Around the NFC North - Week 6

Garda gives you his thoughts on the teams not in Green Bay as we go around the NFC North.

The Green Bay Packers get their first division game this week as they head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings led by....wait....who is the quarterback this week?

We won't belabor the breakdown of this game, as the CHTV site is filled with it, but it is interesting to watch the quarterback situation unfold. Sam Bradford came back way too soon and looked awful last week—so bad that Case Keenum looked good by comparison. This has long term impact as well since the Vikings have to decide a few things like whether to extend Bradford, what to do with Teddy Bridgewater (who will be re-evaluated next Monday) and what to do with the quarterback position overall.

For a team which doesn't seem to have a lot of holes—especially given that the offensive line looks much improved—the one at quarterback is wide, deep and possibly bottomless.

Let's take a look at the rest of the division, beginning with a team which might have filled the hole at quarterback—and in their fans' hearts.

Bears at Ravens

Mitch Trubisky wasn't going to be confused with Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Russell Wilson, but nobody really expected him to look as solid as he did last week. Sure, his interception had ROOKIE written all over it, but he kept his mistakes to a minimum, and that's mostly what you want, especially against a tough defense like the Vikings have.

The Ravens don't have that going for them and I refuse to be immpressed that they contained EJ Manuel. And Manuel's 'presence' if you want to call it that, meant they could just stack the box against Marshawn Lynch.

The problem for the Bears is they have no wide receiver. After foolishly thinking Kevin White would stay healthy (I laughed while I typed that sentence for sure), they dumped Alshon Jeffery, watched as White did what White does and got hurt again and then turned to find only fringe wide receivers and the Dr Pepper guy were left. This doesn't set Trubisky up to suceed, making last week even more impressive.

If the Bears can make ANYTHING happen though, they can win this game because the Ravens are just as offensively inept. 

This game should be ugly. If it is the only thing your TV will show you, because your TV is a jerk, go outside. Even if it's raining sulfur and undead frogs. 

It won't be worse than watching what could be the worst game on the weekend slate.

Lions at Saints

The Saints finally wised up and realize what a waste of space Adrian Peterson was on the bench—which I can only assume mean they blocked out his bitching for the last five weeks and only recently tuned him back in—and traded him to the place where old folks go in the west—Arizona.

Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara should be more than adequate without him there and I think they'll have more room to move around without his enormous ego.

I know a few insane people were calling for him to go to the Packers, but my guess is that was just the Pabst talking.

The Lions secondary is OK, but will be tested by Drew Brees and Michael Thomas, along with a returning Willie Snead. The Saints are coming off a bye week, so they might have a solid gameplan to attack a Lions secondary which has amassed seven interceptions and forced four fumbles.

They've been quiet about it too, and I almost think the Lions secondary is flying under the radar somehow.

Offensively, the Lions have scored pretty consistently and were able to keep pace with the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, who suddenly look good now that Cam Newton's shoulder is fully healed.

They should be able to keep pace with Brees as well, since the Saints defense is still bad. Given how bad, they might even come out on top this time rather then just miss as they did against Atlanta and Carolina.

 

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Comments (18)

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dobber's picture

October 11, 2017 at 04:14 pm

Early Week 6 injury report is in...

http://www.packers.com/team/injury-report.html

Only a couple DNPs, and Brooks has been nursing his back injury for a couple weeks. Nelson looks good. Hopefully King/Burnett will get work in tomorrow and Friday.

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Finwiz's picture

October 11, 2017 at 04:19 pm

That's relatively good news, but two big ones they could really use in this game are King and Burnett. More so, King. I think he's already the best cornerback on this team.

Still a lot of injuries, and they need all the defensive help they can get.

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Mojo's picture

October 11, 2017 at 05:32 pm

IIRC a scout listed " a history of concussions" as one of his concerns about King pre-draft. I couldn't find any history on it, but we sure don't want the makings of another situation comparable to what happened to Shields.

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Finwiz's picture

October 11, 2017 at 06:20 pm

Oh that's just great. I never heard that - good information.
Just ruined my night - thanks. Now I have to worry about the new guy every time he comes off the field.
What is with this team and drafting injured, or injury prone players?

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MarkinMadison's picture

October 11, 2017 at 08:23 pm

A 6'3" CB with legit 4.4 speed makes it to the second round and you're shocked that he has a major flaw? Hmmm....

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Finwiz's picture

October 11, 2017 at 08:36 pm

Don't think it was the injury history. I read his bio and game history. What he didn't show in college was big play ability. Very few interceptions for games played.

Defense & Fumbles
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Year
*2013
*2014
*2015
*2016
Career
Tackles Def Int Fumbles
Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
*2013 Washington Pac-12 FR DB 6 14 3 17 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 1 0
*2014 Washington Pac-12 SO DB 12 39 25 64 1.5 0.0 1 0 0.0 0 3 0 1
*2015 Washington Pac-12 JR DB 11 24 15 39 4.5 0.0 3 6 2.0 0 5 1 1
*2016 Washington Pac-12 SR DB 14 26 18 44 3.5 0.0 2 0 0.0 0 13 0 0
Career Washington 103 61 164 9.5 0.0 6 6 1.0 0 22 2 2

Six interceptions his entire 4 years, and no TD's. No big play ability, limited return yardage. (6 total yards returned) 22 passes defensed - not bad.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 12, 2017 at 01:16 am

I can't find anything about King having a history of concussions. Vague injury and strength concerns since he is 6'3" and just 200 pounds, yes, but nothing about any previous concussion.

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dobber's picture

October 12, 2017 at 08:09 am

Ditto. I haven't found anything cited.

But we'd be idiots to think that any of these guys who have played competitive football since they were bigger than the ball don't have a series of head injuries--maybe undiagnosed, maybe hidden--in their past.

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Lphill's picture

October 11, 2017 at 04:16 pm

It would be very embarrassing if case Keenum rips apart the Packers with a good passing game which we all know is very possible especially if King is out with a concussion . We need a good rush and a lot of blitzing , he did not seem to read the blitz to well so I hope Capers stayed awake for Monday night football .

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Johnblood27's picture

October 12, 2017 at 09:00 am

Crapers cant even keep from nodding off during Packer games, hoping he saw MNF is just really hysterical!

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Fire_Gute's picture

October 11, 2017 at 07:58 pm

I'm going to the vikings new toilet bowl for the first time this weekend so I sure hope they can contain the Case Keenam show. Bradford looks like he's ready to fall apart. Trubiski might be ready next year if they give him someone to throw to, it would kinda be nice to put some life back in the rivalry. Go saints

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Amanofthenorth's picture

October 11, 2017 at 10:46 pm

I know things are bad in Chicago but, according to the first sentence, they have been kicked out of the NFC North.

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GBPDAN1's picture

October 12, 2017 at 02:59 am

Yep, this is the Packers 2nd division game, not the first as the article stated.

Would really like to see King And Bak back for this game. Having both of our OTs would be a great boost against a good D in a loud environment. Diggs didn't practice on Wednesday. If he can't go, missing King wouldn't be as bad.

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dobber's picture

October 12, 2017 at 07:37 am

Well, if you really want to get technical about it, it IS the Packers first division game THIS week.

"The Green Bay Packers get their first division game this week as they head to Minnesota..."

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flackcatcher's picture

October 12, 2017 at 06:57 am

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha........ The Bears still suck! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha....

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Johnblood27's picture

October 12, 2017 at 09:05 am

i know it is early in this season with a lot of important games left to play, but...

I think that it is really important to get this win IN Minny. WE pissed down our collective legs last year when we outplayed the queens in their new home but failed to finish with scores and dropped a bad loss there.

I dont think we can afford to let the queenies think that they have a home field advantage on us. GB is the better team and seem to be over the early season doldrums and even have a few injured players back.

This should be a good barometer of this teams capabilities since this is a division tilt which mashed potato mike has always taken seriously.

Besides that, I really hate minnietown and the queens. I cant stand the entire week after a loss to these jerks. Cmon Pack, get fired up!

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Faust14's picture

October 12, 2017 at 09:18 am

When the first line of an article is false, I have a hard time putting stock in anything the writer presents after that.

C'mon CHTV, you are better than this, or you used to be.

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Since'61's picture

October 12, 2017 at 10:29 am

I guess the league reorganized again and pulled the Bears from the NFC North. Or did they move the Packers and Vikings to a new division?

However, until these moves are confirmed or denied I'm rooting for the Pack, Ravens and Saints this weekend. And on the baseball side the NY Yankees of course.
Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since '61

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