Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions still have the explosiveness to rule the NFC North, although the Packers have landed the first blow. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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The NFC North has become the division of the haves and the have nots. Unfortunately for the Minnesota Vikings, they look like they belong in the latter category with the Chicago Bears.
The Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers are the haves. The Lions are the two-time defending champions, and they showed their mettle in the Week Two 52-21 obliteration of the Bears. The Lions were facing their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was on the sidelines for Chicago .
Johnson was largely seen as the architect of the team’s explosive offense – second in total offense, second in passing and first in scoring last season – that defined Detroit’s 15-2 regular season.
Nevertheless, the Lions went up and down the field against Johnson’s defense with no issues. Quarterback Jared Goff had a career game by completing 23 of 28 passes for 334 yards with 5 touchdown passes.
As great as Goff’s numbers were, the defining aspect of the game was Detroit’s killer instinct. Head coach Dan Campbell smells blood in the water like few others in the NFL. That won’t change at any point this season.
They certainly are going to get tested in Week Three by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry Monday night at Baltimore against the Ravens, but the Lions will push it at every opportunity. If they can keep the Ravens in check in the first half, this game is likely to come down to the final possession.
The Packers are this year’s darling team, and it was the acquisition of edge rusher Micah Parsons that has taken. They served notice with a picture-perfect victory over the powerful Lions in Week One and routinely took care of business against Dan Quinn, Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders in Week Two.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has seen the Lions and the Vikings take over the NFC North in recent seasons, and now it’s the Packers’ turn. If Jordan Love stays healthy under center, the offense will be dangerous. Josh Jacobs is one of the elite running backs in the league and the Packers have three solid receivers in Romeo Doubs, rookie Matthew Golden and tight end Tucker Kraft who are capable of stringing big plays together.
Their Week Three game against the Browns looks like another significant win, but Love and LaFleur are clearly concerned with Cleveland’s dominant Myles Garrett on the defensive line.
“He’s one of the best in the game,” Love said. “He’s a stud. He’s one of those guys that can wreck a game for an offense, so definitely always got to know where he’s at.”
As the season progresses, the Packers should have a consistent offense combined with a devastating defense. The Packers appear to be a driven team that may not stop until they get to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in early February.
Retread Carson Wentz takes over for Vikings
Carson Wentz will get his chance to step in for injured Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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The Vikings looked like they had filled all their holes in the offseason by adding center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries to the offensive line and drafting Donovan Jackson from Ohio State. Kelly and Fries are battling injuries and the offensive line is not at the level head coach Kevin O’Connell was hoping.
One other situation: QB J.J. McCarthy’s high ankle sprain could keep him out for a month and veteran Carson Wentz has to step in and master the Minnesota offense – even though he did not sign with the Vikings until late August.
At one point in his career, Wentz was on the road to become a star during the 2017 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Injuries have robbed him of that potential and now he gets a chance to rescue his new team when the Vikings host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week Three.
It appears to be a longshot because of the offensive line injuries but he says he is ready for it. “It’s exciting for me,” Wentz said. “I’m not going to lie. It’s been a couple of years since I played in a game like this with real consequences.”
The Bears are struggling once again, and their first-year coach appears to have a significant problem with a defense that has fallen apart in its first two. Johnson was hired to get the most out of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, and slow progress has been made. However, the Bears secondary is making life easy for opponents.
The Bears are dead last in points allowed – 39.5 per game – through the first two games. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are their Week Three opponents and the Dallas passing game may cause more misery for the Bears.