It was a wild week in the NFC North. The Bears upset the 49ers in what looked like an active monsoon. The Lions kept pace with the Eagles but lost because of an unsurprisingly poor defensive performance. And, of course, the Vikings looked dominant at times while outclassing our Packers. Let’s get into it.

Chicago Bears

The Bears defeated the San Francisco 49ers 19-10 in Chicago.

Game Notes

• You can’t glean much from this victory, not only was the weather in the game insane, but the Bears went up against a 49ers team starting a new QB in his first game with an almost completely new offensive line.
• The weather situation was made worse by incredibly poor field management. The sideline was crooked, and the water on the field would not drain. The Bears are truly an embarrassing franchise.
• Second-year QB Justin Fields played as well as could be expected in the downpour, going 8/17 for 121 yards, 2 touchdowns and a pick. He also had 28 yards on 11 carries which wasn’t quite enough to elevate my wife’s fantasy team to a week 1 victory.
• Inside linebacker Roquan Smith, who the team refused to offer a market level contract this offseason, led the team in tackles with 7 but had an extremely bad 28.1 PFF grade.
• One of the team’s best performers, per PFF, was second-year tackle Tevin Jenkins. Jenkins has a 77.9 grade after the team unsuccessfully tried to trade him this offseason and then switched his position late in training camp.

 

Former Packers

• Equanimeous St. Brown had one catch for a touchdown (minutes after his brother, the Sun God, Amon-Ra St. Brown scored for the Lions) and played a total of 44 snaps.
• Lucas Patrick played a total of 27 snaps in a rotation at RG with Tevin Jenkins. Patrick was injured in training camp and should be a starter once he is back to full health.
• Mike Pennel (the Penneltentiary) played 14 snaps and had 3 tackles.

Next Week

Next week the Bears come to Green Bay to get plastered by the Packers.

Detroit Lions

The Lions lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Detroit.

Game Notes

• Coming into the season, the Lions were widely expected to be an improved team that leaned on a strong running game and stout defense. The running game was definitely strong. D’Andre Swift piled up 144 yards on 15 carries and former Packer Jamaal Williams added 2 touchdowns.
• The defense was bad. Eagles WR A.J. Brown had 155 yards on 10 catches, QB Jalen Hurts had 243 passing and 90 rushing yards, and RB Miles Sanders had 96 yards and a TD.    For the most part, the Eagles moved the ball at will throughout the game. The Lions just don’t have the guys on defense yet. Their front-7 players are young or bad and none of their corners played particularly well.
• The offense, powered by an impressive offensive line, was more encouraging. Swift had a great game. Phenom Penei Sewell looked like he took a step forward. And even former bust T.J. Hockenson played well. Don’t expect the offense to put up 30+ points every week but do expect the Lions to continue to be frisky.

 

Former Packers

• Jamaal Williams impressed with 2 touchdowns but had just 28 yards on 11 carries.
• Tim Boyle and former Badger Quintez Cephus had 0 snaps.

Next Week

Next week, the Lions stay in Detroit to face the Commanders.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings beat the Packers 23-7 in Minnesota.

Game Notes

• Am I being a homer if I think this game shows just as little about the Vikings’ future prospects as the Bears’ win over San Francisco? Coach LaFleur is allergic to games after coming off a bye or offseason. Last year the Saints looked like Alabama playing Buffalo in week 1 and then were slightly above average for the rest of the season.
• It is certainly worth noting that WR Justin Jefferson firmly put his name in the best WR in the NFL conversation in the game. The Vikings used him like the Rams use Cooper Kupp, as expected. But, perhaps more revealing, is that they used him like the Packers used to use Davante Adams. LaFleur mentioned in his press conference that the motions, double motions, and alignment that Minnesota used to free up Jefferson was very similar to what Green Bay used over the last three years with Davante Adams.
• Outside of Jefferson, Dalvin Cook had a strong performance with 90 yards on 20 carries, but no other players flashed on offense.
• On defense, free agent linebacker Jordan Hicks led the team in tackles, Harrison Smith was all over the field despite being like 87 years old, and Danielle Hunter got the better of Royce Newman more than once.
• Of course, the big name on defense for the Vikings is former Packer Za’Darius Smith. Smith made a lot of news disparaging the Packers prior to the game and amassed a sack and two tackles to go with defeating an Aaron Rodgers block and sporting a PFF grade of 55.

 

 

Former Packers

• Smith had the aforementioned sack and two tackles and played 45 out of a total 61 snaps.
• Chandon Sullivan played 49 snaps as slot corner amassed 3 tackles.

Next Week

Next week, the Vikings travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles.