The post-Week 5 edition of the NFC North watch sees more good news for the team at the top, the Detroit Lions. At 4-1, the Lions have surged out to a huge early lead in the quest to win a division title they’ve never before captured.
Here’s what’s going on with the Lions’ divisional foes in the NFC North.
Chicago Bears
It was bound to happen sooner or later. The Bears offensive combination of Justin Fields and D.J. Moore exploded in a 40-20 road win in Washington over the punchless Commanders.
Fields threw for 282 yards, four TDs and no INTs, with three of those touchdowns mixed amongst Moore’s outstanding stat line:
8 receptions, 230 yards, 3 TDs
Chicago also bagged five sacks in the game, more than doubling their season total through the first four weeks. The Bears improve to 1-4 and now host the Vikings in a divisional matchup in Week 6.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers played on Monday Night Football, visiting Las Vegas and the Raiders. In a broadcast where the shots of the nearby Sphere in Vegas were often better than the on-field play, the Packers fell 17-13.
Jordan Love threw three INTs, including one in the end zone on Green Bay’s final offensive play, and once again struggled with accuracy (16-of-30) and defensive processing. The Packers defense was strong, notably against the run early in the game, but couldn’t quite overcome the mistake-prone offense.
The Packers fell to 2-3 with the loss. Green Bay gets a bye in Week 6, which they can use after losing defensive starters Darnell Savage and Quay Walker to injuries during Monday’s loss.
Minnesota Vikings
Last year, the Vikings were the kings of both the NFC North and at winning one-score games. After Week 5, they’re now in last place in the division, winless in four games decided by seven points or less, and now must soldier on for at least a month without their best player.
In Minnesota’s 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the Vikings lost star wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a hamstring injury. On Tuesday morning, the Vikings placed the All-Pro on injured reserve. With three of their next four games on the road and without the most prolific pass-catcher in the NFL, things are looking dark for the 1-4 Vikings.
