Three weeks into the season, the NFC North is already sorting itself out, and the picture is pretty clear at the top: Minnesota looks like the team everybody else is chasing.
The Vikings are 3-0, and their defense has been the driving force. They gave up 22 points to the Packers in Week 1, then tightened the screws hard with just three points allowed against the Bears in Week 2. In Week 3, they held the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 16 and kept Baker Mayfield under constant pressure, piling up seven pass breakups and knocking Tampa’s passing game off rhythm.
That matters even more because Minnesota is staring at the second-toughest remaining strength of schedule in the division. Still, with a defense this dependable, they have a real foundation to lean on while they wait for Kyler Murray to get it together. Even if Murray settles in at just “average” for Kevin O’Connell, that gives Minnesota enough to work with.
Behind the Vikings, the Detroit Lions are still very much the dangerous team everyone expected. They’re 2-1 after a gritty Week 3 win over the Jets, sealed by a clutch strip sack from Chuck Clark.
The offense keeps humming, with Jahmyr Gibbs putting up a hat trick and looking, in this offense, like Detroit’s true WR3. Jared Goff was sharp again, and the Lions have now scored 31 points in three straight games to open the year.
Detroit’s pass rush has also taken a step forward. With fewer snaps for Alim McNeill, the results were especially strong against Smith.
According to Next Gen Stats, McNeill was the closest pass rusher on average to Smith on the day, at 3.72 yards when Smith threw the ball. He added a sack and finished with seven total pressures.
Through three games, the Lions have 12 sacks, which is second-most in the league so far. That’s a real answer to one of their biggest defensive problems.
But the secondary is still the issue that hangs over everything. Smith picked Detroit apart for 321 yards on 31-of-37 passing, with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
He was nearly flawless on throws 20 yards or more downfield, going 5-for-6 in that area and hitting two touchdowns there. The Lions can rush the passer and score in bunches, but they still aren’t getting enough stops when the ball goes up in the air.
Chicago sits in a tough spot at 1-1, and the Caleb Williams injury makes the next stretch especially tricky. Williams is likely to miss a few more games with a hamstring issue, leaving Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent as the quarterback options for Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears’ defense still has plenty to prove, which means the offense is their best path to hanging with better teams.
The question now is whether Ben Johnson can keep the Bears afloat with backup quarterbacks until Williams returns. Otherwise, Chicago may have a hard time keeping pace with Minnesota in the division right now.
In Other News...
Lions Just Reopened A Roster Spot With A Familiar Return
The Lions made a familiar practice-squad swap Tuesday, parting ways with cornerback Natrone Brooks and bringing back tight end Miles Kitselman. Kitselman is returning to Detroit after previously being waived with an injury settlement, a transaction that had temporarily taken him off the teams roster picture but left the door open for a reunion down the line.
Kitselmans return gives Detroit another look at a player the organization already knows, while the move also keeps the tight end room in motion after a series of roster adjustments at the position. The broader backdrop includes the injury settlement process, which can create an opening for a later return, and it comes amid other recent moves involving tight ends and defensive end Ahmed Hassanein. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Made Derrick Moores Path To Playing Time Clear
Derrick Moore has spent the early part of his Lions career a step behind, a familiar place for a rookie defensive end trying to climb a crowded depth chart while also dealing with lost practice time because of injury. For a Detroit defense that is still sorting through adjustments, the development curve has been especially important, and head coach Dan Campbell made it clear Moores next step is all about getting more work and turning those reps into trust.
Campbell said Moore needs those chances to keep growing, and that the expectation inside the building is he will improve and push for more playing time as he gets comfortable. Campbell also noted he has been spending extra time in defensive meetings to help with the ongoing adjustments on that side of the ball, which only adds to the sense that Detroit is trying to steady the group while waiting for younger pieces like Moore to catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Tough Center Decision Before Division Games
Juice Scruggs has handled the center job well through the first three games, giving the Lions something they needed in the middle of the offensive line after moving him into the role. He has graded out strongly and looked comfortable enough that Detroit now has a real decision to make as the schedule turns tougher, with divisional games looming against the Packers and Vikings.
Dan Campbell said Cade Mays is making progress in his recovery, but a Week 4 return may still be a stretch, and the Lions may choose to wait until after the bye before bringing him back into the mix. That leaves Detroit weighing continuity against the possibility of getting Mays back in place at center, a choice that could shape how the line holds up in the games that matter most for the division race. [Read more 🡒]