# Season Long NFC North Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 1, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514 "2009-09-01T17:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**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:** [October 25, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/321 "2009-10-25T21:06:00Z")
Bears are just getting embarrassed in all phases at all positions. ---
**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 25, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/322 "2009-10-25T21:38:26Z")
I believe you owe Cedric Benson an apology… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/323 "2009-10-25T21:55:15Z")
The Lions picked up a critical half game on the Vikes and Bears today. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/324 "2009-10-25T21:57:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I believe you owe Cedric Benson an apology… He looks solid, but it helps when the Bears front seven decides to take the weekend off. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/325 "2009-10-25T23:24:16Z")
Well, the Packers looked good, the Bears looked bad, and the Vikings lost. Meanwhile, in other news, the league offices were surprised not to have to hang another loss on the Lions. ---
**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 25, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/326 "2009-10-25T23:34:34Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > He looks solid, but it helps when the Bears front seven decides to take the weekend off. Looked like everyone but Hester took the day off. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/327 "2009-10-25T23:38:27Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Bears are just getting embarrassed in all phases at all positions. On the bright side, Forte finally averaged more than 3.1 ypc against a team not named the Lions. And Hester finally had a 100 yard game. And Kyle Orton didn’t get another win this week to nore than double Cutler’s win total. Silver lining and all. ---
**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 26, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/328 "2009-10-26T04:37:36Z")
I have to admit, that Bears loss was sweet. Mostly because I was at the bar watching the Packers play theBrowns and when the Browns went up 3-0 this totally obnoxious Bears fan was whooping it up. Needless to say he was pretty quiet for the afternoon games. ---
**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 26, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/329 "2009-10-26T11:47:24Z")
I think any Vikings fan will take what happened this weekend. Having the ball with a chance to win the game inside of 2 minutes on the road against the world champs is an opportunity we’ll take every time. 9-18 on 3rd downs, 12 minute time of possession advantage, several long, sustained drives. Our offense looked damned impressive. Moving the ball as well as we did against the Ravens and the Steelers gives me a lot of hope for the rest of the season. Next week is Favre-apalooza II, where the Packers get reintroduced to NFL-level competition. LOL @ the bears. Beaten like a circus cub at every phase of the game. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/330 "2009-10-26T15:39:08Z")
I like it when the Bengals play NFC North opponents. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/331 "2009-10-26T16:44:23Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I like it when the Bengals play NFC North opponents. You wait. They play the Lions on …week 13. Week 13 will be the lucky day for Detroit. It will be triskadecaphobia for Cincy. ---
**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 26, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/332 "2009-10-26T16:49:50Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > Next week is Favre-apalooza II, where the Packers get reintroduced to NFL-level competition. AS a Packer fan I was prepared to be annoyed at thsi attempt to downplay our victories, but in reality the Browns yesterday looked bad. Derek Anderson is JamArcus Russel level bad. Theier defense is bad, their recievers are bad…they are…BAD. This Sunday should be a pretty great game. I am very excited. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/333 "2009-10-26T16:53:35Z")
Vikes - Pack will definitely establish the tenor of the rest of the season in this division. If the Pack cannot beat the Vikes at home, then they are really nothing more than a wild-card/wild-card pretender, and the Vikes are likely the NFC champions. If the Pack can win, then I’d say that both teams have strong aspirations, and would join a group including the Gints and the Cowbabies with a chance to go the the Bowl. Favre got up for the Pack once. Let’s see if he can get himself hyped twice for the same thing… :eek: ---
**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 26, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/334 "2009-10-26T17:19:30Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Vikes - Pack will definitely establish the tenor of the rest of the season in this division. If the Pack cannot beat the Vikes at home, then they are really nothing more than a wild-card/wild-card pretender, and the Vikes are likely the NFC champions. I think the Saints might have something to say about that. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/335 "2009-10-26T17:45:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I think the Saints might have something to say about that. I was going to say the same thing. What a great NFC champ game that would be, though…Vikes v Saints. ---
**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 26, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/336 "2009-10-26T17:57:30Z")
I still think the Vikings are a bit of a mirage. Favre may be bailing them out in the fourth quarter right now, but he’s shown over the last half-decade that in the playoffs he’s more prone to throwing game-losing interceptions than game-winning scores. That said, I confidently predict that either the Saints or the Vikings will fail to make it to the NFC Championship Game, but I don’t know which one. ---
**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 26, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/337 "2009-10-26T18:11:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I still think the Vikings are a bit of a mirage. Favre may be bailing them out in the fourth quarter right now, but he’s shown over the last half-decade that in the playoffs he’s more prone to throwing game-losing interceptions than game-winning scores. > > That said, I confidently predict that either the Saints or the Vikings will fail to make it to the NFC Championship Game, but I don’t know which one. I think the Vikes are a bit of a mirage, but not too much. I mean they won two games they could have easily lost, but they didn’t. What I do find interesting is that as the season progresses they seem to be shifting more focus to the passing game. And I know DtC is going to come in here and complain about a tripping call on the Vikes that nullified a TD and the game may have turned out differently. And normally I would dismiss this, but I actually think the Vikes got shafted on that call and it could have turned out differently (or maybe not, we will never know). However, I am also a believer that once something like that happens it is not an excuse for mistakes made later and when the Vikes had a chance, they Steelers defense picked it up and won the game. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/338 "2009-10-26T18:16:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I still think the Vikings are a bit of a mirage. Favre may be bailing them out in the fourth quarter right now, but he’s shown over the last half-decade that in the playoffs he’s more prone to throwing game-losing interceptions than game-winning scores. > > That said, I confidently predict that either the Saints or the Vikings will fail to make it to the NFC Championship Game, but I don’t know which one. I agree on the Vikes. They have some pretty glaring issues with coaching and game management and the Favre situation as I’ve said all season could potentially implode at any point. For my money the most likely NFC title game combination is Saints-Cardinals. If the Vikes are going on the road against either of those teams in January they are screwed, though that they both play indoors makes it better than it could be. If the Vikings end up needing to play a road game in the Meadowlands or The Linc (or even Lambeau of Soldier Field if something crazy happens) they are totally screwed. ---
**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 26, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/339 "2009-10-26T18:19:56Z")
Okay, I’m not going that far. If the Vikings are a mirage, the Cardinals are some dimly imagined future with flying cars and sex robots. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/340 "2009-10-26T18:51:35Z")
Before anybody starts writing the Vikings off already, it should be pointed out that after they go to Lambeau next week, they have a pretty [soft schedule](http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule?team=min) the rest of the way. After the Packers next week, they have a bye, then three home games in a row against Detroit, Seattle and Chicago. It doesn’t get much tougher later on – Cards, Bengals, Panthers, Bears again. The only tough game left on the schedule is when they host the Giants on the last week of the regular season. Barring significant injuries, I don’t see the Vikings finishing any worse than 12-4. 13-3 or 14-2 are not unrealistic. Hell, even 15-1 is not out of the question. The Vikings should finish well enough to get a first round bye and give Favre at least one playoff game in the Dome. Their chances of getting at least to the NFCCG are still pretty solid. I think the Division is almost a given if they win at Lambeau next week (it’s a whole new race if they don’t). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514.md?page=18)