Vikings-Bears Should Be A Backup Battle: NFC North Notebook

Both the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears starters are not required to appear in the Week 18 game at Soldier Field. none. please listen.

The Bears are eliminated from playoff contention. The only thing left to play was the development of Pride and quarterback Justin Fields. Fields will have to sit down, admitting it. No meaningful development has taken place at this point.

Despite looking as healthy as last Sunday’s game, he’s playing behind a fragmented offensive line, with Teven Jenkins and Michael Schofield quickly down and the Bears back up front. rice field. Fields then took seven sacks against the Lions’ newfound very young pass rush. Fields has 15 sacks in his last three games. He has been sacked his 55th time this season, which is the most in the league, and in his 27 games as a Bear in Chicago, Fields has his 91st takedown. Jay Cutler held his one-season record for the Bears with 52 sacks in his first year with Chicago in 2009. Fields has now replaced him.

Fields has already overcome multiple injuries this season, most recently injuring his AC joint on his non-throwing shoulder as a result of a tackle. With so much uncertainty up front, Fields simply went too far.

As far as development is concerned, we certainly hope to see him develop a rapport with Chase Claypool, who was midseason addition who should be here next year. Together they have vowed to be on the same page, and outside of Claypool there is no guarantee Fields’ remaining available receivers will be on the roster in 2023. Fields’ overall arsenal is limited as it is. What good does rep and development do with a limited supporting cast?

Well, as far as the Vikings are concerned, they still have seeds to play. They’re currently the No. 3 seed in the NFC, but have no chance of hitting the No. 1 seed and the No. 1 round bye. That’s the point. The second or third seed could swing in many ways depending on what happens this weekend, but does it really matter that much? Quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​gets injured I would argue that it is not worth the risk.

The Vikings have guard Chris Reid at third-string center after Austin Schrottman fell out against Green Bay this Sunday after making multiple gaffes and causing some misunderstandings Head coach Kevin O’Connell came out and said Schrottman’s injury was serious. Right tackle Brian O’Neill also suffered a calf injury during the game, which O’Connell called “serious.” Garrett Bradbury has started practicing again, but they are still in wait-and-see mode, effectively keeping him out of Week 18. of protection. Despite Schrodtman’s addition, Cousins ​​recorded four sacks in Week 16 against the Giants and a whopping seven in Week 15’s miraculous overtime win over the Colts. .

Cousins, like most other starters, overdoes it when he should be resting and prepares for the wild.–Finally a card matchup with anyone.

Dan Campbell, Lions just happy to have played meaningful football in January

Dan Campbell’s Lions never end. That’s evident thanks to a midseason turnaround where Detroit sits 8-8 with legitimate postseason hopes after starting the campaign 1-6.

Unlike the Packers, who have the same record, their fate is not up to them.The Lions also need the Seahawks to lose to the Rams because of the conference tiebreaker. But if nothing else, this season has proven that Detroit is close, and they may have the intangibles to really run for years to come.

“I think it’s important to get used to being here because that’s what you’re going for. This is where you want to be,” Campbell said Monday. And you always want to have the chance to get in or get in and now about all the seeds I talked about last night and especially for the whole young team to get to this point I think it’s very important… the ups and downs of this season and the different teams, including us, all the hype in one direction or this team was the best it’s been in years. Look at the slide you’re in. It’s natural. For years, you have to be consistent, handle your own business, and show up every week. It has to be a team, it has to be part of your foundation and that’s why we put this team together.”

Not only is this a good experience for the Lions, but even if the Seahawks win and eliminate Detroit before their game against the Packers, the Lions will be able to knock out divisional opponents from the postseason on national television. .

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Carmen Vitali covers NFC North for FOX Sports. Carmen previously played for Draft Network and Tampa Bay He was with the Buccaneers. She spent her six her seasons with the Bucks, and in 2020 the title of Super Bowl her champion (and boat her parade participant) was added to her resume. You can follow Carmen on her Twitter. @CarmieV.

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