Around the NFC North: 2024 Week 15
Ding dong
By Mike Price
Finally! The Lions lost. All is well in the world. I told my wife this week that I wouldn't root for the Lions against anyone. Who cares if they were losers for 70 years? They play right on the edge of dirty and past the edge of too cocky. It was great to see them lose.
Lions
The Bills beat the Lions 48-42.
Game Notes
- Definitely a stat-padding game here - the Bills were in control for basically the whole time and played soft coverage with back-ups at almost every secondary spot. Goff had 59 attempts, 494 yards and five TDs. He had 26 completions of more than ten yards—just crazy numbers. The two teams combined for 145 plays and 1,080 yards.
- Outside of the insane number of yards, the story was injuries for the Lions. Alim McNeil (starter, $55mm guaranteed), Carlton Davis (starter, $14mm contract), David Montgomery (linchpin of my fantasy team) and Khalil Dorsey (corner) are all probably out for the year and the Lions had 21 players on IR already.
- Like the Packers did the week before, the Bills centered their defense around stopping the Lions' run and they did. Jahmyr Gibbs averaged less than four yards per carry again and Montgomery had just five yards on four carries. Eventually, the Lions transitioned into a pass-first offense, because they were down by double digits for much of the game, and built up a ton of pass yards, but the game was decided in the beginning when the Bills were moving the ball and the Lions couldn't.
- Defensively, this is a disaster for the Lions. A month ago there was an argument that they had the best defense in the league, now they've given up 79 points at home over the past two weeks. To be fair, the Bills and Packers may be the two best offenses outside of Baltimore in the NFL right now, but losing starting corners and the backbone of your d-line certainly isn't going to help.
- Oh, we have to talk about the onside kick. For the second week in a row, Dan Campbell chose to be "aggressive" unnecessarily. This time it backfired as the Bills turned a not-surprised onside kick into a TD in about 45 seconds. Campbell needs to chill out. Though if he does slow down, I hope LaFleur gets a little of the aggression back - he's been far too conservative this year.
Vikings and Bears
The Vikings took care of business against the Bears, 30-12.
Game Notes
- Are the Bears trying to ruin Caleb Williams? His average pass depth in the first half was 0.1 yards. Almost negative! Someone said the Bears went from a doofus at head coach to no coaching and that's what it looks like. I'm not sure what the Bears do from here but I'm sure they'll screw it up.
- Sam Darnold didn't play all that well (24/40 231 yards 1/1 td/int) and it didn't matter - the Vikings still put up 30 points.
- They mostly leaned on former Packer Aaron Jones, who had 106 total yards and a TD. Cam Akers also had a TD but had just 24 yards on 10 carries (yikes). D'Andre Swift wasn't a full-blow Swift but wasn't D'Andre Slow either with a 19 carries for 79 yards line.
- Defensively, you could say that both teams played well - the Vikings just have superstars who don't care what the defense is doing.
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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Comments (33)
T7Steve
December 17, 2024 at 10:33 am
"To be fair, the Bills and Packers may be the two best offenses outside of Baltimore in the NFL right now,"
You might want to throw Pilli in there somewhere, I'm sorry to say.
splitpea1
December 17, 2024 at 11:09 am
The Bears continue to stun everyone with their offensive ineptness. They go for it twice on fourth down with Swift and get denied both times. I almost feel sorry for Williams getting drafted by this clueless organization. He's already been sacked 58 times, which is third-most for a rookie in NFL history. Now he missed a couple of throws in this game, but still, he's tremendously talented; once he gets the coaching help he needs, he'll be a winner.
Naturally there is all kinds of speculation about who the Bears will hire, and Ben Johnson is high on the wish list. After a few more names you might see Mike McCarthy's name mentioned. Okay, maybe he doesn't have the freshness or the high ceiling that other candidates offer, but he is a proven winner, competent in developing QBs, and fielding offenses that produce. So if I were the Bears, I would consider him should he be available and want the job.
barutanseijin
December 17, 2024 at 04:12 pm
Ja, but if i were any of those guys, i’d say hell no to the Bears job. McCarthy is probably going to get the axe from Jerry, but after dealing with the Jerry and Junior, why would he want to jump into a possibly worse situation with another basket case franchise? Life is short and MM is 60. Time to go fishing.
An up and coming coordinator type would be well advised to wait for a better opportunity.
stockholder
December 17, 2024 at 04:48 pm
Back to college- Like Bill.
ricky
December 17, 2024 at 04:18 pm
McCarthy to the Bears? EXCELLENT! After all, he is a very good coach- he says. Though he has gotten increasingly stale as his career has continued. I can already hear those hallowed words at his first post-game press conference, when he is asked what he is going to do about a glaring weakness on his team, and says "We're going to address that."
Leatherhead
December 18, 2024 at 01:30 pm
You understand that McCarthy is probably going into the HOF.??
He's won 173 games, which puts him 12th on the all time list.
He's 35th in all time winning %
He's 15th in number of games over .500.
He's won a Super Bowl.
The Packers win Super Bowls when they have a HOF Coach and an HOF QB.
Lombardi and Starr. Holmgren and Favre. McCarthy and Rodgers.
Bearmeat
December 17, 2024 at 11:11 am
I am tired of the Lions fans whining. The 2010 Packers had more starters hurt than the Lions do, and more role players done for the year. Many of the Lions impact players will be back for the playoffs.
Leatherhead
December 17, 2024 at 11:15 am
You have to fight with the army you have, not the one you wish you had.
LLCHESTY
December 17, 2024 at 12:48 pm
The Packers didn't lose their top D player or one of the top offensive players. They had a lot of hurt players but they weren't the name players like the Lions have lost.
Bitternotsour
December 17, 2024 at 01:09 pm
who gives a rats ass about the lions. their ship sailed.
Bearmeat
December 17, 2024 at 02:52 pm
Disagree. Ryan Grant. Burnett. Tauscher. Finley. The list goes on.
coolhand
December 17, 2024 at 05:20 pm
And then lost Woodson and Driver during the game.
Cheezehead72
December 17, 2024 at 11:25 am
My prediction unless Warren fires Poles Virginia will fire Warren and the Bears will clean house. That might be the best thing for the Bears and the only way they will get better.
Leatherhead
December 17, 2024 at 11:51 am
C72.....that's been the trap they've always fallen for.
How many HCs has Pittsburgh had in the last 20 years? New England? Seattle? KC?
I think that stability, even if it's 8-9, 9-8, is preferable to swinging for the fences over and over. Build something. Don't keep burning the house to the ground and rebuilding it.
The Bears lost some close games this year. A little improvement in some key areas would make them a playoff contender.
canadapacker
December 17, 2024 at 12:21 pm
I agree with your theory - but the are just doing the interim thing now. Not sure if Poles is the type of GM but they fired their coach and this guy isnt one obviously. The have tried 3 first round QBs - this one appears to be the best . So bring in a new GM and young HC and start again - this time get the right guy.
Cheezehead72
December 17, 2024 at 12:24 pm
I agree that having continuity and stability with the coaching staff is very important to building a good team but this organization looks to be broken. That is on the President. I believe their best option right now is to fire Warren and Poles and start over. Some of the coaches could remain.
Bitternotsour
December 17, 2024 at 01:14 pm
They lost close games last year too. That's cause they're losers. They drafted the wrong guy (again) from possibly the greatest position of strength a team could have had in the draft. If there's a way to fuck things up, that team will do it. whatever the bears decide to do next will be the wrong thing. They're the NFC Jets. They'll never be able to transplant an internal clock into that quarterback, he has no instincts.
Leatherhead
December 18, 2024 at 01:24 pm
'''If there's a way to fuck things up, that team will do it.'''''
Yeah, it's kind of hard to rebut that. I mean, I really want to, but I just can't think of any examples where it isn't true, at least over the last 40 years. They've had some really good players there, but they just don't seem to understand that telling your QB to go out and make plays isn't really a plan.
If I were running the Bears.....I'd make sure Williams is protected, and I'd hand it off a lot, and I'd go for it on 4th and short. Once I'm certain we can protect this guy, then I'd start trying to get some easier yards in the air. The less you put on a rookie QBs shoulders, the better he'll probably play for you.
barutanseijin
December 17, 2024 at 09:28 pm
Ha!
That’s the Bear fan’s hope. Somehow it never seems to work out. The problem is it’s the same people picking the replacements.
Perhaps the original sin was Papa Bear’s when he hired the archetypal meathead coach against his GM’s wishes. Finks quit and no Bear GM or GM equivalent has ever come close to his ability to pick talent.
beerandbrats
December 17, 2024 at 11:31 am
The playoff picture could change significantly in the next 3 weeks. I believe there is a real possibility the lions could finish the season 0-3 because they have no defense left. The bears have a shot at them because they are playing outdoors. Washington could lose out as well.
The saints shouldn't put up too much of a fight with a backup QB coming to the frozen tundra for some December football. I'm hoping we dominate those southerners on Monday night and then shift our focus to putting an end to this viking's charade!
fair_weather
December 17, 2024 at 11:51 am
Agreed!!!
Leatherhead
December 17, 2024 at 11:54 am
See, I think the Vikings could go 0-3.
They play @Seahawks next week, then at home against Green Bay, and then close the season out @Detroit.
What I'd actually like to see is Minnesota beating Detroit and winning the division, so that Detroit would be a Wildcard with the #5 seed. We'd be #6.
I know it's illogical to believe we can go to the Super Bowl with the youngest team in the league, but I also know that I'm seeing a real good team that keeps getting better.
LeotisHarris
December 17, 2024 at 06:26 pm
If the Vikings play like they did against the Bears last night, 0-3 it shall be.
Don't look now, but there's a team in Green Bay that's healthy and playing well.
Cheezehead72
December 17, 2024 at 12:57 pm
What the Packers need to do is win out and for the Lions and Vikings to lose in week 16 and 17 and then tie the last game. That way the Packers win the division.
cdoemel
December 17, 2024 at 05:35 pm
Hahahaha. That’s the same wish Spofford had when he said we had a chance to clinch a wild card spot this weekend.
TXCHEESE
December 17, 2024 at 03:25 pm
Unless Goff gets hurt, I don't think the Bears have a snowball's chance. Lions are going to come out pissed. Hope I'm wrong, but I'd rather have Detroit's squads than Chicago's. The Bear's offense is simply putrid. Williams can't find the open man. D-coordinators know all he's capable of, is throwing the check down and bubble screens.
Bitternotsour
December 17, 2024 at 03:55 pm
Bo Nix is so much better.
T7Steve
December 17, 2024 at 01:04 pm
Let's just beat the Saints to start with. I don't know why, but I always worry the most about the teams we're supposed to beat.
Bitternotsour
December 17, 2024 at 01:07 pm
win enough to get in the playoffs. figure it out from there.
TKWorldWide
December 17, 2024 at 03:22 pm
Did you say “worry”?
coolhand
December 17, 2024 at 02:48 pm
The Saints were down 17 - 0 to the commies on Sunday and almost won. We will have to be ready for this team. Their D line is tough.
cdoemel
December 17, 2024 at 05:37 pm
I don’t care how bad they appear, every week, (most) every team is capable of an upset. You can’t overlook anyone.
Leatherhead
December 18, 2024 at 01:17 pm
WE still need to make the playoffs. I mean, that's the point of the season. And if we lost all three remaining games, and finished 10-7, and missed the playoffs, then that would be a bad ending.
If we're truly quite a bit better than New Orleans right now....and I think we are...then just go out there and knock them over and step on their necks. Don't get cute, don't get sloppy.
We're not going to win the division unless several miracles occur. So that means we'll either be 5th, 6th, or 7th seed. I don't really care much, because we're still going to have to beat a good team on the road to advance.
I've been looking at Detroit's injury report. They have a lot of guys that are hurt....this team is not as good as it was in October. The Packers, on the other hand, are better than they were in October.