2012 NFC North Discussion Thread

The Game Room
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Well, after the Packer win against the previously undefeated Texans, the Vikings’ surprising 4-2 start, and the Bears beating up on teams without a winning record, the NFC North is looking like one of the stronger divisions in the league. NFL.com still has them rated as the toughest division (although NFC West is close behind). And only two AFC teams have winning records, so they’re not really in the conversation at all. Kudos the NFC North.

This weekend’s games are pretty interesting, especially the intra-divisional Monday Night game, Bears v. Lions. Coming off the bye week, the Bears have been impressive and stand alone atop the division. The Lions were handed a gift last weekend, and look to be an undisciplined, sloppy team that certainly has not lived up to their expectations. While I do think the Bears have inflated themselves against bad teams, I also think they are well-coached, disciplined team that will take advantage of every opportunity the Lions give them. Unless Schwartz stops being a douchebag, gets his team under control, balances that offense, and gets Stafford to play better, this game should be a Bears win. It could get interesting if that Lion D line finally lives up to the hype and take advantage of an iffy Bears O Line, but they’ll likely end up committing a penalty or have a coaching error to give the game away. Still, it should be a good watch, because one of these teams will be taking a big step closer to a meltdown.

The Vikings have been the surprise of the NFC North this year, in large part with an improved defense, an improved Christian Ponder, and some nice play by Antione Winfield and the secondary. They get to play at home against the equally surprising Arizona Cardinals. The problem with the Cards is that their early season 4-0 record has been shown to be a bit of a fluke. The offense has taken a huge step backward, and they can’t really run the ball. Or pass it for that matter. I like the Vikings to get the win (they’re 6.5 point favorites) at home against a bad offensive team, but that Cardinal defense is nothing to laugh at. Still, Matt Kalil has had a very good start to his rookie season, the Vikings can mix up the run and the pass, and they should get the win.

Finally, the Packers play their third straight road game against my much once-liked, now much-loathed St. Louis Rams. The Rams specialty is having shut down corners, a nice outside pass rush, and a nice pair of bruising RB’s, which matches up well against the Packers who have WR who sometimes aren’t physical enough, have some problems with protection, and maybe aren’t great tacklers. Still, I think the Packers (a 5 point favorite) are the better team and that bad Ram O-line and WR crew will once again let the Rams down. While I would not be surprised to see a Ram player diving at Rodger’s knees 10 seconds after the throw or Courtland Finnegan actually raping Randall Cobb, I think the Packers should get an important win on the road. McCarthy needs to make sure the Packers stay professional, limit their turnovers (preferably to none), and don’t overlook a team that matches up well against them. But I think the Packer defense should be a big reason for a win this weekend. I hope.

Should be a fun weekend (and Monday) of NFC North football.

ETA: Greg Jennings and BJ Raji, two starters for the Packers, have been ruled out for Sunday. So it goes.

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And Nick Perry and Sam Shields are out.

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Anyone here know where the Vikes would’ve ended up in the 2012 draft if they’d lost their last game in 2011 to the Redskins?

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Actually, it was the 2nd-to-last game. They would’ve ended up 2-14.

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Interestuing on-side kick early in the Packer’s game.
I’m sure almost all QBs do it, but I like the defensive penaly/free - throw by Rodgers. This time it worked out (and there is nio downside by not trying)

Brian

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The one long TD pass Rodgers had to Cobb was just a sick throw, scrambling left throwing right, downfield 39 yards and dead on target. It was just a beautiful throw.

Video

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Charles Woodson out 6 weeks with a broken clavicle.

BTW, guess who is atop the QB ratings? Hint: It’s the same guy who leads in TD passes.

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One of the finest throws I’ve ever seen to a receiver who someday will be see in the same class as Calvin or Andre Johnson (if he isn’t there already.)

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Looking like the Bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Pack coming up after two home games. Heal fast, Charles!

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Try not to come back until after week 15.

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He isn’t. He’s on pace for 84 receptions, 994 yards and 7 TDs. Those are numbers for an above average #2 receiver. Also, AJ & CJ did not have Aaron Rodgers throwing to them, a factor one would think would help a young receiver.

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Bears on top of the division. Lions down in the dumper. All is right and just in the Black and Blue.

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Same ol’ same ol’. The Packers win again on the road, yet lose another important starter to injury, the Lions shoot themselves in the foot, the Bears take advantage of a team shooting itself in the foot, and the Vikings somehow manage a win.

I was thrilled to see the Lions lose, and lose thanks to their own poor play. Whether it was a fumble on the goal line, a fumble in the redzone, a penalty when they had the Bears backed up, only giving the ball to a running back who was averaging over 5 yards per carry 12 times, or personal foul penalties adding yardage, I really enjoyed their meltdown, including watching Schwartz pout (no fist pump this week) on the sidelines.

I’m also becoming more convinced that the poor mechanics, skittish, inaccurate, and staring down receiver Stafford is more the real Matt Stafford than the touchdown machine we saw last year. His regression is the single biggest reason the Lions are at 2-4.

The Bears, meanwhile, once again take advantage of a team self-destructing and getting 4 turnovers. Special kudos to Peanut Tillman, who had an excellent game against Megatron, and to the running game, which kept the pressure off of Cutler. I saw nothing that changed my mind about the Bears’ not being as good as their record and feasting on bad teams, but a win is a win and leading the division is leading the division.

The Vikings get an old school win. It looked like the Vikings of old, with Adrian Peterson carrying the offense and the defense doing just enough against a really bad QB to get the win. The Vikings need to be concerned about Christian Ponder’s recent string of games where his play has been … less than stellar. He’s been better this year, but he still struggles against good defenses. Still, at 5-2, they’re way ahead of expectations, although their schedule does get a lot tougher from here on out.

The Packers get another road win to move to 4-3 (cough 5-2 cough). The Rams played an very good first half, controlling the ball, but the Packers took over in the second half and closed the game out easily. Casey Hayward had another nice game in the secondary, which is vital because of another injury, this one to Charles Woodson. The Packer run blocking still needs a ton of work and the injuries are going to take their toll, but Rodgers is playing as well as last year and they look like a team that could make a run.

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One of the NFC North brethren are playing the Thursday night game, as the Vikings play host to the 2-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Packer fan in me wants the Vikes to lose to make it easier for the Packers to make the playoffs, I do foresee more losses as the Vikings schedule progresses, and I really don’t like Greg Schiano and Aqib Talib, so I’ll be rooting for the Vikes to uphold the honor of the NFC North.

The Vikes are a 6.5 point favorite, which sounds about right. But the biggest issue for the Vikings is getting Christian Ponder right in the head again. 3 straight games with at least 2 interceptions isn’t good for a second year QB. But the Buccaneers are 31st against the pass, which should help. The Bucs are 3rd against the run, in part due to that strong front 4, in part due to it being so easy to throw on them. If Ponder doesn’t start being more careful with the ball, this game could be a loss.

I’m on record of not being a fan of the Buc’s talent pool. I think Freeman and Martin are average players (at best) and, unless they get to play some of the worst defenses in football (Saints and Chiefs are the 3rd and 4th worst scoring defenses), the offense will struggle. The Vikings, however, are 6th best scoring defense, and I think the pass rush can get to Freeman and that there won’t be much room for Martin to plod along to.

Unless Ponder continues to turn the ball over, I think the Vikings get the win.

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I think Freeman is average, but I like Martin a lot actually. But here’s the thing about tonight’s game, the Bucs give up the third fewest rushing yds/gm and the second most passing yds/gm. SO it is clear they will try and make Ponder beat them as they load up on Peterson. How well Ponder handles it will completely determine the outcome of this game. I think the Vikings win, but just barely.

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Well, Forbes reported a fan survey about the popularity of NFL players. As far as the NFC North goes, these players made the list:

Most liked:

#3 Charles Woodson - Green Bay Packers
#5 Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers
#8 Brian Urlacher - Chicago Bears
#9 Donald Driver - Green Bay Packers
#10 Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions

Least Liked:

#1 Ndamunkong Suh - Detroit Lions
#2 Jay Cutler - Chicago Bears

I can’t say any of it is too suprising. Suh and Cutler are incredibly unlikable, and the Packers are well represented on the likable scale. As a side note, in my personal opinion, Drew Brees (#2 Most Liked) has gone from most liked to least liked with his off season contract whining and his brain-dead defense of the Saints ’ bounty system.

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Hard to imagine people are ho-hum about Adrian Peterson, who is currently leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage*. The dude is a spectacular athlete with a ridiculous work ethic who doesn’t showboat, run his mouth, or get into too much trouble off the field. Maybe the latter part of that is boring…

…if that’s the case, may I present to you Jared Allen, a spectacular athlete with a ridiculous motor who showboats (with a smile), runs his mouth, but doesn’t get into too much trouble off the field?

*hasn’t had a bye week yet.

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That sentence should have ended with “anymore.” The Chiefs let him leave in free agency after 3 DUIs, and he was suspended for a couple of games in 2007 under the substance abuse policy. He seems to have gotten himself on the right track in Minnesota.

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Since you’re calling me out on a technicality, “doesn’t” is simple present tense, and your last sentence supports the point I’m making.

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Charles Tillman won NFC defensive player of the week again. Not only did he shut down Johnson, he also caused two fumbles. I think people are going to start taking notice of him now, he isn’t a classic shutdown corner with all the INTs, but he is the master of punching the ball out.

On the link below is a pic of him reflected in Megatron’s visor that I mentioned in the NFL thread. I think it’s a great shot.