Chicago Bears:   Fans of the Chicago Bears had to be pleased with their team despite their opening-game loss to the rival Green Bay Packers.  After getting rolled in both games last year by the Packers, this year’s team seemed to have a lot more grit and played the Packers nose-to-nose despite not having any more talent than last year’s club.  That is a tribute to Head Coach John Fox and his coaching staff.

The loss dropped the Bears to 1-12 in games against the Packers started by quarterback Jay Cutler in a 31-23 loss.  Cutler threw a fourth quarter interception which prevented the Bears, who were driving for a score at the time, from securing a victory over the Packers. 

It was the 23rd interception that Cutler’s thrown in games against the Packers, but the talk in the Bears locker room after the game wasn’t about the same old Cutler.  The coaching staff and fellow players alike were effusive in their praise of the Bears signal-caller.

“I thought Jay did a real good job” said Fox in his post-game comments.  “His pocket awareness - he had a couple of scrambles in there that I think were heads-up plays. He stepped up into the pocket. But against this football team, we weren’t quite as good as we needed to be.”

Fox went on to say that there were no moral victories in the NFL.  Fox is right; his team is still in last place, just where they ended last season. But at least now there is hope that the team is heading in the right direction.

Last Week: Lost at Home to Packers 31 - 23

This Week:  Bears host Arizona Cardinals

Season Record: 0 - 1

Place in NFC North:  Last

Detroit Lions:   The Lions gave away a game that they shouldn’t have lost this past Sunday.  After opening up a 21 – 2 lead the Lions lost to the Chargers 33-28. Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 246 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The local press on Monday found that Stafford was sporting a large protective wrap around his right elbow.  Stafford injured the elbow of his throwing arm in the third quarter of the game and ended the game with the sleeve.  The signal-caller insisted that he will be “good to go” for Sunday’s contest against the Vikings.

Ameer Abdullah went into the game vs. the Chargers as the third string running back but that is likely to change quickly.  Abdullah was easily the most explosive player for the Lions against the Chargers.  Abdullah chalked up 50 yards rushing and another 44 yards receiving and was credited with one touchdown.

Lions’ fans were perplexed by the absence of throws to Pro Bowl wide receiver Calvin Johnson.   Megatron had exactly four targets in the game and ended with only two catches for 39 yards. While the overall passing game was anemic, the head-scratcher for the Lion was that quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t go Johnson’s way more often.  Johnson told the media post-game that he is not the quarterback and simply trusts that Matthew Stafford is making the right calls. Head coach Jim Caldwell simply said they were reacting to what the defense gave them.  Still it was a curious start to the season.

The Lions defense was a sieve in San Diego.  As a result the Chargers can lay claim to the number one statistical offense in the league after racking up 483 yards against the toothless Lions Defense.

Last Week:  Lost to Chargers in San Diego 33 - 28

This Week:  Lions at Minnesota Vikings

Season Record: 0 - 1

Place in NFC North:  Last

 Minnesota Vikings:  There is major angst in Vikings-land after the 49’ers dominated the purple crew on Monday night.

The Lions fans weren’t the only ones who questioned why their star player had so little involvement in the game.  The same could be said for Vikings fans in questioning why Adrian Peterson was not used more often.  Peterson carried just 10 times for 31 yards in the Vikings 20 – 3 loss to the San Francisco 49’ers on Monday night.  Peterson's 31 yards tied for the eighth fewest of his career.  Chalk up the disappointing results to time-consuming drives by the 49’ers and the Vikings makeshift offensive line.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s stats were not bad (23 of 32 passes, for 72 percent completion, 231 yards to nine different receivers. He also rushed for 16 yards).  Yet his overall performance was far short of what the Vikings will need to lead them to the playoffs this season.

Just as disconcerting for the Vikings was the success that the Niners had on the ground vs. the Vikings defense.  Former Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde ripped the defense apart recording 168 yards on the ground and touchdown runs of 17 and 10 yards in his first career start. The Vikings seemed to have no answer for the nifty running back and with accomplished NFC North running backs Matt Forte and Eddie Lacy awaiting them, there is genuine cause for concern.

The Viking defense ranks dead last in the NFL in rushing yards after week one.

Last Week: Loss to San Francisco 49’ers 20-3

This Week:  Host the Detroit Lions

Season Record: 0 - 1

Place in NFC North:  Last

Green Bay Packers:  Some things change and some things don’t.  The Packers run defense after improving last year seems to have reverted back to their old ways against the Bears.

In analyzing the Packers poor effort against the Bears, the main culprit was their outside zone runs where an outside defender was blocked down which left the cut-back lanes the responsibility to the inside linebacker, safety or cornerback. When someone did make the tackle it was usually after Forte had a head of steam.  Forte was not stopped for a loss all game long.

"We weren't as assignment-clean as we needed to be," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said afterward. "We really didn't handle the outside zone with the flat footwork that we struggled with against Philadelphia in the preseason, and it was an issue again for us yesterday. That's a point of emphasis because obviously we're going to see it again this week with Seattle."

To further compound the issue of fixing their shoddy run defense the Packers got some bad news on the injury front.  The team disclosed that starting inside linebacker Sam Barrington will be lost for the year the result of a foot injury suffered in Sunday's game.  Barrington had become a solid contributor and leader of the defense and had been chosen to wear the communications helmet thus receiving coverage calls from the sidelines.

According to the statistics supplied by ProFootball Focus the Packers ranked 2^nd in overall offense, 16^th in overall defense and 24^th in Special Teams. 

 On an individual basis ProFootball Focus, which rates every player in the league on every play, the following stats are notable: 

• Aaron Rodgers QB rating of 140.1 was third in the league behind rookie Marcus Mariota and Tom Brady.
• Eddie Lacy has the 6^th most rushing yards in the league.  Not surprisingly the Bears Matt Forte is 2^nd.  Both lead Seahawks halfback Marshawn Lynch who is ranked 9^{th -}   Lynch is who the Packers will attempt to contain this coming Sunday at Lambeau Field.
• Rookie Ty Montgomery has the 4^th leading kickoff return average in the league at 35.3 yards per return.  It is obvious that with his skill level and the Packers emphasis on special teams that the team is far from the rag-tag squad trotted out last year under Shawn Slocum.
• Recent signee James Jones is statistically the third highest rated receiver according to ProFootball Focus’ stats.  Jones is tied for the league lead in TD passes (2) and had one other nullified by a penalty.
• Green Bay’s tight ends tallied a mere 27 receiving yards against the Bears.
• The Green Bay defense is the second worst rushing defense in the league after week one.

Last Week: Win at Chicago 31 - 23

This Week: Home Opener at home vs. Seattle Seahawks

Season Record: 1 - 0

Place in NFC North:  First (alone)