ESPN NFC North Blog

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Kudos to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune and the Elias Sports Bureau for digging up this note: Minnesota guard Steve Hutchinson committed his first holding penalty in six years Sunday at Lambeau Field.

That’s right. Before Sunday, Hutchinson hadn’t been called for a hold since November of 2003, when he played for Seattle. And according to research, it was only the third penalty of any kind Hutchinson has been called for since he joined the Vikings in 2004.

Sunday’s hold ended up causing minimal damage. The penalty, committed as he tried to block Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins, forced the Vikings into a second-and-17 situation. But three plays later, quarterback Brett Favre connected with receiver Percy Harvin for a 51-yard touchdown.

	Getty Images; AP Photo
	Green Bay's Cullen Jenkins and Charles Woodson have expressed frustration with the team's defensive play calling, and Aaron Kampman hasn't been as productive in the new 3-4 scheme.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

I’ll be honest. I’m not sure whether to be impressed, surprised or concerned about the message Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy planned to deliver Monday. Facing another round of internal criticism about the Packers’ new 3-4 scheme, McCarthy said that players need to “handle frustration” better.

McCarthy: “We're the fourth-ranked defense in the National Football League. We're leading the league in turnover ratio right now … I've said it before, and I'll confirm it here. I'll confirm it today again in the team meeting. I'm not interested in having Pro Bowl players and having a 27th-ranked defense. Our interest and our focus is on being a top-three defense in the league. It's utilizing all of our players. Sometimes players are asked to do things, to sacrifice so someone else can benefit from it, and that's part of the deal. That's the way we operate. We have a lot of good players on defense. It's not about one guy getting his. That's not the way we operate, and that will be our focus, and it has been our focus since [new defensive coordinator Dom Capers] came here.”

That response came after defensive end Cullen Jenkins complained that it was time for Capers to remove the “handcuffs” from some players and let them play to their strengths. Three weeks ago, cornerback Charles Woodson expressed disappointment in Capers’ play calling. And don’t forget that linebacker Aaron Kampman never endorsed his position shift and recently has been lining up more often as a traditional defensive end.

Jenkins. Woodson. Kampman. They are three of the Packers’ best and most respected defensive players. Never have they been considered malcontents, nor are they prone to public outbursts. The question facing McCarthy is whether or not the complaints reflect purely selfish motives amid team success. Or are the players simply questioning whether the scheme gives them their best chance to win?

Based on his comment Monday, it appears McCarthy has settled on the former. Is he right? Has the Packers’ defense fulfilled its mission this year? Or are players justified in questioning its direction?

First, let’s look at a statistical snapshot of the Packers’ seven-game defensive performance:

Packers' defensive production, 2009 Category Production NFL rank Total yards 283.4 4 Passing yards 184 9 Rushing yards 99.4 9 Third-down pct. 36.1 9 Points per game 19.1 9 Takeaways 17 4

Indeed, based on the way the NFL measures team defense, the Packers rank No. 4 overall. If you prefer points per game as your measure, the Packers would rank No. 9. In fact, Capers’ group ranks in the top 10 in most major defensive categories you can find.

Stop right here for a moment and ask yourself this question: Rankings aside, do the Packers have one of the best 10 defenses in the NFL?

I think it’s hard to make that argument. Green Bay already is a long shot to win the NFC North, primarily because of two losses against Minnesota. Here are the Packers' per-game averages in those contests against the Vikings:

Yards: 344.5
Passing: 257.5
Rushing: 87
Third down pct.: 50
Points: 34
Takeaways: 1.5

It’s not surprising that player complaints arose from the first Minnesota game (Woodson) and the second (Jenkins). When your defense gives up an average of 34 points in the two games that essentially scuttle your division hopes, it’s hard to put much stock in midseason rankings.

	Aaron Josefczuk/Icon SMI
	Mike McCarthy has defended his team-first approach: "I'm not interested in having Pro Bowl players and having a 27th-ranked defense."

I understand the message McCarthy is trying to send: That no individual goals will supersede the team structure. But are we sure that’s what Woodson and Jenkins were seeking? What if there is nothing selfish about their complaints? What if they don’t believe they -- and the team -- can succeed within the roles they’ve been assigned?

Sunday evening, Capers told reporters he wasn’t concerned about the latest round of criticism.

“I think players get frustrated,” Capers said. “They want to win. When you win, I don’t think you hear much of it. The last couple of weeks, we’ve played pretty darn well. We didn’t play as well [Sunday]. Every man has to be accountable for his job. You have to make sure you do your job.”

It’s only fair to point out that on those “couple of weeks” Capers referred to, the Packers played Detroit (1-6) and Cleveland (1-7). Their offenses rank No. 25 and No. 30 in the NFL, respectively, based on yardage gained and points scored.

To be clear, this friction point is not unusual for teams making a schematic transition. I saw it happen three years ago in Minnesota, when coach Brad Childress installed a rigid West Coast offense on a group that had been playing in a downfield passing attack for most of the previous 10 years. Ultimately, players either made the adjustment or left after the season. (You knew I couldn’t write an entire column without mentioning the Vikings, right?)

The key difference, of course, is that Childress made that transition in the first year of his tenure. McCarthy is in Year 4, and the expectation was that the 3-4 scheme would yield both short- and long-term dividends. Can we say with any certainty that their defense is better this season than it was in 2008? Not yet.

That’s why I’m not ready to dismiss the complaints of Woodson and Jenkins as mere frustration. Often, individual success and team goals can go hand-in-hand. In the 4-3 scheme, Jenkins was a lively playmaker. In the 3-4, he’s asked more often to hold his place on the line of scrimmage so that others can make a play. If Jenkins makes more individual plays, the Packers will play better defense. The same is true if more blitzes succeed.

As Capers noted, players don’t usually complain after victories. But that’s not because they’re devoid of frustration. It’s because they know the scheme they played resulted in a victory. You can’t argue with a win. Typically, a player criticizes a coaching point because he felt he could have done more to help the team win.

So we stand at a critical point in the Packers’ season. They’ll need legitimate top-10 play from their defense to make a playoff run. And I think we can very safely say we don’t know if the defense has that capacity. McCarthy and Capers haven’t found the balance between the scheme they want to run and the strengths of their players. They are still pushing through the contradictions on the path to harmony.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

We can all agree that ESPN.com’s power rankings can be a bit quirky at times. From an NFC North perspective, Week 9 is one of those times.

Green Bay moved up one spot after its home loss to Minnesota and still remains five spots ahead of the Bears, who won at home against Cleveland. Such is life. At least it means left the NFC North (15.6) with the third-best average ranking among the eight divisions, trailing only the AFC North (13.4) and NFC East (14.2).

Here is how it broke down this week:

3. Minnesota Vikings
Trending: Up one from last week.
12. Green Bay Packers
Trending: Up one from last week
17. Chicago Bears
Trending: Up one from last week
29. Detroit Lions
Trending: Down three from last week

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Falling:

1. Ted Thompson, Green Bay general manager: It wasn’t a good week to be the Packers' official ultimately responsible for sending quarterback Brett Favre on his way. Favre has led an NFC North rival to a 7-1 start, and in the process he has nearly eliminated the Packers from contention for a division title. Thompson’s own roster has proved dangerously thin at some positions, most notably offensive line and running back. The situation has prompted the midseason signings of veteran free agents Mark Tauscher and Ahman Green. For a personnel chief who prides himself on developing his own young depth, both were revealing moves. Thompson’s narrow philosophy of team-building is being tested.

Raiola

2. Dominic Raiola, Detroit center: Usually a reliable veteran presence, Raiola doesn’t seem to get the unfortunate reality of fan relations. In a nutshell, there’s no arguing with them. No matter how nasty the criticism gets, it goes with the territory of being a professional athlete. (And trust me, Detroit fans are pretty average when it comes to nastiness.) After confronting some Lions fans Sunday, Raiola said he doesn’t want them getting to rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford like they did to former Lions quarterback Joey Harrington. That’s another misread by Raiola: It’s up to Stafford to ignore the jeers, not for the fans to stop. If he’s like Harrington, unable to block it out, then he wasn’t destined to have a successful career in the first place.

Jolly

3. Johnny Jolly, Packers defensive lineman: His inexcusable head-butt of Minnesota tailback Chester Taylor in the first quarter Sunday helped Minnesota to an additional four points. It didn’t cost the Packers the game, but it played a big role in the Vikings taking the Lambeau Field crowd out of the game early on. Worse, Jolly expressed no remorse immediately afterward. Jolly has been playing well this season, but I hope he realizes how loyal the Packers were following a 2008 arrest in Houston. (Felony drug issues were eventually dismissed.) Jolly needs to work harder at returning the favor.

Rising:

1. Minnesota’s Triangle of Authority: The “TOA” was once a sarcastic description for the Vikings’ cumbersome leadership structure that included coach Brad Childress, vice president/football operations Rob Brzezinski and vice president/player personnel Fran Foley and later Rick Spielman. But with the support of owner Zygi Wilf, the TOA built a talent-studded team that has started 7-1 and is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. In Sunday’s victory over Green Bay, the Vikings got key contributions from three players -- quarterback Brett Favre, receiver/kick returner Percy Harvin and defensive end Jared Allen -- who were all either drafted, signed, or traded for in the past two years.

2. Chicago’s secondary: We’ve questioned the Bears’ defensive backs since training camp, but Sunday they fulfilled the mission of a Lovie Smith defense: Create havoc. Safety Danieal Manning forced two turnovers, including a diving interception and a strip/fumble recovery of Browns tight end Steve Heiden. Cornerback Charles Tillman also was in on two turnovers, recovering a fumble and returning an interception 21 yards for a touchdown. The Bears might continue to give up yards in the passing game this season, but they could certainly mitigate the damage by coming up with multiple turnovers in the secondary.

Avril

3. Cliff Avril, Detroit defensive end: Yes, I’m fully aware the Lions absorbed an inglorious loss at home to previously winless St. Louis. But Avril should be recognized as the only Lions player who had field awareness on the Rams’ fake field goal, which ultimately resulted in Josh Brown’s 36-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Fells. Avril, a defensive end, chased Fells across the field. He was unable to make the tackle near the sideline, but give him some credit for recognizing the Rams made no attempt to actually kick what would have been a 54-yard field goal attempt.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Yes, I know Minnesota has a bye this week. But contrary to popular belief, that doesn’t mean we’re shutting down the blog. In fact, we’re not going to cut one single corner and it’s quite possible we’ll add a feature or two this week.

More on that exciting announcement a bit later. For now, I can confirm that we will chat at our regular time this afternoon. Meet me over at SportsNation at 2 p.m. ET and we’ll break down the NFC North from all angles.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Here’s something that NFL teams probably don’t want to hear: Minnesota might unleash rookie Percy Harvin as a punt returner later this season.

Vikings coach Brad Childress admitted as much during his Monday news conference. Harvin is a leading candidate for rookie of the year, in large part because of his 30.7-yard average as a kickoff returner. In his first eight NFL games, Harvin has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

“At some point you’ll have a chance to see him returning punts,” Childress said.

Harvin worked some as a punt returner during training camp but appeared much more comfortable on kickoffs. The Vikings are also using him heavily on offense as a slot receiver and occasionally as a running back. But it wouldn’t be surprising if the Vikings at least give him a chance to return a punt or two in a key game situation.

Darius Reynaud and Jaymar Johnson have handled the punt returning duties this season. In 2008, the Vikings rotated starting receivers Bobby Wade and Bernard Berrian there during the playoff drive.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Minnesota owner Zygi Wilf on the value of adding quarterback Brett Favre: “You can see for yourself.” Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune caught up with Wilf.
• Green Bay blitzed Favre on seven of his 25 dropbacks, according to this film review from Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Vikings have outperformed the Packers on the field this year and in the offseason over the past several years, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers might go with veterans Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher as their tackles Sunday at Tampa Bay, notes Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
• Chicago safety Danieal Manning played a role in two of the Bears’ five takeaways Sunday against Cleveland, notes ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson.
• The Bears were better running left, behind new left guard Josh Beekman, than they were running right against the Browns, according to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears’ offense remains out of sync, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Detroit center Dominic Raiola won’t win his fight with fans, writes Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press.
• Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said the Lions can still beat “anybody we play,” according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Catching up on Monday’s news:

Chicago Bears: Coach Lovie Smith said he was “pleased” with the way defensive tackle Tommie Harris played Sunday against Cleveland, Harris’ first game back since Smith gave him a week to rest his knee. “I know the sack total wasn’t want you would like it to be,” Smith told Chicago reporters. “But I thought we had good pressure. [The defensive linemen] maintained their gaps. Tommie was disruptive with his play, which he can be. Step headed in the right direction.” Harris finished the game with two tackles. … Safety Craig Steltz suffered a biceps contusion and his status is uncertain, Smith said.

Detroit Lions: Coach Jim Schwartz told said he plans no changes in his backfield rotation after backup Maurice Morris gained 63 yards Sunday against St. Louis. “I don’t think that anything has changed from the fact of Kevin is our lead running back and Maurice is the complimentary running back,’ Schwartz told Detroit reporters. “If both are healthy, then that hasn’t changed at all. But health plays a part in that dynamic. It’s played a part this whole season in that dynamic.” … Receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) is getting closer to returning to the lineup, Schwartz said.

Green Bay Packers: Linebacker Brandon Chillar fractured his hand Sunday against Minnesota and was scheduled to undergo surgery Monday, coach Mike McCarthy told Wisconsin reporters. … Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has injured toe as well as a sprained foot, but McCarthy said: “I think he'll be fine to play” Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Minnesota Vikings: The congressional subcommittee investigating the Williams Wall lawsuit will convene Tuesday. According to a press release, the hearing will “examine the integrity of the drug-testing programs and policies of professional sports leagues in light of a recent federal court ruling regarding state preemption of these collectively bargained policies.” Among those scheduled to serve as witnesses are NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

After Detroit’s 17-10 loss to St. Louis, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. So the Lions lost at home to winless St. Louis, falling to 1-6. They’ve demonstrated marginally better competitive spirit than last season’s 0-16 group, so I feel alright about scanning their schedule for their next chance to win. As it turns out, we could only be three weeks away. I don’t like the Lions’ chances of winning Sunday at Seattle, where they’ve won twice in their history -- most recently in 1999. And history suggests they’ll have a tough time next week at Minnesota, where they are 0 for their last 11. But on Nov. 22, the Lions will host Cleveland at Ford Field. I’m already liking their chances.
2. It will be interesting to see if fans start calling for Maurice Morris to take over as the primary running back after he gained 63 yards Sunday in place of a banged-up Kevin Smith. I don’t think the Lions are anywhere close to giving up on Smith, nor should they be. It’s possible his shoulder, injured earlier this season, is still bothering him. But you also wonder if he is a player who has simply made a slow transition to a new offense. The only way to get him more comfortable, both physically and mentally, is to keep playing him.
3. I get what Dominic Raiola was feeling Sunday: Frustration at seeing another Lions quarterback absorbing heat from fans. Raiola confronted a few of them to, in his mind, protect his teammate’s back. But I don’t understand why Raiola thinks things are any different in Detroit. Fans verbally harass key players on every American professional sports team, most of whom win more often than the Lions do. It’s part of the gig if you want to be a pro athlete. Most players on most teams do the only thing they can: Ignore it. There are plenty of other ways for Raiola to protect and show support for his quarterback. Confronting fans does nothing but egg them on while demonstrating unprofessional behavior. And if Ravioli thinks that Stafford’s development could be affected by booing and razzing, then Stafford has no chance to succeed in the first place.

And here is one question I’m still asking:

Are the Lions going to look bad for using a first-round pick on tight end Brandon Pettigrew? I’m starting to get that feeling, but the jury is still out. Pettigrew might prove to be a really good NFL player, but he hasn’t had much of an immediate impact on the running or passing games. (Sunday, he had two receptions for 17 yards.) An elite tight end is a luxury the Lions might not have been ready to afford, especially as this season continues to reveal their personnel deficiencies at other positions.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

After Chicago’s 30-6 victory over Cleveland, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. Tailback Matt Forte needed 26 carries to churn out 90 yards. He didn’t have a run of more than 12 yards, but I had no problem with his performance Sunday. Why? Forte rushed for two touchdowns, both in the red zone. Scoring is the great equalizer in measuring performance, and for weeks the Bears have been struggling in the red zone. Forte might never be the type of back who consistently averages 4-plus yards per carry. But if he can be a consistent weapon in the red zone, closing out drives with touchdowns if quarterback Jay Cutler falters or falls under heavy pressure, then he’ll close a huge gap in the Bears offense.
2. I think we now know why the Bears were so eager to replace left guard Josh Beekman during the offseason. Free agent Frank Omiyale hasn’t been the answer thus far, but Beekman didn’t perform much better Sunday against the Browns. Granted, he was matched up often against one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles in Shaun Rogers. But the physical manhandling he absorbed at times illustrates the size and strength deficiencies the Bears identified in the offseason.
3. It looks like the Bears have settled on Hunter Hillenmeyer as their middle linebacker with Nick Roach on the strong side. I’m all for that decision. All things equal, I’d rather have a veteran getting everyone lined up with the younger and faster player outside. That’s the way it sets up with Hillenmeyer and Roach. Lance Briggs, of course, remains on the weak side. Coach Lovie Smith said Monday he is “pleased” with the arrangement and added: “That’s the way we wanted to go before Hunter went down” earlier this season with a rib injury. More than anything, I think the inconsistency the Bears have had at middle linebacker is a reflection of how we all took Brian Urlacher’s leadership and organizational skills for granted in recent years.

And here’s one question I’m still asking:

When will Devin Hester return another punt for a touchdown? They once seemed to come every week, but it’s now been 23 weeks of NFL games since he last scored on a punt return; a 64-yarder against New Orleans on Dec. 30, 2007. Hester got close a couple of times Sunday, getting tackled by punter Dave Zastudil after a 32-yarder and then having a 69-yard touchdown called back because of a holding penalty on Rashied Davis. Soon enough.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

After Minnesota’s 38-26 victory at Green Bay, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. Defensive end Jared Allen might want to use some of his $70 million contract to purchase a few more games against the Packers. He had 7.5 sacks against them in two games this season and now leads the NFL with 10.5 at the season’s midpoint. I don’t know if he has a chance to challenge Michael Strahan’s all-time record for sacks in a season -- there are no more games against the Packers on Minnesota’s schedule, after all -- but already Allen has put together a second consecutive stellar season following his blockbuster trade from Kansas City. “It’s good to already know I’m going to have at least 10.5 sacks this season,” he said. For those keeping track, Allen has 25 sacks in 24 games with the Vikings.
2. Quarterback Brett Favre made some noise Sunday night about a groin strain, and he’s voiced similar concerns about his ribs and hip this season. But I think this week’s bye comes at a good time from a mental standpoint. Favre needs a chance to catch his breath after the whirlwind of his post-camp arrival, his games against Green Bay and a 7-1 start. As we’ve discussed once or twice, Favre has a history of falling off in the final quarter of the season. It’s hard to imagine anyone, 40 years old or otherwise, keeping up the pace he set over the past 2.5 months. He’ll have the chance to visit his Fountain of Youth one more time.
3. The Vikings are in decent position to capture their second consecutive NFC North title, and in some ways they’ve gotten the most difficult part of their schedule out of the way. They’re done with the Packers, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. They have three consecutive home games coming after the bye. Here are three games to watch, however: At Arizona on Dec. 6, at Carolina on Dec. 20 and at Chicago on Dec. 28. All three could be difficult matchups.

And here is one question I’m still asking:

Is Percy Harvin your rookie of the year yet? I know we have a long way to go, but Harvin has made a dramatic impact in his first eight games. He’s been exceptional as a receiver, especially on third down, but there’s no doubt his greatest contribution has come on special teams. Thanks to Harvin’s kickoff returns, the Vikings are starting their average drive at the 34-yard line, by far an NFL high. He has already returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, and his 77-yard return Sunday at Lambeau Field set up a score as well. Overall this season, he’s averaging nearly 31 yards per kickoff return.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

After Green Bay’s 38-26 loss to Minnesota, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. I’ve always liked Packers coach Mike McCarthy from a personal standpoint, but I have to join the chorus in at least some of the criticism directed his way. The Packers have some consistent problems that won’t go away, and thus far McCarthy and his staff have had no answers. No matter what has caused an NFL-high 32 sacks, it’s a sign of questionable coaching when they continue to appear with such frequency. Sacks are a critical measure of offensive efficiency, and even if it takes away from another area, the Packers must take more dramatic steps to shore it up. Under McCarthy, the Packers continue to commit penalties that indicate a lack of discipline. Johnny Jolly’s head-butt of Minnesota tailback Chester Taylor is a prime example. Finally, and this is less urgent, McCarthy would probably do well to examine the frequency of successful 50-plus-yard field goals relative to the field position damage they create when they go unconverted.
2. FOX analyst Troy Aikman was critical of quarterback Aaron Rodgers for not stepping up in the pocket to avoid pressure and sacks. In this case, I agree Rodgers held the ball inexplicably long at times, especially in the first half, and seemed more willing to take a sack than throw the ball away. At the end of the day, Rodgers finished with a 108.5 passer rating. That’s an elite number, but it sure didn’t feel like an elite outing. I thought Rodgers’ first-half performance was pretty rough, and certainly not what a young and hyped-up team needed to start the game.
3. You’re starting to see the frustration caused when 4-3 players are transitioned into a 3-4 team. Cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive end Cullen Jenkins have both spoken out, putting Aaron Kampman’s offseason silence into a new light. (Maybe Kampman saw what was coming.) The Packers have some good defensive players, and the 3-4 scheme can be successful. So we’re back to where it started: It’s incumbent on defensive coordinator Dom Capers to find a way to make it all work. No one thought the Packers would run a pure 3-4 this season, given their personnel. But Capers has yet to find the formula that mixes his ideas with his players’ strengths.

And here is one question I’m still asking:

At halftime Sunday, McCarthy told his team that the turning point of its season was coming in the second half. He was referring to a comeback victory that never happened, raising this question: Where do the Packers go from here? Despite the problems that surfaced in both games against Minnesota, Green Bay is still 4-3 and can put itself into the wild-card chase with an even second-half performance. Will that happen? Or will this game turn the Packers in the other direction?

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- One more Minnesota-Green Bay post before we head back to NFC North headquarters.

The Vikings sacked Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers 14 times in two games this season. Here is how the Packers’ pass protection fared on a per-game basis against the Vikings and in the Packers’ other five games:

Packers This Season   vs. Vikings vs. All Others Opp. Sacks/G 7 3.4 Opp. Sack Yds/G -35.5 -24.4 Source: ESPN Stats & Information

According to ESPN Stats & Information, 12 of the Vikings’ sacks came against “standard pressure,” meaning four or more pass-rushers. So how did they do it?

Nathan Easler of ESPN’s Next-Level research has a statistics-based theory. The Packers have long struggled to balance their play calling between the pass and the run under coach Mike McCarthy, but against the Vikings it’s been a particular problem. Here are Easler’s breakdowns:

Packers Offensive Balance: 2009 Season   vs. Vikings vs. All Others Pass Pct.* 74.4 54.7 Rush Pct. 25.6 45.3 *The pass plays include sacks and scrambles as designed pass plays. Source: ESPN Stats & Information

As you can see, the Packers passed almost 75 percent of the time against Minnesota and about 54 percent of the time against their other five opponents this season. That’s partly a function of significant deficits in both games, as well as a respect for the Vikings’ run defense. But no matter what the circumstances, it makes it easier on a defensive line when three out of every four plays are going to be a pass.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- I didn’t hear Green Bay defensive end Cullen Jenkins become the latest Packers player to criticize the team’s new defensive scheme. But I do know that Jenkins rarely makes verbal waves, and when you read the quotes in print, they’re pretty direct and clear.

Jenkins told reporters after Sunday’s 38-26 loss to Minnesota that some players feel they are in “handcuffs” in Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme. Jenkins also questioned the motivation of some of Capers’ play selections Here are the key passages, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

“Basically, we have good players on this defense. We've got Pro Bowl players on this defense and they were sent to the Pro Bowl doing certain things. And they're not doing those things. It's tough. We have players who are good at doing stuff and we're not doing it. You want to win, and when you're not winning those things you start questioning, is it that people really want to win or they really want to accomplish another goal, just running what they want to run? I don't know. It's tough, though.”

Jenkins went on to say: "Are we doing everything we can to win games or are we doing everything we can to run a certain thing that we want to run? I want to win and I want to do whatever it takes to win. At some point, you have to take the handcuffs off and let the boys play.”

Last month, cornerback Charles Woodson criticized Capers for not calling enough blitzes in a 30-23 loss at Minnesota. Sunday, Woodson said he had no problem with the play calling and said he was surprised the blitzes didn’t get to Vikings quarterback Brett Favre more often.

Every team is frustrated after a tough loss, and this isn’t the first time I’ve head players criticizing a new system. But it’s clear that tensions are high in the Packers' locker room, and on at least two occasions, the enmity has been focused at Capers. Stay tuned.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed notable improvement in the second half Sunday but it wasn’t enough, writes Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly showed no remorse for a critical personal foul call in the first half, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
• Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin finished with 261 all-purpose yards Sunday. Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune chronicles Harvin’s day.
• Favre told Peter King of SportsIllustrated.com that he strained a groin muscle in practice Wednesday and said he was worried about dropping back in the game.
• Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler didn’t seem upset about his verbal confrontation with Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune after the Bears’ 30-7 victory over Cleveland: “[T]he way the Bears' offense played was more worthy of apology than audacity.”
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times: “At some point -- and it's coming soon -- the Bears will be what they are. Right now, they strongly resemble a stumbling bunch, confused and lacking an identity.”
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on the Lions’ 17-10 loss to St. Louis: Even by the Lions' lowly standards, this was ridiculous.”
• Lions center Dominic Raiola confronted fans who were razzing quarterback Matthew Stafford, writes John Niyo of the News. Raiola was fined $7,500 for that last season.

	Jeff Hanisch/US Presswire
	Brett Favre and Minnesota are in control in the NFC North after sweeping Green Bay.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If it were up to Brett Favre -- and these days, I’m pretty sure everything is -- fans departing Lambeau Field late Sunday would have had one collective thought.

“I hope that everyone in the stadium watching tonight said, ‘I sure hate that that joker is on the other side, but he does play the way he’s always played,’” he said.

Favre’s renaissance was never more apparent than Sunday, when he took control of a seesaw game at precisely the moment the Minnesota Vikings needed him most in an eventual 38-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

A 23-7 run had allowed the Packers to pull within 31-26. The clock showed 5 minutes and 38 seconds remaining in the game, and it was time for someone to grab the moment and for someone else to slink back.

On that count, Favre again proved there is no one better. He pushed the Vikings into the end zone in four plays, the last a 16-yard scoring strike to receiver Bernard Berrian on third-and-11. The touchdown pass, Favre’s fourth of the day, put away the Packers as only a seasoned winner can do, putting an exclamation point on Favre’s return to Lambeau and providing further documentation of his impact on the Vikings.

Week 8 Coverage • Walker: Ravens D is angry • Mosley: Eagles win in laugher • Williamson: Merriman finds groove • Graham: Ginn provides happy returns • Seifert: Favre sweeps Packers away • Kuharsky: Young key in Titans' win • Sando: Cards missing Fitz • Pasquarelli: Surprise TD lifts Colts • Clayton: Denver goes down • Greenberg: Cutler tough in win • Watkins: Cowboys youth shows off • MacMahon: Austin, Crayton shine • Zoom Gallery: Images from Lambeau • NFL Nation: Reactions | Wrap-ups | Live Monday Night Football HQ • Yaskinskas: Atlanta CBs facing test

You’ve probably heard, once or twice, that Favre played 16 years in Green Bay. Trust me when I tell you he took special satisfaction in beating the Packers for the second time this season. But to me, it’s important to focus on the bigger point as well: Not only has Favre put the Vikings (7-1) exactly where they hoped to be, but he has left the Packers (4-3) precisely in the place they have most feared: Below him in the standings.

“The largest storyline was who was going to be in first place in the NFC North,” said Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman.

Favre has almost single-handedly eliminated his former team from that race. In two games against them, he completed 69 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns. He was neither intercepted nor sacked. Sunday, he was two steps ahead at every turn.

“We tried to put pressure on them with blitzes,” Packers cornerback Charles Woodson said. “And he either pointed them out and set the protection the right way, or threw the ball quick and we weren’t able to get to him. We felt like we had enough things called -- and still we can’t get to him for whatever reason. Right now we can’t win the big game.”

There’s little doubt Favre is in the Packers’ heads. They know he has fallen prey to his emotions before, and they hoped a raucous Lambeau crowd -- combined with more pressure -- would jar him into some early mistakes. Instead, the opposite occurred. The Packers choked in the early going, falling behind 14-3 early in the second quarter and taking more sacks (four) than first downs (three) into the halftime locker room.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers escaped the pocket a few times in the second half, the biggest reason why the Packers offense briefly sprung to life. But on this night, he was no match for a rival who was too focused to let the opportunity fall away.

“I can’t tell you how many text messages I’ve gotten from guys just in passing today and yesterday,” Favre said. “’Hey, you’re going to play great. I know you’re nervous.’ I’m like, ‘Easy for you to say.’ But they were right again. I don’t know. It’s awful stressful to feel that way every week. I’d like to feel a little more relaxed. But I’m also pleased with the way I’ve played in these games.”

I suppose it’s possible the Vikings would have won Sunday with one of their other quarterbacks, Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels. The Vikings hadn’t won here in the Brad Childress era, so I’m dubious of that possibility. Regardless, there’s no one I’d rather have right now, with 5:38 remaining and the game in the balance, than Favre. And here’s one thing I am sure of: If Favre were not with the Vikings, there is no way there would be a 2.5-game difference between the teams in the standings.

Perhaps that’s why Vikings placekicker Ryan Longwell, 35, mobbed Favre, 40, after the final gun. Longwell, who kicked for Green Bay for nine seasons, knew how special and unique Favre’s accomplishment is.

“Unless you play here and have gone through it you just don’t know,” Longwell said. “It goes beyond just winning. It’s a special victory.”

Favre said his emotions began rising Sunday morning near the end of a 30-minute bus ride from the team hotel to Lambeau Field. He saw “a few fingers” as the bus pulled into the parking lot, he joked, but there was never a time when I thought Favre was close to letting the crowd get the best of him.

He celebrated heartily after tight end Visanthe Shiancoe’s 12-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and at one point he appeared to be jawing with Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins. Otherwise, however, Favre remained stoic. After the game, he spent several minutes embracing former teammates -- Rodgers, Donald Driver and Al Harris among them -- and said he was had no intentions to throw any “daggers.”

	AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps
	Some fans had mixed feelings about Brett Favre's return to Green Bay.

“I’d like to think I always handle myself with class,” he said. “It’s always tougher when you lose. I understand that. Never been one to rub it in anyone’s face. Guys I’ve played with as a Packer, I’ve got a lot of respect for. As I do this organization and these fans.”

So where does this leave us? For the first time that I can remember, Favre used the words “Super Bowl” in talking about the Vikings’ prospects this season. Up until Sunday, Favre had been saying he hopes to get the team “where we want to be.”

With a 7-1 performance in the first half of the season, the Vikings have pushed themselves onto the short list of favorites for this year’s championship.

“I want to lead this Viking team to the Super Bowl,” Favre said. “Believe me. I do. I’m going to do everything in my power. … At this point, we’ve put ourselves in a good position.”

They wouldn’t be there, of course, were it not for two victories over his former team. And the Vikings would not have swept the Packers without him.

“Am I pleased with the way these two games have turned out?” Favre said. “Yes, absolutely. I knew I could play. My arm feels great. My arm is in a good place. The team has welcomed me in. All the other stuff doesn’t matter. It makes a good story. I know it. [But] I’m glad it’s over. I’m glad we won them both.”

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

We’ve been though this before in these parts. Black and Blue Team X soundly defeats inferior Team Y, and we’re left to judge how much credit to give Team X.

Do we acknowledge that Chicago did what it was supposed to do Sunday by soundly defeating hapless Cleveland? Do we credit quarterback Jay Cutler for a blood-inducing performance, as ESPN Chicago colleague Jon Greenberg does? Or do we fixate on new left guard Josh Beekman’s tough day? Or the fact that the Browns were within 10 points late in the third quarter? Or possibly the four sacks and three additional hits Cutler absorbed?

I wouldn’t be happy about the beating Cutler took, but I would point out that defensive line is one of the Browns’ few bright spots. Defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is one of their best players. Sometimes you have to acknowledge some talent on the other side of the line.

I’m sure there are those who would have liked to have seen the Bears beat the Browns the same way they were trounced last week by Cincinnati: Brutally, and with no mercy. But to this point, we’ve seen nothing to suggest the Bears are a complete enough team to do that.

For this weekend, at least, a 24-point victory was enough.