Welcome to the Third Edition of the Black and Blue Wrap Up. Here is our lineup of writers: Zach Kruse with the Packers, Keith Shelton with the Lions, and Tom Krems with the Bears will also be moderating these discussions. Andy Smith for the Vikings was unable to join us do to a family emergency, so please keep him in your thoughts.
Was the Packers' 37-3 win over the Bears a sign of Green Bay's strengths or of Chicago's weaknesses?
ZK- I'm going to say the Packers' strengths. The Bears came in as one of the best run defenses statistically, but Green Bay had their way running the ball all afternoon. I think you'll start to see the Packers running the ball more successfully from here on out, a la 2007.
But it wasn't just the running game that played well Sunday. Rodgers and the passing department showed again how potent they can be, and the Packers pass defense continues to be one of the league's best. Green Bay is the division's most balanced team, and that was on full display against the Bears.
KS- I would have to say Green Bay’s strengths. The Packers relied on their strong passing game and defense. The Packers secondary shut down Chicago’s passing game and they again scored a touchdown on defense on an Orton fumble return.
Forte was held to under 100 total yards and without a touchdown. Meanwhile, Ryan Grant had a big game to reinvigorate their rushing attack which had been MIA for most of this season.
TK- You have to say it was Chicago’s weaknesses hands down. Not to take anything away from Green Bay, but Rodgers had subpar numbers with a pick and who would have though the Bears would give up 200 yards rushing. I guess you could say the Bears rush D could only hold the team up for so long.
The Lions showed some fight Sunday by almost nipping the Panthers on the road. Do you think Detroit wins a game in 2008?
ZK- They'll definitely win a game. Who knows which one, but this team isn't done fighting. Culpepper gives them some stability and leadership at the quarterback position, and if the Lions can manage to play even average defense, they'll knock someone off.
That last game at Lambeau scares me. The Lions could be sitting at 0-15, and the Packers will most likely be still fighting for the division crown. That's a lot of pressure on the Pack, so that final game could be interesting.
KS- I do think the Lions will win a game this season. Daunte Culpepper pretty much assures them of at least one win. Although they’re going to have to do it by simply outscoring the opposition because that defense can’t be counted on to stop anything.
At 0-10 now, I can’t point to anyone remaining on the schedule as being a good chance for victory. It’s probably going to come in a week where we don’t expect it. (Tennessee?) At any rate, after watching the offense continuously improve, I’m all but certain they’ll spoil the 0-16 party before it gets started.
TK- I agree with Keith; the remaining schedule for the Lions is not easy. But I would look for them to try and play spoiler to a team like the Titans. I think the NFC North winner will depend on the outcome of the remaining games Detroit has between the Vikings and Green Bay. To answer the question, yes, Detroit will win a game.
The Bears, Vikings, and Packers are all tied for the lead in the NFC North. Dissect each of the teams' remaining schedule from here on out and decide which has the easiest path to the division crown.
ZK- I'd say the Bears. Green Bay gets tough games with Carolina, New Orleans, and Jacksonville. If the Packers play anyone near the level they did Sunday, however, they'll finish the season 11-5. No team on Green Bay's remaining slate of games can beat the Packers when they're that good.
Minnesota has, by far, the hardest remaining schedule, with tilts against the Giants, Falcons, and Cardinals. With both Williams' and possibly both starting defensive ends on the brink of suspension (Jared Allen and Ray Edwards), the Vikes are in trouble.
Chicago doesn't have a team with a winning record on its remaining schedule, so they may still have a run in them.
KS- I hate answering this question, because in a competitive division, filled with parity, the Lions again are living on the moon looking in. Anyway, it’s looking pretty good for Chicago to take it.
They get a couple gimmie’s against St. Louis and Houston. Jacksonville and New Orleans are both possible victories as well, making Chicago’s biggest remaining test—you guessed it, the Packers.
Green Bay, of course, has practically the same remaining schedule with the only exceptions being Carolina and Detroit. That last game between Chicago and Green Bay will likely decide the division. Minnesota will fade down the stretch, with their final three games against Arizona, Atlanta, and the NY Giants.
TK- Here is how I see it playing out, and I think it will be very dramatic. Chicago will probably go 5-1 down the stretch, with Houston, St. Louis, Minnesota, and Jacksonville as wins and the loss to the Saints.
The fifth win will be at home in Week 16 against Green Bay. Now, I think the Packers will go 4-1 in their next five games with the loss to the Bears. If that happens, it will come down to week 17 to decide the division winner, with Detroit going to Green Bay. If Detroit can pull off that win, Chicago would have the best record in the division at 10-6.
Continue to next page for individual team reports
Our take on the Vikings
We all seem to agree that the Vikings are going to fade down the strecth here. After a close loss to the Buccaneers Sunday, it looks like that may continue considering how tough the remaining schedule is for them. I do not think Gus Frerotte can handle the pressure and it showed in the Packers game where he threw three picks and in the last two games, his number one receiver in Berrian has only three catches. Sorry Vikings, maybe next year.
Zach Kruse on the Packers
Sunday was a day of redemption for the Green Bay Packers. After two heart-breaking losses the previous two weeks, the Packers took out their frustration on the Chicago Bears in a 37-3 win at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay dominated Chicago in all facets of the game in what was probably their best performance of 2008.
The Packers out-gained the Bears 427 to 234—a margin of almost 200 yards—and their 28th ranked rushing defense only allowed 83 rushing yards to a decent rushing team.
Aaron Rodgers had a bounce-back game, completing 23-of-30 passes for 227 yards and two scores, but it was Packers running back Ryan Grant who did the most damage.
In all, the Packers ran for 200 yards—far and away their best rushing performance of the season—and Grant accounted for 145 of those yards.
Green Bay is now 5-5, and travel to New Orleans next week for a Monday Night tilt with the Saints.
Click here for Zach's recap of the Packers win.
Keith Shelton on the Lions
What? Detroit has a running game? What? A balanced offense? What? They scored in the first quarter?
Oh...they still haven't won a game? Pity.
On a day when Kevin Jones would rack up over 100 yards for the first time, when Calvin Johnson would score again, when Daunte Culpepper would have 35 passing attempts, and when a receiver named John Standeford would have two huge receptions, when Detroit would score first in a game for the first time all season, none of it would matter...again.
Click here for Keith's wrap up in its entirety.
Tom Krems on the Bears
That's right, the Chicago Bears defense did not make the trip to Green Bay on Sunday. At least that's what you would think when you heard Ryan Grant ran for 145 yards on the Bears fourth ranked rush defense. The final score was 37-3 in favor of the Pack.
Well, there is not much to say about this one, except the Bears sucked. Straight up, no fancy way to put it or anything. They just sucked. The lone highlight for the Bears was an interception by Brian Urlacher. Other than that, the Bears defense allowed a total of 200 rush yards. They also allowed Packers QB Aaron Rodgers to pass for 227 yards and two touchdowns.
QB Kyle Orton returned for the Bears, which I personally think was too soon, but I think a lot about how stupid some of...for the rest of the article, click here.
Well NFC North fans, that is it for this, the Third Edition of the Black and Blue Wrap Up. Join Zach, Keith, Andy, and myself next week for another edition.
We're going to send you the most entertaining Green Bay Packers articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
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