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There is not any purpose the starters for each the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears ought to take the sphere for his or her Week 18 matchup at Soldier Field. None. Hear me out.
The Bears are, and have been, eradicated from playoff competition. The solely factor left to play for was delight and the event of quarterback Justin Fields. I whispered this sentiment final week on this similar column, whereas totally acknowledging the Bears would not do it, however Fields wants to take a seat. There is not any significant improvement happening at this level.
He’s taking part in behind a piecemeal offensive line, at the same time as they regarded as wholesome as they’d been going into this previous Sunday’s recreation. Teven Jenkins and Michael Schofield promptly went down, leaving the Bears scrambling up entrance but once more. Fields then took seven sacks towards the Lions newfound, and really younger, go rush. Fields has taken 15 sacks within the final three video games. He’s been sacked 55 occasions this season, essentially the most within the league, and in 27 video games as a Chicago Bear, Fields has suffered 91 takedowns. Jay Cutler beforehand held the Bears’ single-season document with 52 sacks in his first 12 months in Chicago again in 2009. Fields has now supplanted him.
Fields has already fought by means of a number of accidents this season, most not too long ago an AC joint harm to his non-throwing shoulder because of a sort out. With a lot uncertainty up entrance, Fields has merely needed to do fully an excessive amount of and it is not price it (and maybe hasn’t been for weeks).
As far as improvement goes, certain, you’d prefer to see him get extra of a rapport with Chase Claypool, who was a midseason addition that must be right here subsequent 12 months. Claypool already vowed to work with Fields this offseason to get on the identical web page, and out of doors of Claypool the remainder of the accessible receivers for Fields haven’t any assure to be on the roster in 2023. Fields’ general weapons are restricted as is. What good will reps and improvement do with a restricted supporting forged?
Now, so far as the Vikings go, they nonetheless have seeding to play for. They are at present the three seed within the NFC however haven’t any shot on the one seed and the first-round bye. That’s what issues. The two or three seed may shake out quite a lot of methods relying on what occurs this weekend however is there actually that a lot of a distinction? I’d argue not sufficient to threat potential harm to quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Packers dismantle Vikings in Week 17
Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes talk about Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers victory vs. rival Minnesota Vikings in Week 17.
The Vikings are on their third-string middle, guard Chris Reed, who made a number of gaffes and had a number of miscommunications after Austin Schlottman went down towards Green Bay this Sunday. Head coach Kevin O’Connell got here out and mentioned Schlottman’s harm is critical. Right sort out Brian O’Neill additionally suffered a calf harm within the recreation, which O’Connell additionally known as “significant.” Garrett Bradbury is beginning to follow once more however they’re nonetheless in wait and see mode, which nearly guidelines him out for Week 18. Cousins miraculously solely took two sacks towards the Packers however did not get into a lot of a rhythm because of his lack of safety. Even with Schlottman in, Cousins took 4 sacks towards the Giants in Week 16 and a whopping seven towards the Colts of their miraculous Week 15 extra time comeback.
Cousins is doing an excessive amount of when he must be resting, together with a lot of the different starters, as they put together for his or her wild–card matchup with whoever it finally ends up being.
Dan Campbell, Lions simply glad to be taking part in significant soccer in January
There is not any give up in Dan Campbell’s Lions. That a lot has been evident because of a midseason turnaround that has Detroit sitting at 8-8 with respectable postseason hopes after beginning the marketing campaign 1-6.
Their destiny is not as much as them, in contrast to the Packers who’ve the identical document. Due to convention tiebreakers, the Lions additionally want the Seahawks to lose to the Rams. But if nothing else, this season has confirmed Detroit is shut and so they simply might need the intangibles to make an actual run for years to return.
“I think it’s important to get used to being here because that’s what you — this is where you want to be,” mentioned Campbell on Monday. “You want to be in the thick of it, and you always want to have a chance to get in or have gotten in, and now it’s about seeding, everything I’ve talked about last night, and so this has got to be where we’re at. And I do think it’s very important because to get to this point, now, especially for a young team overall … you look at the ebbs and flows of this season and different teams including us, all the hype one way or all the lows one way, and this team’s written off, and they’re back, this team is the greatest thing that’s happened in years, and now look at the slide they’re on – it’s natural. It’s been that way for years, and you’ve just got to be consistent, and just handle your business, go to work every week. You’ve got to have a little luck. You do, but you’ve got to be a resilient team, and I think that’s got to be part of your foundation, and that’s why we put this team together.”
Not solely is that this simply good expertise for the Lions, even when the Seahawks win and get rid of Detroit previous to their matchup with the Packers, the Lions might be those to knock a division opponent out of the postseason on nationwide TV.
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Carmen Vitali covers the NFC North for FOX Sports. Carmen had earlier stops with The Draft Network and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She spent six seasons with the Bucs, together with 2020, which added the title of Super Bowl Champion (and boat-parade participant) to her résumé. You can comply with Carmen on Twitter at @CarmieV.
Green Bay Packers
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