NFC North Roundup: Bears Eye Ground Game Revival, Packers Back LaFleur, Vikings Weigh Addison’s Future
As the NFC Divisional Round looms, the temperature’s dropping in Chicago-and so has the Bears’ rushing output. Head coach Ben Johnson knows that’s a problem. After managing just 65 yards on the ground in Week 18, a season low, Johnson is making it clear: if Chicago wants to keep dancing in January, the run game has to show up.
“It feels like it’s dipped a little bit - not something that we want late in the season,” Johnson said this week. And he’s right.
This is the time of year when cold weather and playoff football demand physicality, ball control, and the ability to move the chains on the ground. Against a Rams front that thrives on disruption, the Bears can’t afford to be one-dimensional.
Johnson isn’t just talking about pounding the rock for the sake of it. He wants both efficiency and explosiveness-staying ahead of the sticks while also hitting chunk plays to flip field position and momentum. That’s easier said than done against a Rams defense that’s built to stop exactly that.
“They shed blocks at an elite level,” Johnson said of L.A.’s front. “They are relentless.
They are violent across the board.” That’s high praise-and a clear message to his offensive line and backs: bring your best, or it’ll be a long afternoon.
In Green Bay, LaFleur Gets Locker Room Backing
While the Bears are prepping for playoff football, the Packers are already looking toward 2026-and it sounds like most of the locker room wants Matt LaFleur leading the charge.
Wide receiver Jayden Reed didn’t mince words: “I think he belongs here, man. The past three years I’ve been here, I’ve been in the playoffs every year. He’s created a winning atmosphere.”
That sentiment echoed throughout the roster. Safety Javon Bullard called LaFleur a “cool coach” and emphasized that despite outside criticism, the team remains loyal: “He’s our coach and we wouldn’t want nothing more than him to be here.”
Christian Watson, who’s battled injuries but flashed big-play ability under LaFleur, credited the head coach with helping him grow on and off the field. “He’s definitely a coach that I want to go out there and play for 100 percent,” Watson said. “He’s meant a lot to me.”
And veteran safety Xavier McKinney summed it up with a nod to LaFleur’s leadership through adversity: “He’s still a good-ass coach. He’s a player’s coach. We all have really good relationships with him… I think he still did a hell of a job this year with us.”
With that kind of backing from key players, it’s clear LaFleur’s voice still carries weight in the locker room-and that might matter more than anything when the front office evaluates the next steps for the franchise.
Vikings Face Complicated Offseason Decision with Addison
In Minnesota, the focus has shifted from the field to the front office after wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing in Tampa earlier this week. It’s an off-field issue that could carry long-term implications for both Addison and the Vikings’ roster decisions.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, especially with Addison entering the final year of his rookie deal and fellow wideout Jalen Nailor heading into free agency.
“Jordan is unique because 99% of the days that Jordan Addison is a Viking, he’s a joy to be around,” Adofo-Mensah said. “He’s incredibly intelligent, confident, responsible. And then it’s like all of us: What are you like on those 1% of days?”
It’s that 1%-the moments that make headlines-that can shift the calculus when it comes to contract extensions or roster moves. The Vikings will need to weigh Addison’s on-field potential and locker room presence against the off-field distractions.
Still, Adofo-Mensah made it clear that the organization isn’t rushing to judgment. “Always supportive of Jordan Addison,” he said. “We’ll continue to fact-find and see what actually happened, and then we’ll have those conversations in the future.”
Addison’s legal team, Younger & Associates, is already pushing back, stating on social media that they’ve launched an investigation and are reviewing the possibility of a false arrest claim. “He looks forward to the legal process,” the statement read, “and upon full investigation, we are confident Mr. Addison will be exonerated.”
For now, the Vikings are taking a wait-and-see approach. But with contract decisions looming and a critical offseason ahead, Addison’s situation is one that will stay firmly on the radar in Minnesota.
Final Thoughts
As the NFC North heads into a pivotal stretch-whether it’s postseason battles or offseason planning-each team is facing its own version of high-stakes decision-making. The Bears are trying to rediscover their identity on the ground.
The Packers are rallying around their head coach. And the Vikings are navigating a tricky situation with one of their young stars.
January football isn’t just about who’s still playing-it’s about who’s ready to take the next step, on the field and off.