NFC North standings heading into Week 8
It was more of the same when it came to the NFC North standings after the Week 7 slate of games. The Green Bay Packers kept their winning streak alive, the Detroit Lions continued to lose, and the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings remained in the middle.
There is still plenty of season to go, but the weeks are piling up fast. Coming up on the halfway point of the 2021 season, here’s where each team stands in the division.
Green Bay Packers (6-1)
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Packers 24, Football Team 10
Judging by the first drive for each team in this game, it felt like a barnburner was coming. The Green Bay Packers and Washington Football Team each scored a touchdown on their opening drives, but things quickly took a turn. Washington missed a field goal attempt and Green Bay followed that up by having their own attempt blocked, keeping things at a 7-7 stalemate.
But Aaron Rodgers kept things moving and finally delivered yet again, throwing two touchdown passes on each side of halftime to take a 21-7 lead. Rodgers had three scores on the day as he carved up the Football Team. Washington almost got back into it, but quarterback Taylor Heinicke fumbled the ball going into the endzone that would have made it a 21-14 ballgame. Instead. the play resulted in a turnover and the Packers cruised to yet another victory.
Now at 6-1, they face their biggest challenge of the season when they take on the undefeated Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night while dealing with enhanced COVID-19 protocols.
Minnesota Vikings (3-3)
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No game – bye week
The Minnesota Vikings were off in Week 7 and return to action against the dangerous Dallas Cowboys.
Chicago Bears (3-4)
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Bears 3, Buccaneers 38
This was one of those games that was over before it even started. The Chicago Bears arrived in Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers while dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. Multiple players were out for this game and their absences showed from the start. Tampa Bay jumped out to a 21-0 lead with Tom Brady throwing his 600th career passing touchdown in the process.
The Bears managed just three measly points in a blowout loss to the reigning Super Bowl champions. Chicago’s offense was stagnant and their defense was playing catch up at every turn. Nothing went right for the Bears as they drop below .500 for the first time in a month.
They’ll look to bounce back and avoid a three-game losing streak when they welcome the San Francisco 49ers to town on Sunday.
Detroit Lions (0-7)
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Lions 19, Rams 28
The Detroit Lions were desperate for a win against the Los Angeles Rams. So desperate, in fact, that after they took their opening drive down for a touchdown, they decided to attempt a surprise onside kick to keep the momentum going. It worked in their favor as they recovered the kick and converted a field goal opportunity to go up 10-0 before the Rams could even take an offensive snap.
Even through the first quarter, Detroit controlled this game. But the Rams were just too much for the lowly Lions, eventually overtaking them with two touchdown drives in the second quarter to take a 17-16 lead.
It wasn’t over for the Lions, though, as they retook the lead with a field goal to lead 19-17. A Rams touchdown and two-point conversion tilted the lead back to Los Angeles and Jared Goff saw his superb performance against his former team go out the window. He threw two interceptions late in the game to seal the defeat and keep the Lions winless.
Detroit continues to play competitive football, but can’t jump into the win column. A date with the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday might just do the trick, though.
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