NFC North Recap- Week 4

Tampa Bay 30, Green Bay 21- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers knock off their second cosecutive NFC North opponent in the Packers. The Bucs were formerly in the same division with the Packers as part of the Central division before the divisional realignment. The Buccaneers built a 20-7 lead only to watch Green Bay comeback and take a 21-20 lead early in the 4th. However, turnovers and a stingy Buccaneer defense allowed them to make a comeback of their own as Matt Bryant's 24-yard field goal with 2:26 remaining gave the Bucs the lead again, and then Earnest Graham's 1-yard score 30 seconds later put the Bucs on top 30-21. Graham finished with 111 yards rushing on 20 carries and the TD. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers struggled at times despite throwing two touchdowns in 14-of-27 passes for 165 yards . Rodgers also threw three critical interceptions, including one right after Tampa Bay had retaken the lead in the 4th. Green Bay was held to just 28 total yards rushing.
Next game: Atlanta (2-2) at Green Bay (2-2)

Chicago 24, Philadelphia 20- The Chicago Bears used a terrific goal line stand to stop the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football and be the only team in the NFC North to come out a winner in week 4. The Bears are now in a tie with Green Bay atop the division standings and will face their first divisional opponent next week in Detroit. The Bears were outgained in total offense (340-256), but were able to put points on the board and the defense was able to come through when needed. Kyle Orton went 18-of-34 passing for 199 yards 3 TDs and 2 interceptions. One of those TD passes was to Devin Hester in the 2nd quarter to give Chicago a lead they would not relinquish. After Robbie Gould's 41-yard field goal gave the Bears a 24-20 lead in the 4th, Philadelphia marched down the field from their own 24 yard-line and had 1st and goal from the 4 with 5:40 to play. The Eagles' first run gained 3 yards but, with just a yard to gain, the Bears tightened up and stuffed the Eagles' next three running plays to keep Philadelphia off the scoreboard. The Bears would eventually have to punt the ball away giving Eagles' QB Donovan McNabb one last shot at the endzone, but the pass play was snuffed out by Nathan Vasher and the Bears sealed the victory.
Next game: Chicago (2-2) at Detroit (0-3)

Detroit- Bye week. Next game vs. Chicago. The good news for Lions fans is that Detroit didn't lose this week.

What does it mean for Minnesota?- It means that Minnesota is right back where they were last year and in probably worse shape on both sides of the ball. Teams are figuring out how to stop Minnesota's ground game, and since the Vikings don't have a passing game that scares anybody folks up north are getting a little nervous about whether or not the Vikings will even make the playoffs this year. Minnesota's 30-17 loss at Tennessee drops them to 1-3 on the year. Next week they play at the New Orleans Saints (2-2), who took care of San Francisco last week. If the Vikings fall to 1-4 you can pretty much assume the Vikings will be done. Both Green Bay and Chicago have very winnable games next week and Minnesota is gonna need to start winning some games if they want to keep pace. Gus Frerotte will still be the starter at QB despite cutting his hand at the end of Sunday's loss. The defense will be in for a stern test against one of the more high-powered offenses in the NFC and if the Vikings' offense can't find ways to score more than 20 points in a game then 1-4 is looking like a very good possibility. Despite the fact that the odds are not in their favor, Sunday's game is a must win.