Previewing NFC North Matchups for NFL Week 2 Action

Just as everyone expected, the NFC North standings after one week in 2014 are an inverse of the final standings in 2013. 

The 1-0 Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions sit atop the division after convincing Week 1 wins, while the 0-1 Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are still licking their wounds after difficult season-opening losses. 

Week 2 provides no rest for either pair. 

The Lions travel to Carolina to take on a 12-win Panthers team from a year ago. The Vikings welcome Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to Minneapolis for the home opener at TCF Bank Stadium. 

Meanwhile, the Packers and Bears both need to avoid 0-2 starts against winning teams from Week 1. The Jets and 49ers are both confident clubs after impressive openers. 

Here's a preview of Week 2 in the NFC North:

Detroit Lions (1-0) at Carolina Panthers (1-0)

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Last Week: Lions beat New York Giants, 35-14; Panthers beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-14

QB Comparison: Matthew Stafford vs. Cam Newton

Stafford finished Week 1 as the league's third-highest rated passer (125.3, third highest of his career). He threw two touchdowns against zero interceptions and rushed for another score. He enters Week 2 ranked first in the NFL in yards per attempt (10.8, highest of his career) and second in passing yards (346, 24th 300-yard game of career).

Newton missed Week 1 because of fractured ribs. Derek Anderson started in his place and had a 108.7 passer rating in a win over the Buccaneers. Newton will return to start in Week 2. He had his best season in 2013, throwing for 24 touchdowns, completing 61.7 percent of his passes and rushing for six scores. Newton has 28 career rushing touchdowns. 

X-Factor: Lions Offensive Line

The Panthers led the NFL in sacks last season (60). The constant pressure helped Carolina hold opposing quarterbacks to a combined passer rating of just 81.4, and the Panthers were one of just three defenses to have more interceptions (20) than touchdown passes allowed (17). 

Stafford looked spry getting away from pressure in Week 1, but the Carolina pass rush can't be allowed to control the game. The Lions offensive line has to play well, especially on the edges. Greg Hardy (16.0 sacks in 2013) and Charles Johnson (11.0) are as good as they come in terms of pass-rushing end duos. Starting right tackle LaAdrian Waddle hasn't practiced this week because of an injured calf. 

Prediction: Panthers 24, Lions 20

The Lions looked like a real playoff contender in Week 1. We'll see if that carries over to Sunday, when Detroit has to go on the road and play a team that won 12 games in 2013, including seven of eight at home. Newton's return and a suffocating pass rush should give the Panthers a slight edge, but no one should be surprised if the Lions leave Carolina 2-0. 

New England Patriots (0-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-0)

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Last Week: Patriots lost to Miami Dolphins, 33-20; Vikings beat St. Louis Rams, 34-6

QB Comparison: Tom Brady vs. Matt Cassel 

After one week, the 37-year-old Brady is ranked 29th in the NFL in passer rating (69.7). He completed only 51.8 percent of his passes and averaged just 4.45 yards per attempt (his worst single-game output since 2006) in Miami. Brady was especially poor against pressure. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Brady completed just 33.3 percent of his passes and took four sacks during his 25 dropbacks under duress in Week 1.  

Cassel carried over his strong preseason numbers to the start of the regular season. Against St. Louis, Cassel completed 68 percent of his passes and threw two touchdowns without an interception. His passer rating of 113.7 was the fourth best in the NFL in Week 1. He had just 170 passing yards, in part because he attempted just five passes over 10 yards. 

X-Factor: Edge-Rushers (Everson Griffen, Brian Robison, Anthony Barr)

New England's starting offensive line gave up four sacks, six quarterback hits and 14 hurries in Miami. Brady was under pressure on 41.6 percent of his 60 dropbacks.

The Vikings have to recreate that level of disruption Sunday, especially on the edges. Minnesota doesn't have a Cameron Wake-level talent, but Griffen, Robison and Barr are a fine trio. As a group, they are perfectly capable of attacking New England's two tackles. The three had 11 disruptions against St. Louis. Brady can't get comfortable Sunday.

Prediction: Patriots 27, Vikings 24

There was a strong (and yet still rational) urge to pick the Vikings, who were one of the NFL's more dominant teams in Week 1. Minnesota can run the football (New England gave up 191 rushing yards to Miami) and pressure the quarterback (five sacks in St. Loius), which were the two primary factors in the blueprint Miami used to beat the Patriots by 13 in the opener.

It's just too hard to envision Brady and Bill Belichick starting the season 0-2, especially at the hands of a first-year head coach. That might turn out to be a misled theory, because a Vikings win isn't crazy. At all. 

New York Jets (1-0) at Green Bay Packers (1-0)

Last Week: Jets beat Oakland Raiders, 19-14; Packers lost to Seattle Seahawks, 36-16. 

QB Comparison: Geno Smith vs. Aaron Rodgers 

Smith put together one of his best career games in Week 1. He completed a career-high 82.1 percent of his passes, and his 96.6 passer rating was the second highest of his 17-game starting career. Under pressure, Smith had a passer rating of 135.0. Against nine blitzes from Oakland, Smith's passer rating was a near-perfect 158.0. He also rushed for 38 yards.

Rodgers was uncharacteristically poor in Seattle (81.5 passer rating), but his down performance came against one of the better defenses of this generation. He averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt, which ranked as the eighth lowest of his starting career, while completing just three passes over 10 yards. Rodgers also threw an interception that led to a field goal and had a fumble that was recovered by Green Bay in the end zone for a safety. His dinking and dunking all night wasn't anywhere near good enough to beat Seattle.  

X-Factor: Run Defense

Improvements in Green Bay's run defense were hard to find in the season opener. Seattle rushed for 207 yards, mostly by pounding Marshawn Lynch between the tackles and exposing the Packers on the edges with Percy Harvin. Green Bay missed 18 tackles.

Now, the Jets are coming to Lambeau Field after rushing for 212 yards against Oakland in Week 1. Will the Packers make Chris Ivory look Lynch-like? And is Chris Johnson an option on the jet sweeps Harvin hurt Green Bay with? The Jets appear capable of slowing down the game and wearing down the Packers up front. The run defense has to be better. 

Prediction: Packers 24, Jets 16

The Jets can copy some of the things Seattle did to Green Bay in the season opener. If New York runs the football on offense and stops the run (allowed just 25 rushing yards vs. Oakland) on defense, this game could be close.

The assumption here is that Rodgers bounces back, especially against a secondary lacking depth. He'll make enough plays to win at Lambeau Field, where the Packers have won 10 straight regular-season games Rodgers has started and finished. 

Chicago Bears (0-1) at San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

Last Week: Bears lost to Buffalo Bills, 23-20 (overtime); 49ers beat Dallas Cowboys, 28-17

QB Comparison: Jay Cutler vs. Colin Kaepernick

Cutler was one of the more productive quarterbacks in Week 1. He completed 34 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns, and the Bears totaled 427 yards, third most in the NFL. However, Cutler also threw two back-breaking interceptions. The turnovers led to 10 points. To his credit, Cutler led the Bears back on two separate occasions to tie the game in the second half. 

Kaepernick needed no comebacks. He threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter as the 49ers raced out to a 21-3 lead. His 23 total attempts led to 16 completions, 201 yards (8.1 yards per attempt), zero turnovers and a passer rating of 125.5 (second best in Week 1). When blitzed, Kaepernick was 6-of-9 passing for 92 yards, one touchdown and a rating of 137.3. 

X-Factor: Defense

"Defense" might be a little general for an X-factor. But while Cutler takes all the heat for an 0-1 start, the Bears defense is equally to blame for what transpired in Week 1.

Chicago can't give up close to 200 yards rushing and expect to beat the 49ers on the road. No way. The Bears also struggled at times with E.J. Manuel, who is half the athlete Kaepernick is at the quarterback position. To pull off the upset, Chicago needs a Superman effort on defense. Cutler and the offense can only do so much. 

Prediction: 49ers 30, Bears 17

So many factors are working against the Bears. Can Cutler avoid mistakes against a defense that turned over the Cowboys four times in Week 1? Will the Chicago run defense recover after allowing 193 yards to the Bills? Will Cutler be missing Alshon Jeffery or Brandon Marshall, who both missed time this week? Can the Bears win in San Francisco for the first time since 1985?

An 0-2 start seems likely for Chicago. 

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2