Lions own the North since mid-2022. That’s a fact, not an opinion. Detroit will continue to own the North through 2030. Also a fact. Let’s take a look at a beautiful Week 9 (in pro football at least).
Detroit 24 Green Bay 14
Rain, wind, flukes, refs. Forget about it. Indoor or outdoors, Jared Goff is a MVP QB. Small hands, no problem, big heart and stud OC with stud Oline and weapons. Plus Jordan Love is a pick machine.
First drive, Packers had a good plan with Josh Jacobs. 9 yard run and 13 yard run for a first down. Packers got to a 4th and 1 and the man himself Tucker Kraft with a TE sneak for a first down. False start Packers, no problem, 19 yarder to Watson. Jacobs 11 yard rush but then the patented Lions bend but don’t break happened. Red zone stop. McManus 30 yard FG. 3-0 bad guys.
Detroit wasn’t scared and had a better plan with some Dan Campbell cahones mixed in. Montgomery two rushes for 8 and 4. More Monty for 11 and a first down. 2nd and 5, Goff is passing intermediate to La Porta for 19. 3rd and 5, Monty 9 yard rush first down. 4th and goal after some good Packers stops no problem, Campbell going for it. Slaton jumps offside. Door open folks. Beautiful slant to fade on 4th to St Brown with a great catch over Nixon. Tuddie Lions 7-3.
Green Bay 4 play punt but a Rhyan false start turned 3rd and 3 to 3 to 3rd and 8. Incomplete then a punt. Lions 4 play drive punt as well but great punt by Jack Fox. Packers move the ball well and get absolutely aided after a Morgan holding with a stupid unnecessary hit to the head by Brian Branch. 15 yard penalty. Branch flips the crowd off. 15 more yards. Brian Branch ejected by New York. Gifted to the 32 yard line. Lions are bend but don’t break folks. Stop the Packers and McManus missed a 46 yard field goal. 7-3 still Lions.
Detroit pounces and drives 55 yards running out clock and getting a short 27 yard Jake Bates field goal. 10-3. Bates perfect on the year still.
Then my favorite Jordan Love comes out. After an 8 yard pass with, Love gets pressured by Anzalone and throws a very stupid pass right to the best safety in the game in Kerby Joseph for the pick 6. 17-3 Lions at half.
Lions get the ball to start the second half and go for the throat. St Brown first down, Gibbs gets 3rd and 1 but then Lions illegal shift takes away a first. No problem, Nixon clearly holds Kalif Raymond for a first down. La Porta another 9 yards, Gibbs 18 yard rush. More Gibbs for 4 and 5 yards. 4th down again and Cahones Campbell strikes again with a 15 yard TD run by Gibbs. Tuddie. 24-3 domination.
Green Bay 3 and out then Lions 3 and out. Packers have a nice drive approaching garbage time but the Lions bend but don’t break. Force a field goal and 24-6 game.
Lions 3 and out again. Kudos to Hafley for getting some stops. Packers drive the field again but bend but don’t break. 2nd and 1 incomplete Love at the Detroit 9, 3rd and 1 throw behind Wicks and dropped in the end zone. 4th and 1 Jack Campbell absolutely stuffs Josh Jacobs. Turnover on downs.
Lions 6 play drive eats 3:41 but stupid end around to Raymond lost 12 yards killing the drive. Packers get the ball late and get a garbage time TD aided by another stupid Lions taunting penalty on Amik Robertson. Packers Wilson gets the TD and the 2 pointer to Watson. 24-14. Lions go for the kill. Montgomery time with 3 first downs rushing to kill the clock. 3 kneel downs and ball game.
Lions (7-1) own the North and really have a 2 game lead on Vikings (6-2) and 3 game lead on Packers (6-3) due to the Lions two ROAD DIVISION WINS.
Jared Goff 109 QB rating with 1 TD. Jordan Groin Love 69.7 rating with 273 yards passing but a pick. Packers 138 yards and 6 YPC and Lions 124 yards at 3.9 YPC (Monty 4.3 and Gibbs 5.9). The end around -12-yard loss and 3 kneel downs killed the Lions rushing YPC. Packers pick and turnover on downs and missed FG were a big difference. Love also fumbled 3 times on bad snaps (Jenkins bad center) but the Packers luckily recovered each one. Lions by double digits is beautiful.
Lions travel to Houston for Sunday Night Football and Green Bay gets a much-needed bye to lick their wounds.
Cardinals Crush Bears 29-9
Bears fall to have 4-4 and suck on the road. Tough schedule coming up after hosting the Patriots next week. Way to respond to the Hail Mary loss. Caleb Williams 217 yards but 68.9 QB rating. Bears 3 YPC rushing. Murray 154 yards and 88.3 rating. Cardinals ran the ball very well with 213 yards rushing at 6.3 YPC with 3 rushing TDs. Cardinals even lost 2 fumbles but Bears let them off the hook. Bears 3 FG drives first half but Cardinals 3 TDs with 21-9 lead. Cardinals two FGs and a safety in the second half for the 29-9 win.
Vikings 21 Colts 13
Vikings did enough with 3 long TD drives (and 2 missed FG drives) and stopped the Colts with Joe Flacco. Vikings try and keep pace at 6-2 and got a nice home win on Sunday Night Football.. Lots of road games coming up for them though. Darnold 107.1 QB rating with 290 yards 3 TDS but 2 ints. Vikings 133 yards rushing at 4.2 YPC with Jones healthy. Colts 3.6 YPC and a Taylor fumble. Flacco 63.7 QB rating. Flores did good.