The Vikings' decline last year started with Cousins' injury, but really accelerated when Hockenson got hurt and they needed to rely on Mullens making decisions. Hockenson being back will help whomever is chucking INTs for the purple haze and their defense will be fine...until they're not. They should handle a bad TN team in Nashville this week, but they look like they're a .500 team at best the rest of the way even with a pretty forgiving schedule.

When was the last time a team with a winning record struggled as badly after their bye as the Bears have? They canned their OC today, which likely means Eberflus is done at the end of the year unless they go on a tear...which they won't. Every team on their schedule--except Seattle who is 4-5--the rest of the way is .500 or better. Last week I argued that they need to let Williams chuck it downfield, loosen up defenses, and take their chances with INTs. Well, if they do that, they'll be taking the pieces of Williams off the field in a couple hefty bags because his OL can't protect him. They'll play a lot of tight, low-scoring games because their defense keeps teams out of the end zone...but they can be run on, which the Packers should do early and often this week.

Detroit loses to Houston if Stroud had anyone to throw to...that's why they kept giving Mixon the ball: with Collins and Diggs on the shelf, they have only one guy to throw to. So the Lions' fans are clamoring around "team of destiny" rhetoric. Gross.

New offensive coordinator for the Bears: Waldron is done and Thomas Brown is in. Brown has coached with the Panthers and McVay Rams previously. The players should be energized because Waldron really wasn't too popular. The Packers can hopefully spoil his debut with an aggressive defensive game plan against THAT offensive line.

Lions: You have to give them credit. Like the Chiefs, they find a way to win when they don't have their best day at the office; it's all coaching and player execution in the clutch.

Texans: They have to give those otherworldly uniforms a second chance--very similar to Tropical Glitz brand automotive spray paint, "Cosmic Red."

Verily, I say unto you, sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.

I thought that if the Packers could win their next 3 games at Chicago, and at home against SF and Miami....then we could go into the rematch with the Lions with a chance to move into first place. All that was needed was a Lion loss against Texans-Jaguars-Colts-Bears. I thought the best hope was @Texans. Now, I think the Lions could be 11-1 when we meet again. Even if the Packers go undefeated the rest of the way, they still need somebody else to beat the Lions in order to win the division,

The Bears. Saw a hilarious clip on Facebook which shows two Bears fan lamenting their team to the tune of "Dust In The Wind". We have a chance to end any remaining hope, and there's nobody I'd rather see disheartened than the Bears.

Vikings are winning games that could have become losses. Jacksonville is the first of three consecutive road games, and then Minnesota has three home games with Cardinals, Falcons and Bears at home. Then they play @Seattle, home against the Packers, and @Detroit. If they make the playoffs, they'll have earned that, but I don't see it.

Eagles and Commies from the NFC East.
Lions and Packers from the NFC North
Atlanta from the NFC South

That's six playoff teams, and doesn't include whoever wins the West. I could see Minnesota going like 10-7 and finishing 3rd in the division if they don't completely collapse.

Giants, Cowboys, Bears, New Orleans, Carolina,.....thank you for your participation. You aren't going anywhere this year. Accept that and try to get a headstart on next year.

My most probable scenario for the Packers is the #5 seed and a road game against the winner of the NFC West.

Lions had a kicker barely nail two 50 + yard kicks whispers inside the uprights...the first on the right to tie, the second on the left to win.

Both kicks were necessary to win the game. Meanwhile in the 4th, one kick for the Texans was required to possibly win the game, or force OT. Huge whiff to the left.

The game of literal inches (or less).

If only the Pack had such stone cold kicking results. Oh well. If wishes were fishes I could open up a Seafood Shop.

The Lions can credit whoever the Texans' offensive coordinator is for their win. Time and time again, the Texans ran the ball up the gut on first down with little or no success. I didn't count how many times the same or a similar play on first down was called, but it was ridiculous. I kept telling myself, "It can't be another run up the middle on first down." But sure enough, the Texans kept putting their offense in a hole and having to gain more yards. Unbelievable! I am no football genius, but if something doesn't work again and again, why not do some play action and attempt to fool someone?

I’ve said many times (and many disagreed), Dan Campbell is a big dufus—Ben Johnson is their coaching star. The Lions simply lucked out. And, the extremely obvious missed PI call saved the game for them.
As for the Vikings—couldn’t score a TD vs the Jags. As many on this site have noted, these are Vikings we well know—a sprinter’s start followed by a broken wheelchair finish.
Go Packers!!!

Nice summary of the NFC north. It's premature to write off Minnepo. All teams can and have played bad games against bad teams. There are units in bad teams that can be particularly challenging for good teams, such as Texans were able to flummax Detro and Jags against Minnepo and....well....the packers. Minnepo is a solid team....and a few bad games aren't excused....but can't generalize too much from one or two bad games. Whatever matrix one judges the competition, use for Packers. Even considering the past 2 weeks....Packers are 3rd in the NFC-N, and probably won't change this weekend coming. It will take head-to-head match ups to see who is really contending. Bears suck...but they can still be a spoiler. Never write off any team.....as the packers should well remind themselves.