State of the NFC North-Week 5
Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports
I know the Lions technically have the division lead, but I do not care this time. I am going to put quarterback Justin Fields on the cover image for this week’s article because I doubt the Bears will be on top in the division this year.
Bears and Lions destroyed their opponents. The Vikings lost to the Chiefs and also lost their best player in wide receiver Justin Jefferson to the injury reserve with a hamstring injury. The Packers also embarrassingly lost to the Raiders with some subpar performance from QB Jordan Love. A lot of stuff to unpack.
Detroit Lions
The Lions remain on top of the division again. They destroyed the Carolina Panthers 42-24. QB Jared Goff threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns against one of the best passing defenses in the league. Running back David Montgomery continues to have a monster season. He ran for 109 yards and one touchdown against one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. RB Craig Reynolds also ran for a touchdown off of 52 yards. Goff was the third Lions player to have a rushing touchdown, but he also recorded a loss on a run so he had zero total rushing yards at the end of the game. With WR Amon-Ra St. Brown out for that game, WR Josh Reynolds led the way with 76 yards and one touchdown. This was followed by tight end Sam LaPorta who had 47 yards and two touchdowns. He now has more touchdowns in just a few games compared to TE Kyle Pitts who has just three touchdowns in three years.
The defense was quiet with the exception of two players. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had one sack and one interception. Cornerback Jerry Jacobs also came away with an interception.
The Lions current record is 4-1. Their next opponents are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that I believe may give Detroit their second loss of the season.
Green Bay Packers
After waiting extra time to make my Week 5 article, the Packers loss to the Raiders the final score being 17-13, in a game I predicted them squashing the Raiders. Love looked awful at times. He threw for 182 yards and three interceptions. The run game came to play with RB A.J. Dillon rushing for 76 yards and one touchdown. Their only touchdown of the game. WR Christian Watson had 91 yards on the day. Other than Watson, there was no receiving play from anyone else of significance.
The defense did its best to stop the Raiders but unfortunately offensive struggles killed the game for them. Safety Rudy Ford got another interception on the year. The defense also had four sacks on the Raiders offense. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark, LB Rashan Gary, LB Kingsley Enagbare, and LB Preston Smith each got one sack a piece on the day.
The Packers are now 2-3 on the year. They next play the Denver Broncos in a little under two weeks as this is their bye week. Some time to catch a break and rest.
Chicago Bears
The Bears completely destroyed the Commanders, the final score being 40-20. Fields threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns in his second straight amazing performance. RB Khalil Herbert ran for 76 yards before he got hurt with an ankle injury that will keep him out for at least his next game. Fullback Khari Blasingame got his first rushing attempts of his career and he got 26 yards on the ground.
WR D.J. Moore had a field day, recording 230 yards and three touchdowns in a monstrous performance. TE Cole Kmet was also a key contributor with 42 yards and one touchdown.
The Bears defense registered five sacks on QB Sam Howell. LB T.J. Edwards, CB Greg Stroman Jr, DE DeMarcus Walker, DE Yannick Ngakoue, and DE Rasheem Green all came away with a sack. Stroman Jr. also had an interception on Howell. The Bears are currently 1-4 on the year and they next face the Minnesota Vikings next week after they have a mini bye week of sorts. Go Bears!
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have had just a rough season, QB Kirk Cousins had a rough season so far. Their offense is amazing but they keep losing to good teams. They lost to the Chiefs 27-20 and almost made a comeback on QB Patrick Mahomes.
Cousins threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns in the losing effort. The ground game for Minnesota was non-existent again. The receiving game was led by WR Jordan Addison who had 64 yards and one touchdown on the game. RB Alexander Mattison also had 20 yards and a touchdown on the day. TE T.J. Hockenson also had 51 yards on the game with sadly no touchdowns.
The defense played lukewarm for this game. Only coming away with two sacks from DE Danielle Hunter and DE Marcus Davenport. The Vikings go up against my Chicago Bears next week in a game I feel will be a high scoring, tug of war effort. One I feel my Bears could win.
