NFC North – Week 10 Divisional Recap
The Vikings won their 5th straight, the Packers finally found a way to win without Rodgers, the Lions kept pace, and the Bears challenged the wrong play.
Minnesota Vikings 7-2
Green Bay Packers 5-4
Detroit Lions 5-4
Chicago Bears 3-6
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings held on in Washington to beat the Redskins 38-30.
What they did well
Case Keenum went 21/29 for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns while the running game rushed for 102 yards and another touchdown. Adam Thielen caught 8 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Keenum had 3 touchdown passes in the second quarter alone.
Where they needed improvement
Keenum threw interceptions on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter, one of which led to a Redskins touchdown. The Viking defense allowed 327 passing yards and Kirk Cousins had a pair of running touchdowns to go along with a passing touchdown.
What is Next
The Vikings come home to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11.
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Green Bay Packers
The Packers held off the Bears in Chicago for a 23-16 win.
What they did well
Brett Hundley finally led the Packers to a win. He had a perfect pass to Davante Adams that went for a 19 yard touchdown to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. More importantly, he did not turn the ball over. The Packer defense recorded 5 sacks, including 3 from Nick Perry. Jamaal Williams stepped up when Aaron Jones got hurt and ran for 67 yards.
Where they needed improvement
The Packer defense flirted with disaster. They allowed almost 300 yards through the air, and the only reason the Bears did not tie the game at 10 is that the Bears won a challenge, but that win gave the ball to the Packers. Mason Crosby missed a 34 yard field goal that would have put the Packers up by 10 with just over a minute to go.
What is Next
The Packers come home to host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.
Detroit Lions
The Lions came back to beat the Cleveland Browns 38-24.
What they did well
Matthew Stafford threw for 249 yards and 3 touchdowns. All 3 of Stafford’s touchdowns came after the Browns took a 24-17 lead in the third quarter. The Lions gained 104 yards on the ground and Ameer Abdullah scored a rushing touchdown. Cornelius Washington had 2 of the 4 sacks by the Lion defense.
Where they needed improvement
The Lions struggled for the first almost 44 minutes of the game. They allowed the Browns to gain over 400 yards against them. For a team that is hoping to get back into the division race, they sure did struggle against the last winless team in the NFL.
What is next
The Lions travel to Chicago to take on the Bears in Week 11.
Chicago Bears
The Bears were challenged at home against the Green Bay Packers and lose 23-16.
What they did well
Mitch Trubisky looked sharp as he threw for 297 yards and a touchdown. He hit Dontrelle Inman 6 times for 88 yards and hooked up with Josh Bellamy for a 46 yard touchdown. The Bears defense kept pressure on the quarterback and recorded 3 sacks.
Where they needed improvement
The Bears won a challenge that may have cost them the game. They were down 10-3 in the second quarter and B Cunningham took a pass from Trubisky and stretched for the pylon. The ruling on the field was that Cunningham stepped out of bounds before reaching the pylon. Upon further review, it was ruled that he lost control of the ball before he stepped out, and the ball went out of the end zone. That gave the Packers the ball on the 20 yard line.
What is Next
The Bears host the Detroit Lions in Week 11.