look like a QB. Cousins is out of the picture. We've seen Goff's ceiling.
Next year, Love and Fields will be the top two QBs in the division.
EricTorkelson
December 16, 2023 at 01:28 pm
Bears.... Sorry fellow cheeseheads, the Packers 30 year reign on Da Bears is coming to a close... In Justin Fields a young dynamic quarterback and like him or not he is improving and yet to reach his prime.... The Bears have been accumulating young talent at vital positions, esp...D Line, Linebacker, D backfield, Receiver, O line, T End... The Bears will trade there Number one pick in next years draft for a BOATLOAD of picks and players to one of many QB starved teams... They may walk away with a top five or higher pick next year also... Finely it appears that they have competent management and coaching to get them to the next level... The end of the Packer reign starts Jan 7th......Sorry cheeseheads it couldnt last forever
Packers, ( PAMPERED ) once again the Packers injury report dwarfs there opponent, last count 14 players injured to some extent!
a loss to Tampa probably means an end to there playoff hopes.
Lions.. they will win the Division although right now they are on a slight descend, my thinking they will right themselves and be a pretty strong home playoff team..
The Vikings have serious QB issues, so much that even though there high pressure defense has worked great for them I dont think that they can pressure defense themselves into the playoffs ... and if they sneak in ahead of the Bears and Packers they will be one and done....