Around the NFC North: 2023 Week 16
Here's what's happening this week and next with the teams in the NFC North.
By Mike Price
Another week where most of the NFC North teams did exactly what was expected. The Packers and Lions won despite completely embarrassing defensive performances and the Vikings choked thanks to a ton of turnovers, but the Bears actually won. Of course, they played the Cardinals so that's not exactly proof of concept for the current iteration of this team.
Bears
The Bears beat the Cardinals 27-16.
Game Notes
- Justin Fields had another game that can best be described as: "fine but definitely not as good as a typical Jordan Love game". He was 15/27 for 170 yards and one TD and one pick through the air and 97 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
- His biggest help came from Khalil Herbert (112 rush yards) and Cole Kmet (107 receiving yards). No one else had more than 37 yards.
- The defense was fine again. Kyler Murray had a 97.5 QB rating and James Conner had over 100 total yards but the Cardinals didn't do enough to beat the Bears so it was obviously a poor offensive performance.
- We've been talking about this for a few weeks now, but it certainly feels like Eberflus and Fields have saved the jobs for one more season. The Bears are moving the ball on offense and stopping it on defense. They have the momentum, will ownership let it carry over into next year? It may come down to what they can do against the Packers in week 18.
Former Packers
- The Badgers linebacker crew was short-staffed Only TJ Edwards played today and he had just 6 tackles.
Next Week
The Bears take on the Falcons next week.
Vikings and Lions
The Lions outlasted Nick Mullens 30-24.
Game Notes
- Jared Goff is back to his just OK self. He was 30/40 257 yards and a TD in the game. It's nice to have 75% completion percentage, but when you only average 6.4 YPA and only get one TD with the type of talent Detroit has, it leaves something to be desired.
- Speaking of that skill talent, the Sun God led the way with 106 yards and a TD and Jahmyr Gibbs wasn't far behind with 100 total yards and two total touchdowns.
- We've talked about how the Vikings have the perfect set-up for a quarterback: the best wide receiver in the game, on of the five best tight ends, and several other good receivers plus the McVay/Stafford spread 'em and shred 'em offensive scheme before it was adjusted this year to account for all of the receivers either being slow or weighing like 150 lbs. It made Dobbs and Mullens look like saviors for a week or two. The offense just needs someone who won't turn the ball over, but it's such an aggressive scheme that they always do. In this game, Mullens had 411 yards on 11.4 YPA and 2 touchdowns. They lost because he threw 4 picks. We'll see who they use next week, but if Joe Barry is still DC for the Packers, Mullens will likely do the 400 yards and 2 TDs without any picks. Maybe even 500 yards.
- This game was another testament to the poor state of defense in the NFL. On one hand, the winning team gave up 411 yards to the opposing QB and managed to win because of forcing four turnovers on the other you have a top maybe three defense that gave up 27+ points for the second straight week. There are a few truly elite defenses left but days of having a fearsome defense that holds everyone to half their scoring average are gone.
Next Week
The Lions play the Cowboys and the Vikings play the Packers.
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved form Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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Comments (27)
Brewcity_BearsFan
December 26, 2023 at 11:13 am
Given who the Packers played, and how poorly the defense looked in playing them, I am not sure I would be taking shots at other teams opponents.
Also, for the former Packers, Marcedes Lewis caught Fields TD.
LeotisHarris
December 26, 2023 at 03:29 pm
"Given who the Packers played, and how poorly the defense looked in playing them, I am not sure I would be taking shots at other teams opponents."
I suppose you could write a letter of complaint to the CHTV Editorial Board.
Bitternotsour
December 26, 2023 at 04:10 pm
I'd rather that not happen, those damn letters get routed to me and I have to answer them.
Brewcity_BearsFan
December 26, 2023 at 08:31 pm
Golly Gee could I? Congrats on being the first team to make Bryce Young look deserving of being the number 1 pick.
Bitternotsour
December 26, 2023 at 09:43 pm
You know who the Packers have never made look deserving of a first overall pick? Any Bears quarterback, ever.
Get your own house in order -
Brewcity_BearsFan
December 26, 2023 at 10:36 pm
Now that isn't entirely true. Mostly yes, but not entirely.
We'll skip my under 10 years ( the McMahon/Peyton years) And for full disclosure the Harbaugh (although he had success), Kramer, Miller, McCown (god did he suck), and the failure parade that followed.
Sexy Rexy clinched an NFC North Championship at Lambeau Field. There where a couple occasions the Packers made him look better then he deserved. I mean, good on them for it. If they hadn't the Bears may have actually drafted Rodgers instead of Ced Benson.
Next there was Kyle Orton. Never a big stats guy, but man did he know how to beat GB. A trait he would carry on to Buffalo and KC as well (He was the 1 in 15-1. Until the Giants did the world a favor).
Lastly, Smokin Jay. The guy who Packer fans loved because of his turnover predictability. Still, left Lambeau victorious on Favre's retirement ceremony night. Which, good. Favre is an irredeemable POS. He was in GB, and made sure the world knew it when he left.
That said, the GB QB legacy is far better. I can't argue that.
LeotisHarris
December 26, 2023 at 09:55 pm
Sure, little buddy, get it all off your chest. We're all about mental health here at CHTV and I fully support your healing. After all, I'm old enough to remember when the Kahlil Mack trade was going to tilt the field in the NFC North forevermore. But, ya know, when a team compiles a record of 310-313 since 1985, man, some things just don't come to be. 1985. Wow, seems like just yesterday, doesn't it?
Bitternotsour
December 27, 2023 at 09:31 am
for most of the NFC north, their super bowl, the ultimate measure of their season was winning a game against the packers.
perspective.
GregC
December 26, 2023 at 12:38 pm
For Jared Goff to "only get one TD" is not such a bad thing when his team scores three rushing TDs and they put up 30 points.
jont
December 26, 2023 at 01:13 pm
Speaking of "a typical Jordan Love game", the stats past 6 weeks:
>214 attempts
>145 reception, 67.8% completion%
>1580 yards, 7.4 ypa
> 13 pass TDs, 6.1% td%
> 1 int, 0.5% int%
>107.6 passer rating
> 14 total TDs
>4-2 record
Leatherhead
December 26, 2023 at 03:16 pm
This is the kind of play, that if exhibited over an entire season, would put the team in the playoffs and Love in the MVP discussion. I hope we haven't seen his best game of the season yet.
Leatherhead
December 26, 2023 at 03:15 pm
As it was in the Ancient Days, we'll settle this in the cold. Winter is Coming. Beat Minnesota, then Beat Chicago. Then we're the 2nd best team in the division and playing our best football of the season, and we're in the playoffs. It's like the old joke of choosing to fight the Vikings before the Bears because you take care of business before pleasure. We can end Minnesota's season this weekend.
Then, we get the Bears on the Frozen Tundra. Bears will already be eliminated by then. Packers are in the playoffs with a win, over Chicago, on our home field, in January. I live for stuff like this.
LeotisHarris
December 26, 2023 at 03:47 pm
You know, LH, to finish this season with a winning record, something the 2022 Packers couldn't do even with a HOF QB, would be a quite an accomplishment. Given all that the team has gone through this year, including trying to overcome Joe Barry's ineptitude, all the injuries, and shenanigans created by a dizzy play caller, to finish with Ws would be a testament to these young players ability to overcome adversity. There is potential in Green Bay.
That said, a housecleaning is in order in January. Joe gets to ride off into the sunset and into his next role in quality control somewhere in the NFL. I would not be sad is LaFleur followed him. I don't think he's grown in the HC position and I'm not convinced he can make a choice other than Brandon Staley for DC. After all, he and Joe spent 14 hours talking before Matt made the decision to hire.
https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2021/03/03/new-packers-dc-joe-barry-int...
Bitternotsour
December 26, 2023 at 04:22 pm
If a change in leadership is on deck, the board better hire Murphy's successor, and let them make the call on a new regime. A new HC is not a call that Murphy should be allowed to make. Nothing prevents the Board from hiring a new President/CEO in January. In fact, I'd say it's a priority.
Leatherhead
December 26, 2023 at 09:02 pm
I don't see the need to houseclean after the season. Yes, Barry will be gone, but we're going to hang onto one of the winningest coaches, percentage wise, of all time. We should see how 2024 shakes out. I think we could add a few pieces on offense and score 30 or more regularly.
IMO, big changes should be left to the new Prez after 2024.
Bitternotsour
December 26, 2023 at 09:47 pm
My main point is that there is nothing preventing the hire of the new President from happening this winter. They can overlap, it happens with peaceful transitions of corporate CEO's and it should happen now.
Give John Schneider ample time to buy/build a new house and move his family.
HarryHodag
December 26, 2023 at 04:36 pm
I raised a few eyebrows last week when I read that the Bears should draft a quarterback to replace Fields. I posed the question to the Bears fans: "If Fields played behind the 49'ers offensive line, do you think the push would be to replace him?" My view is he would be in consideration for NFL MVP. A pretty good talent wasted in Chicago by having a really bad offensive line and mediocre receivers like Rodgers cult member M. Lewis.
LeotisHarris
December 26, 2023 at 05:24 pm
"I raised a few eyebrows last week when I read..."
I've seen solid data on farm runoff in the Antigo area contributing to the unibrow in both male and female residents, but haven't seen anything regarding multiples. If you don't mind me asking, Harry, do you have more than two eyebrows? I'm not judging you.
Brewcity_BearsFan
December 26, 2023 at 08:19 pm
Kmet and Moore would be the top options in Green Bay.
Mooney hasn't panned out though. I fully expect him to sign with GB in the off season.
Brewcity_BearsFan
December 26, 2023 at 08:41 pm
I think it would be a mistake to move on from Fields. Dude has never had an actual O line to play behind. I think there are justifiable criticisms, such as his ability to read a defense. I think Getsy has done him no favors, and GB is welcome to take his trash ass back.
Unless the Bears can swing for the fences and land a guy like Herbert in return, I want Fields back. Draft Harrison to pair with Moore, and stack the O line. Chicago enters the offseason with a lot of cap space. I may even keep Eberflus, given how the defense has responded. If they fire him, look at Bienemy, or ask Pittsburgh what they want for Tomlin. Every fan of the other NFC north teams would genuinely take notice if Tomlin suddenly entered the picture. Pass on Harbaugh and Caleb Williams.
HawkPacker
December 26, 2023 at 05:55 pm
We don't follow the Lions as well as you do Mike. Just who is the sun god?
CheesedDeadHead
December 26, 2023 at 06:59 pm
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
SicSemperTyrannis
December 29, 2023 at 08:12 pm
Equanamious' brother
HawkPacker
December 26, 2023 at 05:59 pm
I know we all want the Packers to win every week but look what has happened the last three weeks. With our defense playing as bad as they are, I think we will have a hard time to win the last two games much less one of the two.
We were lucky to win at Carolina. I think our offense is fine as they are very young and with a suspect OL. However, with how we made Carolina's offense look, and they are the worst team in the NFL, how are we to be expected to stop the Vikings and the Bears?
TXCHEESE
December 27, 2023 at 09:25 am
Agreed! GB better come out ready to play hard. Both these teams are very capable of taking the defense to the woodshed. GB is the better team on paper, but that has been the case in at least 3 of their losses.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 29, 2023 at 08:13 pm
Gotta play like they did against KC
plonkarchivist
December 26, 2023 at 08:11 pm
Just like the days of old, we'll resolve this in the chill of winter. Winter is coming. Defeat Minnesota first, then conquer Chicago. Afterward, we become the second-best team in the division, playing our finest football of the season, securing our spot in the playoffs. It's akin to the age-old jest of choosing to face the Vikings before the Bears—taking care of business before enjoying the victory. We have the opportunity to conclude Minnesota's season this weekend.https://vampire-survival.com