Around the NFC North 2022 Week 10

Here's what's happening this week and next with the teams in the NFC North.

We're almost back to normal. The Packers beat the Cowboys on national TV and the Bears and Lions played each other in a semi-entertaining slap fest. Unfortunately, the Vikings somehow pulled another surprise victory out of thin air. Let's get into the games. 

Vikings

The Vikings beat the Bills 33-30 despite trailing by two touchdowns at one point. 

Game Notes  

  • Everything's going right for the Vikings. They finally get matched up against a great team and Josh Allen's mysterious elbow injury combined with Justin Jefferson playing like an alien get them the win. The football gods have left us. 
  • Jefferson had 10 catches for 193 yards and a TD. This season, the biggest news in the wide receiver world is that Jefferson has overtaken Davante Adams and is close to being the clear best receiver in the game. Only Tyreek Hill has a strong argument for being better. 
  • Cousins had a meh game. He took 50 passes to get to 357 yards and only completed 60% of them with two picks. Makes you wonder what the Vikings would look like if they traded their star receiver for a 24-year-old defensive tackle who doesn't play and half a (future hall of fame???) receiver.  
  • The defense tightened up again when it mattered and Za'Darius Smith, unsurprisingly, had another sack and pass defensed. It's enough to make you want to throw up. 

Former Packers

  • Chandon Sullivan had a big week with 9 (!) tackles. An unheard of number for a cornerback. 

Next Week

The Vikings take on the Cowboys. 

Bears & Lions

The Lions beat the Bears 31-30 thanks to a missed extra point. Double Oof. 

Game Notes

  • The Lions pulled out this game thanks to the missed XP but the story of the week, again, was Justin Fields. Fields had an insane 147 rushing yards and 2 TDs. Khalil Herbert added 57 more on 10 carries and altogether the team had 258 rush yards to the Lions' 95. Remember when the Lions were the fun run first team?
  • Field's passing was fine again this week, but nothing special. He had 60% completion percentage and a pick. Goff threw for more yards and over 70% completion percentage thanks to the Sun God's return to prominence, he had 10 catches and 119 yards. 
  • Defensively, Jeffrey Okudah had a pick, Jack Sanborn (ex-Badger) had two sacks, and Julian Okwara had two sacks but no one else really did anything interesting on the stat sheet. Anytime you give up 30 to the Lions (or Bears) you didn't have a great day defensively. 
  • Both of these teams have bad defenses this season, but both also seem to be trending up on offense. The Bears are using Justin Fields perfectly. Give him a year with Claypool and Mooney and then add an offensive lineman and receiver early in the draft next year and this could be a top-ten offense. The Lions don't have the QB, but they have a star receiver, two plus running backs, and a top 3-5 offensive line. Really, it's too bad that these teams can't just combine into one great offense and probably still-bad defense. 

Former Packers

  • Jamaal Williams had a bad day YPC-wise, with 59 yards on 16 carries, but he had another TD. He has 9 on the season, good for second in the league. 
  • Equanimeous was outshined (get it?) by his brother since he had no catches, but he did have 9 yards on 2 carries. 
  • Former Packer Joe Thomas only had 2 tackles thanks to former Badger Jack Sanborn taking his snaps and putting up an incredible 12 tackles and 2 sacks. 

Next Week

The Bears take on the Falcons and the Lions play the Giants. 

 

 

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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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2 points
 

Comments (10)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Lphill's picture

November 15, 2022 at 01:08 pm

The Bills could have gone up by 17 but on 4 th and goal they went for it and Allen threw a pick in the end zone which was returned to mid field, it all went downhill for the Bills after that turning point.

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PackyCheese500's picture

November 15, 2022 at 01:12 pm

The Vikings are going to win the division, not much else to say. They must be the luckiest team in the NFL right now, hopefully the Cowboys beat them this week, though! Remember, though, that the Packers didn’t win the division the year they went to the SB. If we make the playoffs, the win over the Cowboys could be crucial in determining wild card seeding. I wish we had kept Z, though. Only Matthew Judon of the Patriots has more sacks.

I saw Amari and Kylin Hill were released. Amari probably to make room for Randall Cobb, but are the Packers planning on elevating Tyler Goodson? Could the Packers be trying to sign a pass-rusher with Hills former roster spot? Hopefully Benson Mayowa is on their radar. He is far and beyond the best free agent pass rusher on the market

Going forward, I think that the Packers’ blueprint to win should be something like what the Giants are doing right now. Run the ball first, and set up passes off of play action. Defense comes up with stops and key plays when it matters most. The Titans will be a tough team to beat on Thursday, but they are dealing with injuries, their pass D and passing O are not good, and I think with home-field advantage, the Packers can win. The Eagles’ weakness, as I saw on Monday, is stopping the run. If they can stick to the run, use it to set up the pass, and come up with some defensive play-making, they will have a fighting chance of pulling off an upset.

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Starrbrite's picture

November 15, 2022 at 03:31 pm

Well said Packy—my sentiments exactly.

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Starrbrite's picture

November 15, 2022 at 03:32 pm

I have nothing to add after that.
Vikings living on the edge.

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T7Steve's picture

November 15, 2022 at 01:37 pm

Just think if Jefferson didn't catch all the uncatchable balls from Cousins. What would his 60% completion rate be then? That kid is unreal. At least we're starting to get an unreal athlete of our own now. If we keep running the ball, he'll get his shots.

Need to keep the Bears where they are at the bottom. Bear fans act superior as it is. Can't ever go back to the 80s again.

How are we doing for total wins now that the Bears lost? Forgot we were going to surpass them all time at some point.

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Starrbrite's picture

November 15, 2022 at 03:34 pm

Yep

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stockholder's picture

November 15, 2022 at 03:10 pm

Jefferson is the best WR in the NFL now. Until he gets a bigger contract.

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Starrbrite's picture

November 15, 2022 at 03:42 pm

Agree

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egbertsouse's picture

November 16, 2022 at 07:53 am

It’s almost mind-boggling to think that Jefferson and JaMarr Chase were on the same team at LSU. And their QB was Joe Burrows. Jesus! Anyone surprised they won the national title?

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Packerlifer's picture

November 17, 2022 at 11:01 am

Take a look at the Vikqueens' Pythagorean score ( Expected W-Expected L) https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2022.htm to see how "lucky" they have been this season.

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