The NFC North Blog

  1. Vikings at Seahawks: Ground Game Is Key on Offense and Defense for a Vikings Win

    It is notoriously tough to win in Seattle. The fans there are a special brand of nuts, and the volume of sound is insane. I mean all that in a good way...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,544 reads 6 comments

  2. Vikings Have to Adjust Expectation for Simpson & More NFC North News

    Jerome Simpson hasn't been the vertical threat the Vikings were hoping for, but it's not a simple matter of having him run fast in a straight line according to Ben Goessling of the Pioneer Press ...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 648 reads 0 comments

  3. Lions vs. Jaguars: Detroit Needs to Keep Offensive Momentum Going in Week 9

    The Jaguars gave the Packers some trouble last weekend, but the Pack was short some very key players, so it's hard to get a read on exactly why that happened...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,267 reads 6 comments

  4. Bears vs Titans: Chicago Can Work out the Kinks Against a Struggling Titans Team

    Tennessee has had an up-and-down season—and really, that's an understatement. It's the sort of team you figure should be a cakewalk, but ultimately, the Titans have played some teams very tough...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,048 reads 7 comments

  5. Packers' James Jones Makes Big Plays by Staying Focused & More NFC North News

    It amazes me how much depth the Packers have at certain positions. Never is it more evident than with the wide receivers. Just think about it. Greg Jennings was a find, then Jordy Nelson breaks out...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 2,483 reads 1 comments

  6. Lions Weekly Progress Report: D-Line Needs to Get More Pressure, RBs More Yards

    Even after a win, the Lions can't relax. As I said in last week's progress report , virtually every game is a playoff game for Detroit from here on out. Mark one must-win down as won and move on to the next...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,244 reads 21 comments

  7. Bears Lack a Vertical Receiver Threat & Other NFC North News

    Wasn't Devin Hester supposed to be the big vertical threat this year? Isn't his speed supposed to be a huge weapon across from Brandon Marshall ? I ask because the Sun-Times' ...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,739 reads 12 comments

  8. Bears Weekly Progress Report: Forte, Bennett Jump Forward, Davis Slips Back

    The Bears took some time to get going, but they walked away from their tougher-than-expected matchup with the Carolina Panthers with a win. As I said at the time, there is no column for "good win" or "clean win"—just "win...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,335 reads 4 comments

  9. Lions Upgrade Special Teams by Acquiring Mike Thomas from Jacksonville

    Mike Thomas is a Detroit Lion, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com . That means only one thing: Stefan Logan better watch his back...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 3,196 reads 10 comments

  10. Packers Weekly Progress Report: Defense, Running Back Big Concerns for Fans

    A lot of Packer fans ran through a ton of Pepto Bismol on Sunday as the Packers played down to the level of their competition for the better part of the game...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 2,836 reads 9 comments

  11. NFC North News and Notes, Very Late Post Sandy Edition

    So we're a little late today due to the Hurricane Sandy aftermath. There was no Internet in my place earlier today and there is now, but it comes and goes. I'm lucky as I have power, heat, water and Internet most of the time...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 109 reads 0 comments

  12. Green Bay Packers Trading for DeAngelo Williams/Steven Jackson Is Ludicrous

    Thanks for nothing, Hurricane Sandy. Oh, I'm not mad at you for the heavy winds, the snow in West Virginia, the flooded NYC subways, the destruction of the Jersey Shore (if you got the cast of that show, I'd thank you) or the downed trees...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 18,145 reads 59 comments

  13. Chicago Bears: Breaking Down Jay Cutler's Game-Winning Drive vs the Panthers

    We talked earlier today about Jay Cutler stepping up and playing well when the Bears needed him to, despite three quarters of pretty mediocre play...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 2,688 reads 7 comments

  14. Cutler Steps Up When the Bears Need Him to and More NFC North News

    Jay Cutler was good when it counted. That's what matters, ultimately. He was good when they really, really needed him to be...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,040 reads 6 comments

  15. Jaguars vs. Packers: Green Bay Makes It Interesting, Squeaks out a Win

    They aren't dull, are they? The Green Bay Packers should have romped over the Jacksonville Jaguars , but as many Packers fan expected, they went ahead and played down to the level of one of the worst franchises in the NFL ...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 3,710 reads 14 comments

  16. Seahawks vs. Lions: Young, Broyles Step Up and Lead Lions to Season-Saving Win

    If you're a Lions fan and love playoff football, you're in luck because every game from here on out is a playoff game. It's not quite single elimination for the Lions...but close enough...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 2,748 reads 11 comments

  17. Panthers vs Bears: Defense Bails the Bears out Again in Week 8 Victory

    There was debate as to whether the Bears were the best team in the NFL . We can say this with authority: The Bears defense might be the best team in the NFL. If you add the offense in, the jury might still be out...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 4,084 reads 45 comments

  18. Jaguars vs. Packers: No Time for the Packers to Take Their Foot off the Gas

    About a week ago, I had to talk fellow Bleacher Reporter Aaron Nagler off a ledge because this game smells like a trap to him. A lot of Green Bay Packer fans remember a time when these games, the easy ones, fell through the cracks...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 881 reads 9 comments

  19. Seahawks vs. Lions: Stafford, Offense Needs Quick Start for Desperate Lions

    What we have here is two very solid defenses facing two very lackluster offenses. Detroit is running out of rope here and cannot afford many more—if any—losses if they want even a shot at a wild-card berth...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,489 reads 10 comments

  20. Panthers vs Bears: Chicago Should Easily Overcome a Stumbling Carolina Team

    This should be a walk in the park, but as we saw Thursday night, some things don't go as planned. Carolina is in bad shape—the offense is a mess, the quarterback is regressing and the defense isn't very good...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 711 reads 14 comments

  21. Vikings' Dirty Secret Is They Aren't Tackling vs the Run & More NFC North News

    We haven't talked about it all that much, but this morning is a pretty good time to bring it up. The Vikings are having a hard time wrapping guys up...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 447 reads 4 comments

  22. Buccaneers vs Vikings: Early Mistakes, Growing Pains Haunt Vikes in Loss to Bucs

    This is not a team that can fall behind. We knew that, but it's important to say it out loud. The Buccaneers started slowly, but eventually, they broke out, and once they took a lead, it was hard to come back...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 962 reads 9 comments

  23. Lions Weekly Progress Report: Lions Have a Long Road Ahead Starting in Week 8

    Things look grim, and there are no two ways about it. A loss was bad enough, but to drop a second divisional game is brutal. That said, some guy once said it ain't over until it's over—there is still time to pull this out of a tailspin...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 338 reads 7 comments

  24. Bears Weekly Progress Report: Cutler & Bears Prove Themselves Heading to Week 8

    With the defeat of the Detroit Lions —which was not nearly as close as the score indicated—the Bears are now in sole possession of first place in the NFC North, one ...

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 1,565 reads 6 comments

  25. Detroit Lions Receivers Need to Step Up Immediately & More NFC North News

    They formed a committee, since Burleson's on the block, Cause he broke his darn leg, but the games will not stop! - apologies to the Beastie Boys......

    Andrew Garda Written by Andrew Garda about 8 months ago 388 reads 2 comments