Skip to main content
Advertising

NFC NORTH: Where all four teams stand heading into Week 7

GREEN BAY

Record: 3-1-1

Week 6 result: Green Bay 27, Cincinnati 18

Offensive rank: 9th (359.6)

Scoring offense: 8th (26.2)

Defensive rank: 5th (280.2)

Scoring defense: 10th (20.4)

Rookie performer: First-round pick Matthew Golden is settling in as a reliable weapon among the Packers' receiving corps. He's a big threat down the field with his speed, and he leads Green Bay in yards per reception at 15.1 on 14 receptions for 212 receiving yards. He's had eight receptions for 146 yards in Green Bay's last two games, both wins.

Quotable: "That's what Josh's game is," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said of running back Josh Jacobs' 150-yard, two touchdown performance vs. the Bengals. "You see what he does when he gets it. I don't think a lot of people want to tackle him when he gets rolling. He's one of those guys, just hand the ball to him, let him go eat."

Twentyman: The Packers got back to their winning ways Sunday and still look like Detroit's biggest challenge to a third straight NFC North title. The Packers are the only team in the division that rank in the top 10 both offensively and defensively on the season. They've got some new players and young players taking on important roles and they're only going to get better as the season moves on as long as they can avoid injury.

Next up: at Arizona (2-4), Sun., Oct. 19, 4:25 p.m.

DETROIT

Record: 4-2

Week 6 result: Kansas City 30, Detroit 17

Offensive rank: 11th (353.7)

Scoring offense: 2nd (31.8)

Defensive rank: 9th (308.2)

Scoring defense: 18th (23.7)

Rookie performer: Second-round pick Tate Ratledge has settled into his starting role at right guard nicely six games into his career. He is ranked in the top 20 among all guards as a run blocker by Pro Football Focus. He's allowed just one sack on the season and been called for just two penalties.

Quotable: "Nobody wants to lose, we certainly don't want to lose. But it puts a little extra sense of urgency on you, it puts a little bit of that bad taste," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday of Sunday's loss in Kansas City. "It sometimes gives you that extra kick to get things back to where they need to be."

Twentyman: Detroit's offense wasn't as dynamic as we've been used to Sunday in Kansas City. Credit the Chiefs' defense for playing a role in that, but there were some things the Lions can clean up on their end to get back to playing the kind of offense that has them second in the NFL in points per game through Week 6. They'll need a big bounce-back this week at home on Monday Night Football against a Buccaneers team playing some of the best complementary football in the league.

Next up: vs. Tampa Bay (5-1), Mon., Oct. 20, 7 p.m.

MINNESOTA

Record: 3-2

Week 6 result: Bye

Offensive rank: 25th (305.0)

Scoring offense: 12th (24.6)

Defensive rank: 6th (289.8)

Scoring defense: 5th (19.4)

Rookie performer: First-round pick Donovan Jackson was impressive starting the first three games of the season at left guard before suffering an injury and missing the last two games. He's expected back at Vikings practice this week and could return to the lineup Week 7. He's allowed just one sack on the season.

Quotable: "I don't necessarily want to put a percentage on where I think he's at health-wise," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told Vikings.com of quarterback J.J. McCarthy's return to practice this week. "I think this week will be massive for our whole team, but just to see J.J. back out there getting reps and working through the process of building that foundation back up (will be encouraging)."

Twentyman: Getting McCarthy back will be a boost for a Vikings team coming off an early bye week that allowed them an opportunity to get healthy and correct some early-season mistakes. This game Sunday against the Eagles will tell us a lot about the kind of threat the Vikings can be the rest of the way while trying to introduce a young quarterback into the fold.

Next up: vs. Philadelphia (4-2), Sun., Oct. 19, 1 p.m.

View photos from the Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs Week 6 game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, October 12 in Kansas City.

CHICAGO

Record: 3-2

Week 6 result: Chicago 25, Washington 24

Offensive rank: 14th (338.6)

Scoring offense: 10th (25.2)

Defensive rank: 27th (369.4)

Scoring defense: 27th (28.2)

Rookie performer: Second-round pick Luther Burden has established himself as a weapon in Chicago's very deep receiver corps. He caught all four of his targets vs. Washington Monday for 51 yards. He had three catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in a Week 3 win over Dallas.

Quotable: "Thought it was a really good team win," Bears head coach Ben Johnson told chicagobears.com after Monday's win over the Commanders. "That's a really good opponent that we went against in a very hostile environment, and I thought all three phases came through for us when needed. It was not our cleanest game. We made a number of mistakes. The penalties were an issue. But once again our team was resilient and they found a way to win. Very proud of them."

Twentyman: That was the biggest win of Johnson's tenure with the Bears going into Washington and beating the Commanders on a national stage while dealing with the atmosphere and weather conditions. This is a scrappy Bears team, finding ways to win football games now with their third straight victory. Winning builds confidence and the Bears are looking better and better every week.

Next up: vs. New Orleans (1-5), Sun., Oct. 19, 1 p.m.

Related Content

Advertising