Around the NFC North: 2023 Week 9
Here's what's happening this week and next with the teams in the NFC North.
By Mike Price
Some weeks you feel OK. The Lions had a bye, the Vikings worsened their draft position, the Bears are the Bears, and the Packers actually won a game.
Bears
The Bears lost to the Saints 24-17.
Game Notes
- Tyson Bagent started again and was just bad this time. He barely completed 60% of his passes and threw three picks. The Saints’ defense is nothing to sneeze at, but the Bears Twitter accounts saying that Bagent is a legit starter definitely are.
- Bagent added 70 yards on the ground which was almost enough to lead the team in rushing; perennially underrated D’Onta Foreman did that with 83 yards on 20 carries. Darnell Mooney finally had a flash game with 5 catches for 82 yards and Cole Kmet had 2 TDs. You can at least say that the Bears other pieces on offense are finally starting to click a little.
- Defensively, the team gave up 24 points to a Derek Carr/Taysom Hill quarterbacked team. Sure, a few individuals had plus performances, (TJ Edwards had 15 tackles and Montez Sweat was running around) but that score means you had a bad day. Not much of anything else for this defense the past few years.
Former Packers
- The Badger linebacker squad showed out again, Edwards had the 15 tackles, a TFL, and a PBU and Sanborn had 9 tackles and a TFL.
- Big Bob had a catch for 11 yards.
Next week
The Bears play the Panthers on Thursday night. Yuck.
Vikings
The Vikings pulled off a miraculous 31-28 victory over the Falcons.
Game Notes
- I’m sure you’ve heard about it by now. The Vikings new starter, rookie Jaren Hall, quickly got hurt in this game and Josh Dobbs came off the bench, after being acquired mid-week in a trade, and led the team to a victory despite not knowing the plays. Dobbs actually had a pretty good game. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards and 2 TDs. Really makes you wonder what the hell the Steelers were thinking starting Mason Rudolph over him forever.
- Dobbs was not helped much by the run game. He led the team with 66 rush yards, on scrambles. Cam Akers tore his achilles again and Alexander Mattison is still bad (16 for 44). With how bad the Vikings backs have been this year, it’s definitely possible that Dalvin Cook is still good.
- Defensively, the Vikings were fine. Not quite the masterclass gameplan that beat the 49ers, but enough to hold Taylor Heinicke to a 75.3 QB rating and Allgeier/Robinson to a combined 23 for 90.
- The team had 6 TFLs in Brian Flores’ aggressive scheme and Byron Murphy had a pick.
Former Packers
- 16 Vikings had a defensive stat and Dean Lowry was not one of them.
Next Week
The Vikings take on the Saints.
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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 (9)
Since'75
November 07, 2023 at 03:12 pm
Or...in a nutshell.
Its a good thing the Bears are awful, or the Green Bay Packers (under the leadership of Murphy /Gute) would be occupying the bottom spot in the NFC North.
I know, i know,......
The truth hurts sometimes.
cdoemel
November 07, 2023 at 09:20 pm
I know this is a comment section. And people can comment how ever they feel. But I’m soooo f***ing sick and tired of the haters with nothing good to say ever. Just knee jerk, FO bashing haters. I just saw a poll of GM’s from 2022 and Gutekunst was ranked 9th. That’s pretty darn good! So what’s the problem? Are you still crying about TJ Watt? OMG!! Get over it!! Rodgers needed to go. Love needed to start. This team is PACKED with young talent! Everyone knew this was going to be a learning year. EVERYBODY!! (Accept the Rodgers fans, but this is not the Green Bay Rodgers. This is the Green Bay Packers). I will be very happy when, as they say, the game slows down for these rookies and we start cooking. Cause I’m taking names, and gonna throw it back in your face!! Hard and sustained. Just like you haters do.
T7Steve
November 08, 2023 at 07:13 am
That was quite the rant. Directed at the wrong source though. '75's been critical, which is appropriate at this time, and under these circumstances, but has had some good and interesting takes and some excellent sarcasm which is probably what I appreciate the most.
I'm sure '75 doesn't need my backing (as you'll probably see) as this is probably just the kind comment that was sought after to open the ball.
Since'75
November 08, 2023 at 07:53 am
OUCH CD...lol
Damn....lol
That was one hell of a keyboard beatdown!!
"Throw it back in my face, hard and sustained."
Those are fighting words!!....lol
So the poll said 9th huh?
I'm guessing they didn't pay much attention to his draft results
Maybe just the 13-3 records when Rodgers was lighting up the league again.
How about we take that same poll after the 2023 or 2024 season? I have a sneaky suspicion that he wouldn't be 9th.
I hate seeing you in so much turmoil cdoemel.
Remember, he who angers you, controls you.
It's a football forum cd, where people are free to express their opinion, positive or not.
Some call it critical thinking.
Maybe take a chill pill, before you blow a gasket and infringe on the right of free speech.
Thank you for understanding.
Since'75
November 08, 2023 at 08:04 am
"So what’s the problem?" - cd
**********************
Have you watched the games?
Have you followed the Green Bay Packers?
Maybe i can conduct a 2 hour Q & A session on the State of the Packers.
*****************
BTW Cupcake....
I do speak the positives of this team, when it's deserved.
But you don't understand that because you're seething with anger.
The next time they do something positive, maybe win another game, beat a winning team, hit on a 3rd round pick, draft 4 Pro Bowl lineman in the 4th and 5th rounds like Ted did, i'll come and find you cd and acknowledge.
Would you like that sweetheart?
T7Steve
November 08, 2023 at 07:22 am
I was missing this Mike. Glad I looked in the news. It was shuffled back here quicker than normal.
The Bears still suck, but it seems they're at least trying, which is more than their fans deserve.
Tomlin's a good/proven coach, there's probably a reason Dobbs was sitting all this time and being shuffled from team to team. I think it was lightning in a bottle and his not knowing the plays. That will change as teams can scout him more and more and he goes by a game plan. Sound familiar? I'm thinking of a substitution in an Eagles game last season.
cdoemel
November 08, 2023 at 10:22 am
You seem to be the one not understanding. It’s the youngest team in the NFL. They’re growing! And they are. It would be nice if learning was a nice gentle, steady upward climb. I taught and coached for 32 years. It’s rarely that way. Usually it’s struggle after struggle with no obvious progress until suddenly the light goes on. You don’t understand because you show zero patience with players or coaches. You simply throw baseless blame around like a spoiled child.
cdoemel
November 08, 2023 at 10:25 am
Btw was born in Brown County hospital in ‘57. 1614 Langlade Ave. Yeah I watch the games. Thankfully not through your filter.
T7Steve
November 08, 2023 at 10:33 am
You must be talking to someone else because I don't understand these replies to anything I've posted.