Lions, Vikings, and Bears. Oh my!

A few quick observations from what I've seen so far.  Matthew Stafford and the run Defense look pretty sound so far for the Lions this afternoon.  Their secondary still looks beatable.

The Bears Defense looks better than I thought they would.  However the Falcons are rarely stretching the field and this is allowing the Bears to crowd the line and stuff them.  Matt Forte is running wild and looks to have a financial chip on his shoulder.   He makes me worried because of the troubles that we had with Darren Sproles.  Julius Peppers and his linemates look more than stout.  They are getting pressure with just the front 4. 

Vikings just about to kick off. Hopefully Norv Turner has his team ready to play this early in the season.  Cwrap...did I just have to hope that?  Uh-oh.

Percy Harvin take the opening kick-off to the house and then the Defense stops Rivers and company to a 3 and out.

Hmmm...Best Division in Football? 

Wait a minute.  McNabb with a tipped pick on his own 5 yard-line.  There's hope yet!  (I picked San Diego in my survivor pool this week. )

Not sure what to think of the Bears Falcons. The dirty birds have a very beatable defense, weak pass rush, average secondary and a game manager QB.  To my eyes Matt Ryan just looked bad out there, not decisive with the football and not aggressive downfield. Not sure if they realize that the way to beat a cover 2, get receivers tight ends up the seam.

It seems that going to play the Bears in two weeks and pulling out a win will be no easy feat for sure. They looked pretty good and play the Saints next week. I didn't get to see any of the Lions game except highlights but they certainly did not embarrass the NFC North at all either.

Vikings started off hot but gave it back just as quickly...Interesting to see how this game plays out.

Go Packers!!!

The NFC North looks very tough this season. All 4 teams IMO..I'm tired of reading about the Saints, Falcons and Buccaneers and the NFC South.

The North's where it's at baby!

All 4 teams IMO..I'm tired of reading about the Saints,Falcons and Buccaneers and the NFC South.

You may get your wish......



If the Panthers score holds up, this coming week is all going to be about Cam Newton. 

Detroit and Chicago got everything that it takes.  Both defenses will keep them competitive and it their QBs stay healthy, they will match you blow for blow.  If the Packers defense can show a little more cohesion, we will all be clawing for the crown.  I am not sure about the Vikings.  Their defense was once their heart and soul and I am not sure who they have left.  Their late game loss may indicate a lost step.

Already tough division games just became blood-sport. Figured the Lions for a win, knew the Bears would play tough but expected more from the Falcons. Packers need to clean some things up on defense. The Vikings will struggle. 39 yards passing? A good chunk of that comes down to coaching and play-calling. Their defense didn't play that bad given the ineptitude of their offense, just gassed from being on the field all day.

Beyond the obvious battle for the division, I see these NFC North games being hard-hitting, injury producing tilts. War of attrition where the healthiest team come January 1st may take the division crown.

It's a long season.  A lot of what we believe right now will not be true in a month let alone three months. 

This is just a suggestion, certainly you can read this and forget it or read it and consider it, but here it goes...

The only thing the Green Bay Packers can do is prepare for week two's game with the Carolina Panthers.  The Packers can't do anything about what the Lions, Bears, or Vikings do in week two.  If I was a player or coach.  The Packers are good enough right now that if they play their A game, nobody else can beat them.  So, if the Packers just stay focused on what they need to do, they will be successful.  As fans, we don't really need to have the same outlook because we won't play on Sunday... however, I prefer to stay in the same mood and mindset as the team does, so, that's what I'll be doing.

NFC South's season starts next week. You didn't get the memo? They're soo good that they announced that they will begin the season spotting the entire NFC 1 game.....hence the 0-1 start for the whole division.

NFC North is hands down the toughest division in football. You have the super bowl champions, the team that hosted the NFC Championship game, a vastly improved Lions team, oh yeah, and the Vikings.


Everyone says the NFC South is the best in the entire league. Well the entire division is 0-1 and three of their top teams just lost to the top three NFC North teams.

Before we start fellating Lions and Bears fans, a few caveats.  Atlanta played poorly all preseason.  They did not win a  single game in preseason.  The Bears defense is certainly stout, but this could be a repeat of their "surprise" win agaisnt Dallas, before people knew Dallas was a 6-10 team.
As for the Lions, yes it is a great win.  However, Stafford threw a pic six.  He was cramping already in week one. Beyond that, their secondary is porous, as is their offensive line.
To be sure, the Packers' secondary was problematic also. But it was against Drew Brees, in the first week. The Packers secondary have proven themselves. I cannot say the same for the lines.
As for the Vikings, what a laughter. 39 yards of total passing offense-and that was not against the Jets's secondary either.  Adrian Peterson did live up to the talk and Dan Patrick either.
The Bears and Lions may (or may not) prove to be competitive, but I will wait and see before I annoint either one as an eliete team in the NFC.

I hope we play the Vikings before they put Ponder in at QB.  McNabb seems slow and inaccurate, I think he is done as an NFL QB.  The Bears and Lions are legimtimate contenders, both improved from last year.  The Packers are also improved as I think they are a more confident team with the championship belt on.

The Bears need to O-Line to hold up and the Lions need Stafford to hold up.  Both will be tough games, but I am getting the feeling that although our defense is suspect, I think our offense makes their defenses suspect.

Before we start fellating Lions and Bears fans, 

Yikes! You certainly have a way with words. Fotunately, most Lions and Bears fans don't understand the first few words of your post.

I concur with with your post and that it is simply too early whether Chicago's victory over the Falcons and Detroit's victory over the Bucs were truly quality wins.

In addition, as we learned last year, all teams suffer from some sort of attrition due to injuries or suspension. Having quality depth will be crucial if the Bears, Lions and Vikings suffer the same injury bug that bit the Packers last year. How would these teams look like if they lost their #1 running backs, #1 strong safetys, #1 tight ends for the season, as well as significant starts lost by their starting defensive ends, and linebackers?

Could the Bears remain competitive without Forte, Briggs, Harris, and Peppers?

Last year, the Packers have proved they could compete without Grant, Finley, Burnett, Chillar, Barnett, and at times without Matthews, Jenkins and Rodgers.

It's a new season and it looks like the Bears and Lions could be tough,... for now. 

To be sure, I have no interest in obliging Bears and Lions fans, or anyone else in such a way.  However some on here, included some of my long term detractors, are so shameless in their kiss-ass routine, it turns my stomach.  Anyway, the line is inspired from that moment after the two hitmen from Pulp Fiction clean up the car, and are reminded by Winston Wolf that they are not out of trouble yet, and have to get rid of those bloody clothes.
Really nothing new--the Bears will play us tough, and the Lions are no longer an automatic win. Actually, I have rarely concerned the games at Detroit automatic wins.

I see nothing wrong with speculating on the division. A nice distraction on a long opening week. Giving opposing organizations props, or dings, especially ones Packer fans are most familiar with over the course of many years, is s nice distraction while we wait for next Sunday. Little can be determined after one week, I asume that applies to Green Bay as well. I'm one of those odd-ball fans that would rather play in an ultra-competitive division than walk to the division title more seasons than not.

The Written in Stone rules still apply "Any Given Sunday" and "Injuries can change a season".

Hi Chaser,

I see nothing wrong with it either, but I think people are making a little much orf it. The difference with the Packers is that they are proven. . ..  The Lions in particular will be more competitive, I just think people are overstating the matter. .. .

"The difference with the Packers is that they are proven. ...."

Agreed.

Maybe I am more impressed with the Lions because I have been less impress than you with them historically. Up until last year I had the penciled in for two in the W column for us a season.

While the Falcons surprised me I did pick the Bears in that one.

Time well tell about the Bears.  I was not as impressed withe Lions as knowing that 1) for the longest time their thanksgiving game was their Super Bowl and 2) the Pack has historically played poorly there.

After this week we'll have some familiarity with the Bears going to the Saints. I thought the Bears D looked pretty intense....should tell a story of how good they might be after this one.

Chiefs at Detroit should showcase what the Lions will do when, IMO, they should by all means be expected to win.

Tampa at Vikings....Vikes impressed me for half a game. Really bad momentum killer when they switched to the Blazer?? formation albeit briefly. They had their chance to shine and gave it away.

No chance that the Packers look past Carolina like we as fans kind of do sometimes and they will be ready to play.  IMO, The Packers D is gonna take a little bit to really play togther again. They did well but I'm weary right now......Hopefully  they re-learn to TACKLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All in all a pretty tough looking division it would seem. Things could cahange but if they don't it could get crazy.

GO PACKERS!!!!