Week 11 NFC North Power Rankings

The Packers-Vikings tilt highlighted the weekend, and the Bears stuck around with the undefeated Tennessee Titans. Detroit continued their historic run towards imperfection with another loss, and overall, the division's record was 1-3 Sunday.

1. Chicago Bears (5-4)

The Bears were able to show the NFL that the Titans can be stopped on the ground, but they did it at the expense of their pass defense. Tennesee's dynamic duo of LenDale White and Chris Johnson were held to 22 rushing yards between them, but Titans quarterback Kerry Collins scorched the Bears for 289 yards and two touchdowns.

Rex Grossman appeared early that he might have a good afternoon, but he showed his true self later when he tried to force a pass that was intercepted. The Bears need Kyle Orton back soon, and the way it sounds, he might be back this Sunday.

Speaking of Sunday, the Bears travel to the frozen tundra of Green Bay in a big game for both squads.

2. Minnesota Vikings (5-4)

The Vikings beat the Packers 28-27, but this was a game that very well could have been 42-10. Minnesota continues to shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers and terrible special teams play, and it almost cost them this game. The Vikings are already tied for giving up the most return touchdowns in one season in NFL history; that's how bad it is.

On a lighter side, it was coach Brad Childress' first win over the Packers in six tries, and he's darn lucky he won it because you can't be a likable Vikings coach without beating their hated rivals. Childress' next task will be getting the Vikes ready to continue their momentum after an emotional and physically draining win.

The Vikings travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buc's, a place where Minnesota hasn't won since 1997.

3. Green Bay Packers (4-5)

What a heart breaker. For a young team like the Packers, this could be their end. Back-to-back losses in this fashion go a long ways to destroying a teams' morale, and if McCarthy can't get Green Bay back on track, the final seven games could be rough.

It's been the same problems killing the Packers: run-defense, protection, and penalties. This team has more talent than any other team in the NFC North, but when you continually screw up those three areas, you're not going win games. So, who's to blame?

Anyway, it looks like Ryan Grant might be turning the corner. He was under-utilized Sunday, but the touches he did get he made the most of. If the Packers are going to make the playoffs, he's going to have to have a finish to this season reminiscent to last season.

Packers get the Bears at home Sunday, and it's as close to a must-win as Green Bay has had.

4. Detroit Lions (0-9)

Is the Culpepper experiment already over? He sat out the fourth quarter of the Lions' loss to Jacksonville, and Michigan State product Drew Stanton came in and threw a touchdown pass. I don't see how Detroit can go wrong with either quarterback, but I tend to lean a little more towards Stanton because the Lions have no idea what they have in the kid without actually playing him.

I'm beginning to become a believer that the Lions could go 0-16. The Jags might turn out to have been the Lions best chance to crack the win column, and they lazily let that opportunity pass. If Stanton plays the rest of the year, the Lions will go 0-16.

Lions get the 7-2 Carolina Panthers on the road Sunday, so 0-10 is just over the horizon.

MVP of Week 10: Adrian Peterson, MIN

Just a week ago, I wasn't ready to appoint Peterson as the king of NFL running backs. A week later, I'm more then ready to crown the man they call "All-Day." Peterson ran for 192 yards, 225 overall, in the Vikings' win over the Packers. In all honesty, Peterson single-handedly beat Green Bay.

Peterson is now the NFL's rushing leader, and my guess is he won't give up that title. He has such great vision—numerous times Sunday he cut runs back to the weak side— and runs with an authority that is unmatched in the NFL. Expect his monster second half to continue.

Player to Watch in Week 11: Matt Forte, CHI

Simply said, the Packers are struggling to stop the run. It's well-documented what Peterson was able to do last week against that unit, so Forte has to be excited to face the NFL's 28th ranked rushing defense.

Green Bay has yet to stop even a mediocre rushing attack this season, and the Bears are better then a mediocre rushing offense. This all spells trouble for the Packers, and Forte could have a big game for the Bears Sunday.

A stat line of 140 yards rushing and 60 yards receiving wouldn't surprise me at all from Forte at Lambeau Field, so keep your eye on this matchup this week.

Game To Watch in Week 11: Chicago @ Green Bay

It's do or die time for the Packers. If they don't come out with some added urgency Sunday, their promising 2008 season could end in Week 11. The Bears are surely going to focus on getting the ball to Forte, and with the injury to Nick Barnett, the Packers could be hapless to stop him.

The Bears might also get Orton back—he's already started his lobbying to return—which would give Chicago the upper hand in this matchup. The Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, will need to be better protected Sunday for Green Bay to have a chance offensively.

When it all comes down to it, McCarthy has his worked cut out for him this week.

Predictions

Chicago 30 Green Bay 17

Forte puts up Peterson-like numbers against the Packers' sorry defense, and Orton comes back to manage the game soundly like he's done all season. Rodgers gets beat up again, and the Packers lose their third straight game.

Minnesota 28 Tampa Bay 10

The Vikings use their momentum from last week to take it to the Buc's. If that defense plays as well as it did Sunday, Minnesota is going to be a tough team to beat. Peterson puts up another 100-yard game, and finds the end zone a couple times to help the Vikes go to 6-4.

Carolina 35 Detroit 3

I'm done giving the Lions any sort of respect, so I pick them to lose big this week. The Panthers are coming off a less-than-spectacular win over the Raiders, and they use that frustration to pound the win-less Lions. Here's a couple neat facts to chew on: The Lions are 1-16 their last 17 games, and are an NFL-worst 31-90 since 2001. Ouch!

Overall: (10-9)

Minnesota again ruins my run at an unblemished record, as they beat the Packers 28-27. Tennessee made true my first pick, and the Lions—while beaten far worse then I thought—didn't even put a fight against Jacksonville.

Previous Rankings

Week 10 NFC North Power Rankings

Week Nine NFC North Power Rankings