ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Part of being the big-time division that we’re becoming is having our games moved into better time slots for national broadcast ratings. We had one instance of that Thursday, when FOX moved Chicago’s Oct. 25 game at Cincinnati to 4:15 p.m. ET

The next question is whether FOX will move the Nov. 1 matchup between Minnesota and Green Bay from a 1 p.m. ET kickoff to 4 p.m or 4:15 p.m. ET. Most of us have assumed it was a no-brainer, but Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes it is not a sure thing.

As it stands now, FOX is scheduled to show the New York Giants at Philadelphia in the late slot that day. Because the world is biased toward the U.S. East Coast, FOX has a difficult decision. Wolfley also writes that the NFL typically prefers not to have the Giants and New York Jets play at the same time, which is what would happen if Giants-Eagles is moved back to noon to accommodate Packers-Vikings.

Another option would be to keep Packers-Vikings at noon and move several other games to 3:15 p.m. to open up a wide national market at noon. We should find out sometime next week, giving you enough time to adjust travel and tailgating plans accordingly.

For now, let’s take a spin around the division:

• Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette examines why the production of Packers receiver Greg Jennings has been cut in half during the first quarter of this season.
• Detroit offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said he was pleased with the way quarterback Daunte Culpepper played during the preseason, even though Matthew Stafford won the starting job. Culpepper is likely to start Sunday against Pittsburgh. Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press has details.
• Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson has been limited by a thigh injury but appears likely to play against Pittsburgh, writes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• Minnesota’s special teams have improved under new coordinator Brian Murphy, writes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is confident in his pass protection, write Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• Bears coach Lovie Smith practices during the bye week because “I just don't think you can go that long without hitting,” he said. Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago looks at Smith’s approach.
• Chicago special teams coach Dave Toub has an intricate system for grading players’ performance in coverage, according to Lindsey Willhite of the Daily Herald.