When you think you have the NFC North figured out, it appears to be just as confusing as the Big Ten in college football. Who would have guessed J.J. McCarthy would go into Detroit and lead the Vikings to victory after all the speculation that the Vikings made the wrong decision keeping him? The NFC North is fluid, and this division will keep fans and experts on the edge of their seats for the rest of the season.
Here are my takeaways from Week 9 in the NFC North for each team:
(5-2-1) Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love is not the top ten quarterback many believe he is. The version of the Packers we saw in the first couple of weeks does not exist anymore. But the biggest reason this team will not make it far in the playoffs will be Jordan Love. Love may not throw many interceptions, but when he does, it is always one of the worst throws you have ever seen. Just like his game against Cleveland, Love was out of sync and the offense could not do anything right. Green Bay made Carolina look like one of the best defenses in the NFL. Now, without Tucker Kraft, one of the most reliable weapons Love had this season, I can’t imagine this team getting more consistent. Micah Parsons the Packers best player generated zero pressures versus Carolina last week. I am not sure the Packers have a shot against Tampa, Philadelphia, or the Rams.
(5-3) Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions also struggle with consistency. Detroit once again has been dealt a bad hand with injuries. With all things considered, the Detroit Lions still are the team you have to have the most trust in. In the biggest games for the Lions this season, they dominated a healthy Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Detroit Lions are a really good football team, but this season, the margin of error is lower than ever, not only in the NFC North but in the NFC as a whole.
(5-3) Chicago Bears
While it was a big win for the Bears against the Bengals, the Bears still displayed many things to be concerned about. The Bears are sitting at 5-3 right now, and this season have found more ways to creatively win football games instead of losing games. The offense came back to life against a poor defense. There is hope that this offense, within this next stretch of games, can find its consistency. Regardless, the Bears so far have shown they will win the football games they are supposed to win. The defense, however, needs to be better for the Bears to have any shot at the division, which is wide open, and to make the playoffs. Ben Johnson has given fans and experts a lot of reasons to trust him and be hopeful about this team.
(4-4) Minnesota Vikings
Kevin O’Connell proved his greatness once again. With everybody doubting the Vikings’ quarterback situation and calling the Vikings’ decisions this offseason a huge mistake. J.J. McCarthy came back from injury, putting up his best performance this season. The Vikings played hard, and J.J. led this team to victory. I spoke too soon on the Vikings’ struggles. They can never be counted out this season with Brian Flores and O’Connell leading the ship and the abundance of talent this team has. The Vikings now have life, and they will need all the momentum in the world for their matchup against the most dangerous 3-05 team in NFL history, the Baltimore Ravens.
Overview
This division is waiting for Detroit to take full control over, and with their inconsistencies, the North remains wide open. With the Packers displaying their flaws in yet another upset loss, the title of the 2nd best team in this division could be up for grabs as well.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Micah’s NFC North recap from Week 9 as Caleb Williams scores 47 points
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
