NFC North Week 4 Recap: Chicago Bears lose ground to Lions, Packers
The fourth week of the NFL regular season featured the first two games between NFC North teams this season
We might just be four weeks into the regular season, but the NFC North has shown thus far that it has the potential to be one of the most competitive in the entire league. This week’s games support this thought, as the Green Bay Packers dominated the Chicago Bears, while the Lions and Vikings game went down to wire.
The Chicago Bears weren’t projected to be a contending team, but the other three teams were expected to playoff-caliber teams. Through the first four weeks, the Lions and Packers are tied for first place at 3-1, while the Vikings are just behind at 2-2. The early success of the three set the stage for what should be a tight contest for the division crown.
The standings will shift again next week, as the Bears and Vikings will face off under the lights on Monday Night Football. The Bears will need a win just to keep afloat in the race, while the Lions and Packers will have their hands full against the Panthers and Cowboys respectively.
Chicago Bears
Week Four Result: 35-14 loss at Green Bay
The Chicago Bears looked terrible in week four, getting blown out in Green Bay on Thursday night. The Bears looked unprepared, unmotivated, and just overall terrible against the Packers. No one facet of the Bears game was good, as the offense struggled mightily, and the defense just couldn’t keep up with Aaron Rodgers.
The once heavily praised running attack screeched to a haunt on Thursday, as Jordan Howard was held to just 53 yards. Mike Glennon was arguably the worst of all, as Glennon fumbled on the first two possessions and threw two interceptions. The calls for Mitch Trubisky increased greatly after Glennon’s lackluster performance, and those calls have been answered. Mitch Trubisky is now the starter.
"The future is right now."
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 2, 2017
Mitchell Trubisky will start Week 5 for the @ChicagoBears.
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The Bears have a mini-break, as they don’t play until Monday night against the Vikings. The Bears urgently need a win to quiet the critics and keep up with the rest of the division. All eyes will be on Trubisky in his debut, but the Bears week five game is a must-win.
Green Bay Packers
Week Four Result: 35-14 win vs Chicago
The Green Bay Packers again looked like the team to beat this week, as the Pack rolled over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson helped the Packers cruise up the field against a Bears defense that severely lacked energy. The defense forced four turnovers, putting the Bears out of the game from the start.
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The Packers didn’t lack in any aspect of the game on Thursday, as the offense (despite starting running back Ty Montgomery going down with an injury on the first drive) fired on all cylinders. The Packers outplayed Chicago in every way possible, exerting their dominance over the last-place Bears.
The Packers have a big game on Sunday, as they take on the Dallas Cowboys in a playoff rematch. Although the Pack will be without Montgomery and wide receiver Davante Adams, the Packers will look to gain more ground in the division with an impressing win.
Minnesota Vikings
Week Four Result: 14-7 loss vs Detroit
The Vikings fell flat in Week four, losing to the Lions in a low-scoring affair. While neither team played particularly good, the Vikings offense looked especially dismal, as Case Keenum couldn’t follow up a spectacular week three showing with anything special.
Dalvin Cook immediately goes down after making a cut, and grasps his knee. Prayers up 🙏 pic.twitter.com/4yxeXjc6ft
— Views From The Bench (@Views_FTB) October 1, 2017
The Vikings biggest loss perhaps wasn’t the final score, as rookie starting running back Dalvin Cook went down with a complete ACL tear, ending his season and hurting an already-shaky Vikings offense. The Vikings will need to figure out there offense soon, as they will face one of the leagues best run-stopping defenses in the Bears.
The Vikings will play on Monday night in Chicago, giving them an extra day to regroup and potentially heal starting quarterback Sam Bradford, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury. The Vikings are favored over the Bears but can’t get too ahead of themselves. After all, they fell victim to a 1-6 Chicago Bears team last season on Monday night football.
Detroit Lions
Week Four Result: 14-7 win at Minnesota
The Lions rebounded from last weeks loss with a nice win over the Vikings on Sunday, moving into a tie with the Packers for first place in the division. The Lions had to grind out the win in a low-scoring contest, but came out on top nonetheless, improving to 3-1 on the year.
The Lions offense was expected to be the deciding factor in all of their wins this season, but this time it was the defense that held strong, allowing just seven points to a Vikings team that amassed 30 just one week before.
Next: What are the pros and cons of starting Mitchell Trubisky?
The Lions, too, have a big game on Sunday, as they will take on the 3-1 Carolina Panthers. A win and Green Bay loss would put the Lions in sole possession of first-place, a big confidence boost for a team that some expected to finish in last place.