# 2010 NFC North Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 16, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471 "2010-08-16T23:36:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/261 "2010-10-29T15:43:42Z")
Yeah, my confidence is pretty low for this game against the Jets, definitely need some key turnovers. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/262 "2010-10-29T16:36:22Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > Jaws said he went over the game film specifically to watch how Favre played, and, although Favre was visibly hobbled a bit after his injury in the 3rd quarter, he still was able to move around. He said something like, “Favre obviously made some mistakes, but he also made some throws to keep the Vikings in the game that I’m not sure any other QB in the league can make.” Favre completed passes to defenders no other quarterback could hit, that’s for sure. I don’t know what Jaws is looking at; usually he’s spot on about this stuff, but Favre was clearly unable to step into his throws. Whether that was due to the ankle injury I don’t know, but there’s no way he should be playing this week. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/263 "2010-10-31T23:42:03Z")
Our year is over. I think this is the 3rd game I’ve watched this season where all our vaunted run defense had to do was stop the run late in the game, and they couldn’t do it. The NO game and this one, at least. First Vikings team ever to go 3 straight games without a sack. 3rd game without forcing a turnover. 8 straight losses on the road. A lot of the fault for our season thus-far can be placed at the feet of Favre, but our defense just simply hasn’t been as good as it was the past two years. I guess our goal for the rest of the season should be to do what we can to prevent a wild card team from coming out of our division. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/264 "2010-10-31T23:47:16Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > A lot of the fault for our season thus-far can be placed at the feet of Favre, but our defense just simply hasn’t been as good as it was the past two years. Yeah, I was stunned to see them give up a 100-yard game to the Law Firm of BenJarvus Green-Ellis. And, Jared Allen seems to be very quiet of late. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/265 "2010-11-01T00:09:24Z")
Pat Williams is old. The Vikings defense was always playing from in front last year, so it was easy for Allen to rack up the sacks, and for the Williams Wall to hold people to low rushing totals. Now they’re playing from behind, and it ain’t so easy. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/266 "2010-11-01T19:03:56Z")
[Rotowire.com](http://Rotowire.com) is reporting the Vikings have waived Randy Moss. If true…what the holy hell is going on in Minnesota? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/267 "2010-11-01T19:07:23Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > [Rotowire.com](http://Rotowire.com) is reporting the Vikings have waived Randy Moss. > > If true…what the holy hell is going on in Minnesota? Given his quotes after the game and his ineffectiveness, I’m not completely shocked, but geez, what a mess. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/268 "2010-11-01T19:08:44Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > [Rotowire.com](http://Rotowire.com) is reporting the Vikings have waived Randy Moss. Holy crap, that would be funny. His post game monologue was a huge batch of crazy, and his bashing of the Vikings and love for the Patriots was a joy to watch. After that game, though, the Vikings seem to be falling apart. I was surprised how poorly the defense played, but I thought they could pull it together for the rest of the season and stay competitive. But it sounds like there’s some serious problems in that franchise. ---
**Author:** ![hopesperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@hopesperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hopesperson)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/269 "2010-11-01T19:32:39Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Given his quotes after the game and his ineffectiveness, I’m not completely shocked, but geez, what a mess. Heh. Ted Thompson was criticized for not going after Moss back in the day when Favre wanted him to – thank god he had the good sense not to buckle. Maybe there’s an opening in Cincinnati. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/270 "2010-11-01T19:35:41Z")
The Bills at 0-7 would have the first priority (if I remember my NFL waiver policy), and they could use a wideout. The Panthers, however, at 1-6, are in much more desperate need of WR help. After those two, it seems like a crapshoot. But I think the big issue is how Randy will react. He’s mental, so predicting whether he’d actually try and go out and be a world beater or be a douchbag who attacks his own team is a fools game. No matter what, though, it’s good drama. I’m hoping he goes to Carolina, though. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/271 "2010-11-02T13:39:40Z")
Holy hell. Good Christ, what the fuck is going on with my team? I’ve never seen a team implode this badly. Apparently Zigi’s pissed. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/272 "2010-11-02T13:45:59Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Holy hell. Good Christ, what the fuck is going on with my team? I’ve never seen a team implode this badly. Yet, when you stop and look around, we’re the same team we were 5 weeks ago. Hopefully the team can rally around… **someone** …and get what should be an easy win over the Cards on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/273 "2010-11-02T14:06:29Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > The Bills at 0-7 would have the first priority (if I remember my NFL waiver policy), and they could use a wideout. > > The Panthers, however, at 1-6, are in much more desperate need of WR help. > > After those two, it seems like a crapshoot. > > But I think the big issue is how Randy will react. He’s mental, so predicting whether he’d actually try and go out and be a world beater or be a douchbag who attacks his own team is a fools game. > > No matter what, though, it’s good drama. I’m hoping he goes to Carolina, though. Why would Buffalo or Carolina want him? They’re not going to the playoffs and he’s not going to re-sign with them. All they’d be doing is taking playing time away from their own longer-term prospects. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/274 "2010-11-02T22:13:00Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > The Bills at 0-7 would have the first priority (if I remember my NFL waiver policy), and they could use a wideout. > > The Panthers, however, at 1-6, are in much more desperate need of WR help. > > After those two, it seems like a crapshoot. > > But I think the big issue is how Randy will react. He’s mental, so predicting whether he’d actually try and go out and be a world beater or be a douchbag who attacks his own team is a fools game. > > No matter what, though, it’s good drama. I’m hoping he goes to Carolina, though. The Bears brought your boy Freddie Barnes back into the fold. [http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2010/11/bears\_tweak\_practice\_squad.html](http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2010/11/bears_tweak_practice_squad.html) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/275 "2010-11-02T22:21:30Z")
Lions are not out of this race yet. Green Bay has a tougher schedule. This could be fun. No desperation here. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/276 "2010-11-05T15:01:20Z")
Kinda a lame weekend. I think most of these games will be relatively predictable. But the great thing about the NFL is just when you think it’s predictable, it gets messy. The Lions are at home facing the Jets. This game will be a big one to tell if the Lions are for real. They’ve got a top 10 scoring offense, but their defense just isn’t there yet. If their front 4 can stop the run, putting the game in Sanchez’s hands, they’ll have a shot in this game. But that’s a big if with the JETS looking to rebound. The Lions have been tough at home, but I don’t think they’re quite in the Jets category yet. The Bears to to Toronto against the winless Bills. Coming off a bye week against the worst team in the NFL is nice for the Bears. I’d be surprised if the Bears lose this week. A win won’t tell us much, but a loss could be tough to swallow. The Vikings get the Cardinals at home. It’s another game I think comes at a good time for the Vikings. With the constant distractions and Favre’s injury clouding the scene, it’s nice to have the team with the 3rd worst point differential in the league come to your house. Should be a win for the Vikings. The Packers have a Sunday night game at home against the severely underperforming Cowboys. Unless the Cowboys pull it together and the Packers devolve, it should be a Pack win. It’s not too exciting a week. But I get to sit on my couch and watch the Packers on Sunday night, so it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/277 "2010-11-05T21:30:18Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > The Bears to to Toronto against the winless Bills. Coming off a bye week against the worst team in the NFL is nice for the Bears. I’d be surprised if the Bears lose this week. A win won’t tell us much, but a loss could be tough to swallow. I really don’t know what to expect this week. The Bills have really been playing well recently and if you look at their games they actually appear to be a damn good 0-7 team, as much as that can be true. OT road losses to the Chiefs and Ravens, likely playoff teams, and they haven’t yet played a team that currently has a losing record. In the short history of these Toronto games the Bills haven’t played well or had much of a homefield advantage, though that didn’t differ much from games in the Ralph. The Bears are coming off a desperately needed bye and this is probably the biggest “must win” game in recent memory. If this staff can’t make the necessary adjustments when mostly healthy and facing a 0-7 team then there will be pitchforks and torches waiting for them at O’hare. The argument for the Bears is that the 2 universally agreed upon flaws on this team are the offensive line and the lack of a running attack. The O Line has actually been showing modest signs of improvement in the last few weeks following the move of Chris Williams inside. He still sucks but the 2 tackle spots are solidifying marginally. They get Garza back which should boost the awareness and intelligence of the right side of the line and give the rookie Webb a crutch. So, this looks to be the best recipe the line has and if it fails badly things are dire. Thankfully the Bills pass rush is shaky at best. The running game is both a blocking issue and a play calling issue. If the staff reads the papers at all, and told even a shred of truth in the media during the bye week, they will be calling far more running plays than in recent weeks. They have no excuses to not have a scheme and gameplan designed to pound the ball against one the of league softest run defenses. When the Bears can run the ball they can dominate teams, and that’s required this week. If the Bears win big, run the ball really well, and the pass protection takes another step forward there might be reason for optimism. If the Bears win close or lose there will be utter apoplexy in Chicago and the season is over. The staff and front office is 8 weeks away from their walking papers. If this offense doesn’t get on track after a bye week versus a soft opponent Mike Martz’s NFL career is over. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/278 "2010-11-08T16:21:26Z")
Al Harris says the [Packers are going to cut him](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5779713&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines) today. Harris has been on the PUP list, but still, he’s given a lot to that team for a long time. Typically classless move by McCarthy just to throw him away like garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/279 "2010-11-08T16:42:54Z")
Yeah, because only McCarthy would [cut](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3933807) a [long-time](http://search.espn.go.com/larry-allen/) [team leader](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3245927) like that. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/280 "2010-11-08T16:49:44Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Al Harris says the [Packers are going to cut him](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5779713&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines) today. Harris has been on the PUP list, but still, he’s given a lot to that team for a long time. Typically classless move by McCarthy just to throw him away like garbage. From the horses mouth: “I lost my job to injury, but I have only good things to say about Green Bay and everyone I worked with.” From the horses’ ass mouth: “Typically classless move by McCarthy just to throw him away like garbage.” It is a sad day for sure, because Harris was a great player for the team and worked so hard to come back from a devastating injury. I suppose they could pay him millions of dollars to not play on the IR, but he doesn’t seem to upset about how the Packers handle him. Here’s hoping he gets healthy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471.md?page=15)