Around the NFC North: 2025 Week 10
Are the Bears for real?
By Mike Price
Big changes this week in the North. Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties. The Bears lucked into an opposing QB concussion. And JJ McCarthy turned into a pumpkin (again).
Vikings
The Ravens took out the Vikings, 27-19.
Game Notes
- JJ McCarthy (avatar of the psychopath known as '9') couldn't get it done against what has been one of the worst defenses in the league. He completed just 20 out of 42 passes for 248 yards, two picks and just one tud. To be fair, he only has two first-round receivers (one of whom was the second-best receiver in the league), a first-round tight end and a former Pro Bowler at RB to throw to.
- You may have noticed that I said Justin Jefferson was the second-best receiver in the league. Some would say the best! It might be time to start questioning that ranking. Jefferson has 686 yards on the season - almost 400 less than Jaxon Smith-Njigba. His PFF grade (control yourself) of 77.7 is 19th 19th-best in the league. His biggest highlight this week was when he quit on a deep ball that was intercepted and then didn't run to try to tackle the returner. Not great! The good news is that he still has the second-highest receiver contract in the NFL and counts $39mm, $43mm and $47mm against the cap over the next three years.
- Aaron Jones did average 5.2 yards per carry and had a TD; sadly he had just nine carries. The Vikings should've traded him to Green Bay last week.
- The defense did fine against the Ravens offense, now with Lamar Jackson again. Lamar had 9 carries for 36 yards and 176 pass yards. Derrick Henry had 20 carries for 75 yards. Nothing exciting but the Vikings offense was so bad, it got the job done.
Bears
The Bears beat the Giants, and got Brian Daboll fired, 24-20.
Game Notes
- Jaxson Dart was 19/29 for 242 yards and 66 rush yards with two rush TDs on the way to a 17-7 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter. He then entered the concussion protocol and the horrific Russel Wilson came in. The rest is history.
- On the other side of the ball, Caleb Williams was 20/36 for 220 yards and one TD. Not great. Not terrible. He also had 63 rush yards and a rushing TD and he made plays in the fourth when the Bears needed it to take over the game.
- Speaking of the run game, the Bears had another dominant performance with 171 total yards. Almost makes you sad that D'Andre Slow got most of the carries over rookie 7th round pick Kyle Monangai.
- The defense was led by CJ Gardner-Johnson. CJGJ has got to be on his seventh team at this point. He had nine tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Lions
The Lions made easy work of the Commanders, 44-22.
Game Notes
- Not only did Dan Campbell take over play-calling duties from first-year offensive coordinator John Morton before this game, but the Lions offense did so well that the Commanders head coach Dan Quinn stripped over play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. after the game. You may remember Joe Whitt from his time as Packers' defensive backs coach and the press without your hands technique that he taught, to the chagrin of many Packers fans. Campbell took over play-calling from Anthony Lynn a few years ago in the same week of the season and then let him go after the season. Doesn't sound like Morton is in that level of peril, but we'll see how long the shine lasts on Dan Campbell, play-caller.
- A key reason for the change in play-caller was the absence of Jameson Williams from the offense over the first nine weeks of the season. Williams had five games with fewer than fifty yards and just one over 100. Remember, he signed a $28mm per year extension this off-season. Williams had six catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. The other reason was consistency in the run game, the Lions had 33 carries for 226 yards on the ground. Certainly seemed to fix those two problems against the Commanders' Swiss cheese defense.
- On the defensive side, the Lions gave up 213 yards and two tuds (133.3 QB rating) to Marcus Mariotta and held the Commanders to 93 yards on 27 carries. Feels odd that the Commanders had more runs than passes in a game that they lost by over 20, and their QB had a 133.3 QB rating.
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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Comments (23)
KenEllis
November 11, 2025 at 02:49 pm
If the Packers finish 3rd again this season (like last year) or God forbid 4th, does everyone get extended and does the team just run it back again in 2026?
Or, is there finally some accountability at 1265 Lombardi?
NFLfan
November 11, 2025 at 03:10 pm
Now's the time for the letter-writing campaign
TarynsEyes
November 11, 2025 at 03:21 pm
Start with who pounded the desk for the Parsons trade. The Defense didn't need him, as has been proven in many a game, and the Defense is no better or worse since the trade. The trade didn't help what ails this team, as witnessed again yesterday, and waiting with eyes closed for next week's lowlight reel, offered by the 'Supreme' Offensive Juggernaut that is the Packers Offense. Two 1st rounds picks what wasn't needed and what doesn't fix the issue causing the ailments.
Starrbrite
November 11, 2025 at 05:20 pm
There was nothing wrong with the Parons trade. The defense has had to protect an impotent offense. If the offense would score once in awhile the defense could let the dogs out and Parsons would shine. Despite the offense, he was named defensive player of the month.
Ihappydirt
November 12, 2025 at 01:43 am
They held Eagles to 10, and still lost. Did you see the stat, teams that held opponents to 16 or less? 63-5. Packers 1-3. And you're blaming the D. LOL. (BTW, Parsons led the league in pressures this week, but let's ignore that)
TarynsEyes
November 12, 2025 at 08:59 am
I didn't blame the Defense, I blamed a trade that did nothing for the Offense.
Did Parsons pressure score points for the Offense?
Did they lose two in a row @ home while Parsons gets pressures?
Yes, please continue to praise Parsons while the Offense does nothing.
jlc1
November 12, 2025 at 09:04 pm
In what world do you trade for an edge rusher and say, or even have a critic say, it was to improve the offense? Your comparisons are non-sequiters. You take the obvious, the Pack did not score enough points, as if nobody else noticed that. We noticed. It was not Parsons' job to score points. Never was, never will be. Nobody claimed otherwise although you seem to imply some did. Parsons and his part of the team held the SB champs to 10 points. So yeah, that is praiseworthy.
NFLfan
November 11, 2025 at 03:11 pm
Actually, I have plan if MLF and Gute are extended-I will be so bored that I won't be interested in watching anymore.
"Frankly Scarlett, I won't give a damn"
jannesbjornson
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 am
You don't want to get into a Steelers Rut. The curve seems to be trending in the direction of Steel City redundancy.
Leatherhead
November 11, 2025 at 03:20 pm
If we finish last in the division, there'll be a housecleaning. But that won't happen.
We're halfway to 10-6-1. Very good shot at the playoffs. We have 8 weeks to find solutions for the problems we're having on offense, but we have a defense that will always keep us in the game.
I know this is going to trigger some of you, and you'll downvote it, but if we make the playoffs, LaFleur will be our coach in 2026.
FumundaStank
November 11, 2025 at 03:40 pm
So what is your prediction if the Packers don't make the playoffs. I think most fans realize if the Pack makes the playoffs MLF and Gute aren't going anywhere. That probably also means they get contract extensions prolonging the frustration you see know. What if they go 7-9-1, 8-8-1 or 9-7-1 and don't make the playoffs.
Leatherhead
November 11, 2025 at 04:28 pm
You're probably right. It just seems like the chorus to fire people is growing.
I think we should just play out the rest of the season and see how things go.
8-8-1 would be a real disappointment to me, personally. It would mean we'd go 3-5 the rest of the way. I certainly couldn't blame Policy for changing course if we finish like that.
I still think we'll finish no worse than 10-6-1. But we have to fix the offense. It's fixable, IMO, and it starts with blocking, running correct routes, and catching the ball. There's a lot of poor execution out there, IMO.
Starrbrite
November 11, 2025 at 05:23 pm
I’m done with LaFluer unless we make the NFC championship. But I do believe you’re right LH, if we make the playoffs, LaFluer will be retained.
myabfr
November 11, 2025 at 05:56 pm
Interesting. Right after the Parsons trade I commented that MLF would be gone if Packers didn't win in playoffs and you and 20 others down voted. Seems like people are figuring out that MLF may not be the genius people thought.
Brewcity_BearsFan
November 11, 2025 at 07:57 pm
Looking at Green Bay, I genuinely think they have the talent to win out.
Watching them play, I also think there is a slim possibility they could lose out.
I do not think there is another team in the league who poses the same dichotomy.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 11, 2025 at 11:33 pm
It almost seems random which Packers team will show up, except the arrow is pointing down.
Packerlifer
November 11, 2025 at 03:34 pm
The NFCN is turning out to be about what was expected at the beginning of this year. Only 2 game separate first from last. All four have their issues and question marks and flaws and all four have potential for being something good or at least interesting in the second half of the season.
We need to take a look at their upcoming schedules.
Detroit (6-3) is at Philadelphia, home to NY Giants, Packers, Dallas, at LA Rams, home vs Pittsburgh, at Minnesota and Chicago.
Chicago (6-3) is at Minnesota, home vs Pittsburgh, at Philly and Green Bay, home to Cleveland, Packers, at San Fran., and home vs the Lions.
Minnesota (4-5) host Da Bears, goes to Green Bay, visits Seattle, hosts Washington, goes back on the road to Dallas & NY Giants, finishes at home with the Packers & Lions.
The Packers (5-3-1) at NY Giants, Vikings at Lambeau, at Detroit on Thanksgiving, home to Da Bears, at Denver & Chicago, home vs Baltimore and at Minnesota.
The Lions, Bears and Vikes all have 4 home games remaining, the Packers 3.
Last night's game notwithstanding the Packers "no wins" against Cleveland, Dallas and Carolina are what. is biting them in the arse now. They could be 8-1 with a cushion for the tough final half.
TarynsEyes
November 11, 2025 at 04:01 pm
The problem now is they failed to win the games they were supposed to win, and now those type of opponents are nearly gone. A split with Min and Chi is an absolute least, but with @ Den, and Balt coming back to gain their spot, a likely loss to Det, it looks tough. No, don't write off the split to Min and Chi, that would be a mistake. Actually, the Packers need to sweep them to compensate for the losses to Den and Balt, and it still looks tough and ugly for a playoff spot.
Starrbrite
November 11, 2025 at 05:26 pm
Good post Lifer—thanks.
Snap the ball
November 11, 2025 at 10:34 pm
They could be 9-0.
If my aunt had balls she would be my uncle
the_gavia_pass
November 12, 2025 at 02:50 am
Remember when the bears had jay cutler?
now it's our turn, we have our jay cutler...jordan-thebust-love....
Ojomo made fun of us....all the nfl fans base is making fun of us....
cheesehead not only pushed for lafleur for years...but is still pushing for jordan-thebust-love
may be sometime they'll finally get this.
Bearmeat
November 12, 2025 at 06:22 am
Can’t fix stupid apparently. 👆
WorseWisconsin
November 17, 2025 at 02:14 pm
A few thoughts from a Bears fan:
1: While I'm VERY happy with the overall progress of the bears as a team this season, their wins are not very convincing that they'd make a deep playoff run if they make the playoffs. Even if they were to go 2-5 the rest of the way, that would still be solid growth. You have to win as part of building a winning culture.
2: While I think Parsons makes the Packers better, it's not surprising that he seems not-very-impactful in big/important games. That was true in Dallas and so far in GB too.
3: I love the come-back wins. The bears are winning games they'd DEFINITELY lose in years past.
4: Caleb Williams' inconsistencies in completion percentage is maddening. As much as I want the bears to win, I care more about his growth as a passer against NFL defenses. He has to do better there.