Week 7 proved to be an eventful weekend for the NFC North. The leaders of the division, the Detroit Lions, suffered their worst loss of the season, falling 38-6 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Detroit is now 5-2 and maintains first place by a comfortable early-season margin. There was some jumbling below the Lions in the Week 7 outcomes, however.
Here’s what happened with the rest of the NFC North
Chicago Bears
The Bears smoked the visiting Las Vegas Raiders, 30-12, behind an impressive debut from undrafted rookie QB, Tyson Bagent. The D-II star filled in for an injured Justin Fields and played mistake-free ball. D’Onta Foreman scored three touchdowns, including Bagent’s touchdown pass in the game.
Chicago’s defense held the Raiders, who visit Ford Field on Monday night in Week 8, to just 235 total yards of offense. The Bears D even scored a touchdown on a long INT return that made the score 30-6.
The Bears improved to 2-5 as they head to Los Angeles to face the Chargers on Sunday Night Football in Week 8.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay did not enjoy the weekend. Coming out of their bye week, the Packers went to Denver and lost to the previously one-win Broncos, 19-17.
A late Jordan Love interception ended hopes of a comeback for the Packers, losers of three in a row. The Packers offense managed just 17 points against a defense that was allowing opponents to score over 33 per game. Denver also ran for a season-high 145 yards in rushing through the Packers defense.
Green Bay is now 2-4 and hosts the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings capped Week 7 with an impressive home win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. Minnesota jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and never trailed in upending the visiting Niners, who entered the game at 5-1 and atop the NFC standings. The Vikings prevailed 22-17.
Minnesota racked up 452 yards of offense and 24 first downs, ravaging the 49ers vaunted defense. The Vikings defense picked off QB Brock Purdy twice and also created a Christian McCaffrey fumble in the red zone, forcing the normally reliable 49ers into costly mistakes.
The win, Minnesota’s third in four weeks, moves the Vikings to 3-4 and in control of second place in the NFC North. They play the Packers in Week 8.
