ESPN NFL

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

How does each NFC North team look at running back, and what still needs to be done?

Chicago Bears: If you were drawing up plans for an experienced but diverse backfield, you could do a lot worse than modeling after the Bears. Starter Matt Forte is a shifty off-tackle runner and one of the NFL's top pass-catching running backs, a collection of skills that will fit neatly into new coach Marc Trestman's offense. Forte has caught 267 passes since his career started in 2008, the third-most in the NFL by a running back over that stretch. Backup Michael Bush, meanwhile, is a bigger and stronger inside threat who gives the Bears a better option in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He produced a first down on 24.6 percent of his rushes last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information, the 10th-best percentage in the NFL. As long as Forte and Bush are healthy, the Bears' relatively thin depth behind them is irrelevant.

Detroit Lions: Free-agent acquisition Reggie Bush figures to benefit from opponents' attention on receiver Calvin Johnson to much greater extent than the Lions' backfield did last season. Early indications are the Lions will use Bush similarly to the way the New Orleans Saints did earlier in his career. With the Saints in 2006, Bush caught 88 passes. Training camp should bring competition for the right to be the "thumper" behind Bush. Will it be 2011 second-round draft choice Mikel Leshoure, who looked slow and not very elusive after returning last season from a torn Achilles tendon? (No NFL running back had as many touches as Leshoure without at least one play of at least 20 yards.) Or will it be the lesser-known Joique Bell, who as Pro Football Focus points out, made defenders miss regularly last season. He forced 26 missed tackles in 82 carries and actually averaged more yards after contact (2.99) than Bush did with the Miami Dolphins (2.06).

Green Bay Packers: The team re-made its backfield through the draft after years of transition, throwing the situation into unknown territory. At some point, the Packers will have to thin the herd of a group that includes returnees DuJuan Harris, James Starks, Alex Green and John Kuhn, along with rookies Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin. The competition is wide open, although both Starks and Green have failed when given previous opportunities. Lacy's build and pedigree suggests he has an excellent chance to ultimately win the starting job, but Harris impressed the team late last season and could get the first shot this summer.

Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson. Is there much more to say? Historically, runners who put together a 2,000-yard season tend to fall back the following year. But nothing about Peterson's career suggests he will fit neatly into a trend. He has set a goal of 2,500 yards, and however unrealistic it might be, he has earned the benefit of the doubt. Backup Toby Gerhart is in his fourth and presumably last season as Peterson's understudy. While Gerhart hasn't shown much explosion in short stints in Peterson's place, you would think he'll want to look elsewhere for more carries when his contract expires after this season.

Well then. Consider the Green Bay Packers' backfield on notice.

After going 43 consecutive games without a runner hitting 100 yards, the Packers have grabbed two of the top feature backs in the 2013 draft. Alabama's Eddie Lacy was their second-round pick Friday night, and on Saturday the Packers traded up in the fourth round to grab UCLA's Johnathan Franklin.

Those moves make it unlikely that the Packers will re-sign veteran Cedric Benson, who visited Lambeau Field last week, and makes you wonder who among their current stable will make it out of training camp. Veteran James Starks might have seen his luck run out, and perhaps Alex Green as well. The Packers have spoken highly of DuJuan Harris' future, but that was before they selected two of the first four running backs taken in this draft.

There was some pre-draft talk that Franklin, who rushed for 1,734 yards last season, was pushing Lacy as the top runner in this draft. He ran his 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds at the NFL scouting combine and had the best 60-yard shuttle time among running backs.

We'll have plenty of time discuss Franklin's individual strengths and weaknesses. Importantly, he is a much different back than Lacy and the Packers suddenly have a wealth of options at a position they have typically given only second thoughts to. It is an aggressive approach by general manager Ted Thompson, one not unlike his decision to open the 2012 draft with six consecutive defensive players. He has flooded the zone, so to speak, and it makes a lot of sense.

The smell test failed every time. It was always difficult to imagine the Green Bay Packers selecting Alabama running back Eddie Lacy, or any other player at his position, in the first round of the 2013 draft. The running game simply doesn't carry that kind of value in the Packers' offense.

But in the second round? After a trade that dropped the Packers another six spots to the penultimate choice of the round?

Can't say I ever considered it.

I guess that's why the professionals handle such things.

The Packers scooped up Lacy with the No. 61 overall selection of the draft, a high-value pick if you thought Lacy was a first-round talent and an economical one if you merely agreed the Packers needed a better plan in the backfield moving forward. At 231 pounds, Lacy is the kind of inside power runner the Packers haven't had in the Mike McCarthy-Aaron Rodgers era. Lacy, in fact, is the Packers' highest-drafted running back since Darrell Thompson was the No. 19 overall pick in 1990.

The Packers ranked No. 26 last season in average yards after contact per rush (1.5 yards), according to ESPN Stats & Information. Newcomer DuJuan Harris created some excitement at the end of last season with his frenetic style, but it should tell you something about a team's commitment to building a position that a player was able to walk off the street in midseason, join the practice squad, be promoted to the active roster in Week 13 and earn a starting job by Week 14.

The Packers could add a new layer to their offense if they use Lacy the way Alabama did. Almost two-thirds of his rushing attempts went between the tackles, and he averaged 7.6 yards per carry on those plays, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

There are those who might attribute an inordinate amount of Lacy's success to Alabama's dominant offensive line, one that included a pair of 2013 first-round draft picks, guard Chance Warmack and tackle D.J. Fluker. Indeed, Lacy averaged 4.2 yards before contact last season and made it at least five yards past the line of scrimmage before being touched on nearly 36 percent of his rushes.

But as the chart shows, Lacy was more productive on those inside runs than former Alabama tailback Trent Richardson was in the same situation during the 2011 season. Richardson, of course, went No. 3 overall to the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 draft.

"You watch the film and he rarely goes down with one guy trying to tackle him," Packers director of college scouting Brian Gutekunst told Green Bay reporters. "More guys have to tackle him. He kind of has to be gang-tackled. That’s intriguing as well."

Alabama's offensive line might have had something to do with Lacy falling to the bottom of the second round. The more likely reason, however, was an offseason hamstring injury that limited him during pre-draft workouts. He reportedly wasn't in top shape for his makeshift Pro Day earlier this month, and his 40-yard times of 4.59 and 4.62 that day excited no one.

Gutekunst expressed no concern over Lacy's physical condition, however, calling the Pro Day workout "part of the process." Lacy said: "I wasn't 100 percent but I decided to try it anyway."

Lacy has plenty of time to recover before the start of training camp in July. When he does, the Packers will have what Gutekunst called "a little bit different [player] than we've had maybe in the past."

I don't anticipate the Packers offense changing much with Lacy joining Harris, James Starks, Alex Green and John Kuhn in the backfield. This offense and scheme will always revolve around Rodgers and the passing game. (As it should, by the way.)

What his arrival should do, however, is make the Packers more versatile and ultimately better. They now have their best option in years for times that call for tough yards or running out the clock or simply wearing down a defense. He won't be as exciting as a half-dozen other skill players on the Packers' roster, but every flash needs a grind and every slash needs a pound. Or something like that.

Why are the Green Bay Packers bringing in free agent running back Cedric Benson for a visit Wednesday, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported?

The guess here is they want to gauge the progress of his recovery from the foot injury that ended his 2012 season after five games. Benson is a free agent and is still not fully healed, according to Schefter.

I hope that Benson's health wouldn't determine whether the Packers draft a running back, but it's important that they have the most updated information possible before the draft begins Thursday night. Depending on their results, they might be more motivated to re-sign him after the draft.

For now, the Packers have DuJuan Harris, James Starks and John Kuhn under contract at the position. Meanwhile, the video reveals the life story of Alabama's Eddie Lacy, one of the running backs many mock drafters have suggested the Packers select.

Many of you want to know if the Green Bay Packers will be in play for free agent running back Steven Jackson, or if Jackson will sign with the Atlanta Falcons as conventional wisdom suggests.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the Packers have "reached out" to Jackson, an indication of interest but not the type that would lead to a quick agreement. ESPN business analyst Andrew Brandt, in fact, tweeted: " Usually, when Packers 'reach out' on first day of free agency, it's to let players know they'll check back after big $$ is spent."

At the very least, it would represent a significant departure for general manager Ted Thompson to jump out on the first day of free agency and sign a sought-after veteran. It's fair to say that Jackson would enhance the Packers' offense, but the team has historically sought less-visible ways to stock up on running backs.

For what it's worth, at least one Packers player doesn't consider the position an offseason need. Here's what linebacker Desmond Bishop tweeted about incumbents James Starks and DuJuan Harris:

My opinion on RB situation .. Don't need 1 really... Starks, who ll stay healthy this year will be a beast! D Harris is the truth. Done!

— Desmond Bishop (@Desbishop55) March 12, 2013

If I had to guess, based on history, the Packers aren't likely to beat down Jackson's door to get him to sign. That's not to say it couldn't eventually happen. But they're more likely to let the free agency dust settle first.

There are only a handful of true injury questions as we approach Saturday night's wild-card playoff at Lambeau Field. Let's take a quick look at the first official injury report of the week:

Green Bay Packers: Receiver Jordy Nelson (knee) participated in a portion of practice, putting him on track to be available Saturday night. Running back James Starks (knee) was also a limited participant, but it sounds as if DuJuan Harris and Ryan Grant are ahead of him in line for carries. Defensive end Jerel Worthy has been lost for the remainder of the playoffs because of a knee injury. Worthy and receiver Jarrett Boykin (ankle) were the only players who didn't practice at all Wednesday. Receiver Randall Cobb (ankle) and tight end Jermichael Finley (quadriceps) were limited but are expected to play.

Minnesota Vikings: As has been the practice for the past few weeks, tailback Adrian Peterson (abdomen) again did not practice. He will start Saturday night, however. Cornerback Antoine Winfield (hand) has pledged to play but will face significant pain. Linebacker Tyrone McKenzie (shoulder) did not practice and probably won't play. Quarterback Christian Ponder is dealing with a sore elbow, injured on a blitz by safety Morgan Burnett, but has downplayed the injury.

Let's get inside Friday's NFC North injury report:

Chicago Bears: As expected, the Bears ruled out linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring), cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder) and receiver Earl Bennett (concussion) from Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears could also be short along the defensive line because Henry Melton (chest) and Shea McClellin (knee) are both listed as doubtful while Matt Toeaina (knee) is questionable. Neither Melton nor McClellin practiced this week. Meanwhile, linebacker Geno Hayes (knee) and running back Michael Bush (ribs) are questionable. The Bears would probably use Blake Costanzo at strong-side linebacker if Hayes can't play.

Detroit Lions: Two key players appear unlikely to be available for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew (ankle) and defensive lineman Nick Fairley (shoulder) both missed practice all week and are listed as doubtful. The Lions could promote tight end Shaun Chapas from the practice squad to provide depth Sunday. Meanwhile, safety Louis Delmas (knee) is questionable for the game.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers ruled out four players from Sunday's game: Receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring), running back James Starks (knee), defensive end C.J. Wilson (knee) and defensive back Charles Woodson (collarbone). Right guard Josh Sitton was added to the injury report because of a hip injury that flared up Thursday and prevented him from practicing Friday. He is listed as questionable, but the Packers are holding out hope he will play Sunday. Fellow guard T.J. Lang (ankle) is listed as probable for the game.

Minnesota Vikings: All players are at least probable for Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams except for cornerback Antoine Winfield, who sat out practice all week because of a knee injury. Coach Leslie Frazier, however, told reporters he thought Winfield would be ready to play.

Let's wrap up a newsy day in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring) was officially ruled out of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Four players sat out of practice because of injuries: receiver Earl Bennett (concussion), running back Michael Bush (ribs), cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder) and nose tackle Stephen Paea (foot). Bennett and Jennings might have a hard time getting back for the Vikings game. Receivers Devin Hester (concussion) and Alshon Jeffery (knee) were limited participants in practice.

Detroit Lions: Offensive lineman Gosder Cherilus (knees), safety Louis Delmas (knee), cornerback Chris Houston (ankle), defensive end Lawrence Jackson (concussion), cornerback Jacob Lacey (foot/Achilles) and defensive tackle Corey Williams (knee) all missed practice. … The Lions signed receiver Lance Long to fill out their 53-man roster.

Green Bay Packers: Offensive lineman T.J. Lang (ankle), linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring), defensive end Mike Neal (shoulder), receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring), running back James Starks (knee) and defensive end C.J. Wilson (knee) all missed practice. Cornerback Charles Woodson (collarbone) was a limited participant but it's not clear if he'll be ready for Sunday night's game against the Lions.

Minnesota Vikings: Defensive end Jared Allen (shoulder/back) and receiver Percy Harvin (ankle) were the only players who didn't practice. Allen is expected to be ready for Sunday's game against the Bears. … Quarterback Christian Ponder confirmed he got engaged this week to ESPN reporter Samantha Steele. "Obviously, the rumors are true, but we're focused on the Bears this week," he said.

Running back Ryan Grant's relative inactivity in 2012 represents a fair league-wide evaluation of his skill level at this point. Grant didn't participate in a training camp, got one carry during a four-week stint with the Washington Redskins and has been on the street since the end of October.

With that said, the Green Bay Packers could do a lot worse here in Week 14 after losing Cedric Benson for the season and perhaps James Starks as well. Whether or not Grant can be an explosive runner at age 29, there are a few things we can say with relative confidence amid an ESPNMilwaukee.com report that he has agreed to return to the Packers.

• Grant's five years in the Packers' offense means he will slide into it seamlessly and presumably be ready to play as early as Sunday night's game against the Detroit Lions.
• He will be in shape. No one has ever questioned his conditioning or work ethic.
• He will be crafty. Although he might lack the power and speed of elite backs, Grant has always understood where to find yards. He has averaged at least 4.2 yards per carry in all but one of his NFL seasons, and even as his skills apparently diminished last season, he managed to produce 559 rushing yards while splitting time with Starks.
• He can produce in the passing game.
• He isn't likely to be a turnover machine, having fumbled seven times in 1,017 regular-season touches.

Most important, to me, is that Grant will give the Packers a reliable option to the decimated remainder of their backfield. Second-year player Alex Green has managed only 3.3 yards on 109 carries this season and doesn't have the look of a primary back. Johnny White and DuJuan Harris have combined for 29 NFL carries in their careers. And if John Kuhn is a candidate to be a feature back, there haven't been any indications to this point.

The Packers might not make Grant their primary back, but if nothing else he will give them an important security blanket to hedge against their otherwise unproven backfield.

I think I understand why the Packers tried to move on from Grant this season, and I get why they are going to re-sign him. This is an emergency move, one that relied on the good character of both sides to avoid burning bridges. Grant isn't the player the Packers envisioned in their backfield during the stretch run, but he might well prove to be their best option.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- So here's the deal as we open the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field.

The Green Bay Packers have a 20-14 lead over the Minnesota Vikings.

Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson has 210 rushing yards.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has completed only five passes, all on a second-quarter scoring drive, and threw two interceptions in Packers territory in the third quarter.

The Packers have their lead because James Starks scored on a rushing touchdown for the first time since Week of 2011.

Phew. Let's see what the fourth quarter brings us.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 12:

A Giant drought: The New York Giants have scored exactly one offensive touchdown in each of their past three games. According to ESPN Stats & Information, this is the first time they've played three straight games without at least two offensive touchdowns since they went four straight in 2004, Tom Coughlin's first year as their coach. Giants quarterback Eli Manning has not thrown a touchdown pass in any of those three games, and that's his longest such streak since his rookie season, which also was 2004. Manning's last touchdown pass was his 77-yard game-winner to Victor Cruz against the Redskins in Week 7.

Home cooked: The Giants beat the Green Bay Packers, Sunday night's opponent, in Green Bay in an NFC divisional playoff game in January. They lost to the Packers at MetLife Stadium during the 2011 regular season. The Giants have lost four straight home games to the Packers. The last time they beat Green Bay in New Jersey was Week 10 of the 1992 season -- Brett Favre's sixth career start as Packers quarterback. The Giants are 3-2 at home this season after going 4-4 at home in the 2011 regular season.

Stop the Packers' run game? Odd to even think it's a consideration, but Green Bay is trying to commit to the run more this season. James Starks got 25 carries last week, the most for a Packers running back since 2009. And the Giants haven't been great at stopping the run, especially at home. ESPN Stats & Info tells us that the Giants have allowed at least 150 rushing yards in back-to-back home games for the first time since 2006, and that 99 of the Steelers' 158 rushing yards in Week 9 came after first contact. If the Packers do run the ball Sunday, the Giants will have to tackle better.

Pass-rusher's delight: The "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers features the teams with the two worst records in the NFC and two of the worst pass-protection teams in the NFL so far this season. Eagles quarterbacks have been sacked or under duress on a league-high 30.7 percent of their drop-backs so far this season, according to Stats & Info's Next Level stats. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been sacked or under duress on 27.1 percent of his drop-backs, the third-highest figure in the league. The league average is 21.2 percent.

Containing Cam: The Panthers' leading rusher this year is Newton with 394 yards. The last quarterback to lead his team in rushing yards in a season was the Eagles' Donovan McNabb, with 632 yards in 2000.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 12:

November woes: The Green Bay Packers have won four consecutive road games against the New York Giants, their opponent in Sunday's prime-time game. And are the Packers getting the Giants at a good time? Recent history is inexplicable but clear. The Giants are a bad November team, and this year quarterback Eli Manning has slumped badly as well. Under coach Tom Coughlin, the Giants are 13-21 in November and 67-37 in all other months. The Giants have lost their past five games in November, including two this season. Manning, meanwhile, hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since the fourth quarter of Week 7, a span of 99 passes. Since Week 8, Manning has completed only 54.5 percent of his total throws and has a Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) of 27.1, ranking him No. 29 of 33 qualifiers during that span.

Run opportunities: The Packers achieved rare equality in their run-pass ratio last week against the Detroit Lions, running on 28 plays and passing on 31. Coach Mike McCarthy lamented a relative lack of production from starter James Starks, who rushed for 74 yards on 25 carries, and it appears Starks and Alex Green will rotate more frequently Sunday night. The Packers should have some opportunities against a Giants defense that has allowed at least 150 rushing yards in consecutive home games for the first time since 2006. The Pittsburgh Steelers rushed for 158 yards against them two weeks ago, and 99 of those yards came after contact, an indication of the state of the Giants' tackling.

Big meeting: Few thought when the season began that the Week 12 meeting between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings would be so crucial to the NFC North race. Only one game separates the Bears (7-3) and Vikings (6-4), and they're set to play twice in the next three weeks. The Vikings have lost 10 of their past 11 games in Chicago, and the only game they've won in that span required a 224-yard effort from tailback Adrian Peterson and a 54-yard game-winning field goal from Ryan Longwell. The Bears are coming off a short week after an embarrassing road loss, but they appear likely to get back the services of quarterback Jay Cutler, who has won 12 of his past 13 games that he has finished. Of ESPN's 14 NFL experts, all but one picked the Bears to win this game.

Tracking Allen: Vikings defensive end Jared Allen had at least one sack in six consecutive games but has now gone two games without one. But the last time Allen saw the Bears, he lit up left tackle J'Marcus Webb for 3.5 sacks in the 2011 season finale. Webb is one of three offensive linemen who kept his job after backup quarterback Jason Campbell was sacked six times by the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, but offensive coordinator Mike Tice has pledged constant chip help for Webb this weekend. The Bears will try to contain the rest of the Vikings' defense with a new right tackle (Jonathan Scott) and left guard (Chris Spencer).

Peterson power: The Bears' defense has proved vulnerable recently to what has been the decided strength of Peterson all season. Specifically, they have given up at least 80 yards on runs between the tackles in each of their past five games. Peterson, of course, has been gashing teams almost exclusively between the tackles since returning from knee surgery. This season, 174 of his carries, 922 of his yards, six of his touchdowns and 11 of his 20-plus yard runs have come on runs that began between the tackles. There is every reason to believe the Vikings will attack that area early and often, and then probably follow up with a heavy dose of their play-action game.

As the 2012 season dawned, we had a pretty good idea of what made our NFC North teams tick.

One of our quarterbacks was the NFL's reigning MVP, having set a league record with 45 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. Another had become the fourth quarterback in history to exceed 5,000 passing yards in one season. A third's value had risen after his team went 1-5 in his absence after a 7-3 start. And a fourth's development was considered the key to his team's progress.

The NFC North is still a passing division and quarterbacks remain its most important players. But at the rough midpoint of the season, I think we should acknowledge the substantial efforts under way either to build up running games or -- gasp! -- rely on them exclusively in all four division locales. If nothing else, as the weather turns cold in the Upper Midwest, we're reminded that the best teams have at least a capacity for balanced effectiveness. Based on what we've seen so far, it's safe to say that no one-dimensional NFC North team is going to win the Super Bowl.

That process is no more visible than with the Detroit Lions, who ran the second-fewest running plays in the NFL last season but have been more aggressive in 2012 in response to deep zones designed to limit downfield passes. Those efforts have only recently turned effective, culminating with a 149-yard, three-touchdown game Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars -- which happened to be the Lions' most convincing victory of the season.

The Lions are so committed to making the running game work, in fact, that they have been willing to take a skill position player off the field in favor of a sixth offensive lineman. Rookie Riley Reiff played nearly half of the Lions' snaps Sunday and has been on the field for 87 plays this season. Their past five rushing touchdowns have come with him on the field.

"I think we've seen probably the most consistent and most productive run game since I've been here," coach Jim Schwartz said, "and a lot of it has to with attitude up front and Riley's a big part of that."


As the chart shows, the Lions aren't yet where they want to be. They don't have a single run of 20 or more yards, but their top two backs -- Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell -- are more powerful than they are explosive. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Lions' passing game will still account for most of this offense's explosive plays, but already the Lions have made substantial progress toward balance. They're now getting the yards defenses are handing them.

Like the Lions, the Green Bay Packers also found themselves unequipped to capitalize against opponents that took risks in run defense. We discussed their imbalanced play calling earlier this year, and through nine games quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on pace to throw more passes than in any season in his career.

Rodgers said last week on his ESPN 540 radio show that at the midpoint of a season, a team's offensive personality is usually set. He lamented the lack of quality and explosiveness in the running game and added: "I think that has directly affected the amount of 16-plus [gains] in the passing game. We've probably had less of that than in the past as well. Our yards per attempt passing the ball are obviously down from last season and I think a lot of that is due to the types of coverages we're seeing."

So it's worth noting that five days later, the Packers set season highs with 39 rushing attempts and 176 rushing yards in a 31-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The game featured a return to prominence of exiled starter James Starks, who more than tripled his season total for attempts with 17. The Packers still have time to rebalance themselves, and a more consistently productive running game almost certain will elevate their downfield passing success as well.

"Things happen," Starks said, "but I think we'll be fine. We're starting to get comfortable and I think we'll get this thing going."

The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to keep their thing going with tailback Adrian Peterson, who has emerged as strong as ever 10 months after major knee surgery. Peterson has rushed for 458 yards and four touchdowns over his past three games, and he is now the Vikings' only reliable playmaker considering receiver Percy Harvin's ankle injury and quarterback Christian Ponder's ineffectiveness. Only Peterson can prevent a complete offensive collapse at this point.

The Chicago Bears, meanwhile, might be the team with the best potential for a balanced offense, depending on offensive coordinator Mike Tice's play calling. Tailback Matt Forte is averaging 5.0 yards on 137 carries through eight games, while quarterback Jay Cutler and receiver Brandon Marshall already have combined for 59 receptions, 797 yards and seven touchdowns.

No matter how effective Cutler and Marshall are, the lesson of the Packers' and Lions' struggles remains relevant. The Bears will need Forte and backup Michael Bush to help control the tempo against some of the NFL's better defenses, especially those who will choose to take away Marshall rather than stack themselves to stop Forte.

The running game and the NFC North. Who would have thunk it? What is this, the Black and Blue division?

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A few thoughts after witnessing Sunday's events at Lambeau Field:

What it means: The Green Bay Packers won their fourth consecutive game and will take a 6-3 record into their bye. They'll need the extra week of rest, however, after another round of injuries to key players. The Packers have struggled to put away inferior teams at home the past two weeks, but those victories count in the win column the same as blowouts would.

Injury report: Receiver Jordy Nelson, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, rolled his right ankle in the first quarter on the only pass thrown his way and did not return. A hip injury sent right tackle Bryan Bulaga to the sideline in the second quarter, forcing the Packers to move T.J. Lang to right tackle and insert Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard. And linebacker Clay Matthews injured his hamstring and did not return after limping off in the third quarter. After Matthews departed, the Packers used rookie Dezman Moses and veteran Erik Walden as their outside linebackers. We'll get you updates on Nelson, Bulaga and Matthews as soon after the game as we can.

Tom Crabtree?!? With Nelson sidelined and the offensive line in flux, the Packers offense struggled after halftime. The Cardinals pulled within a touchdown at 24-17, but tight end Tom Crabtree put the game away on the final play of the third quarter. Lined up in the backfield, Crabtree slipped through the line, got a step on Cardinals linebacker Paris Lenon and turned Aaron Rodgers' pass into a 72-yard touchdown play. It was the longest reception by a Packers tight end since 1979. (Paul Coffman, 78 yards.)

RodgersWatch: Rodgers hit on only 14 of 30 passes, but he made the completions count. Four went for touchdowns, including two to Randall Cobb and one to Crabtree and James Jones. Through nine games, Rodgers has 25 touchdown passes and five interceptions. Cobb has five touchdowns in his past three games.

Running game: James Starks replaced Alex Green in the starting lineup for this game and the pair split carries in what amounted to the Packers' best rushing performance of the season. Starks finished with 61 yards on 17 carries and Green had 53 yards on 11 carries. Overall, the Packers piled up 176 yards on 39 attempts, both season highs. Starks had one fumble that Rodgers recovered but probably curtailed some of his snaps. But I was fine with Starks getting on the field. Green hasn't been productive in three starts. You can only spend so much time waiting for a player, young or not, to find his groove.

What's next: The Packers have their bye and return to the field Nov. 18 at the Detroit Lions.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 9:

Heading to bye: The Green Bay Packers are hoping to squeeze out one more victory to enter their bye 6-3 and emerge, presumably, with a much healthier team. The Arizona Cardinals are reeling, having lost four consecutive games after a 4-0 start, and their franchise hasn't won in the state of Wisconsin since 1949. (They are 0-7 at Green Bay over that span.) I will be most interested to see if the Packers try to get tailback James Starks more involved in anticipation of using him regularly in the second half of the season. Alex Green hasn't been explosive or productive in three starts after Cedric Benson's foot injury. Starks has been biding his time on the sideline. I understand the Packers' hesitance in trusting Starks based on his injury history, but at some point production -- or lack thereof -- should take top priority.

Blitzing Rodgers: The Cardinals have been a heavy blitz team this season. In three of their games they've sent at least one extra rusher on more than half of their defensive snaps, most recently last Monday against the San Francisco 49ers. Will they dare blitz Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers? To be clear, Rodgers has torched the blitz on the relatively few snaps he's seen it in this season. He has completed 70 percent of his passes for 10 touchdowns in 89 dropbacks. The 49ers also had their way with the Cardinals blitz; quarterback Alex Smith completed seven of eight passes against it.

Stopping the run: There has been so much discussion about the turnovers generated by the Chicago Bears, and the resulting touchdowns, that few people realize the Bears also have allowed the fewest total rushing yards in the NFL this season. Part of that can be attributed to opponents rushing a league-low 145 times against them, but they are also averaging only 3.8 yards per carry, the eighth-lowest total against a defense. We'll find out how stout the Bears are when they travel to face the Tennessee Titans and running back Chris Johnson, who has more rushing yards over the past five weeks -- 550 -- than any NFL running back. Over that stretch, Johnson is averaging 3.0 yards before contact on each carry. That indicates the Titans' offensive line is generating some nice holes for him.

Catching up: Sunday's game at the Jacksonville Jaguars is one the Detroit Lions can't afford to lose if they intend to get back into the playoff race. The Jaguars (1-6) have lost each of their past three home games by at least 17 points and their defense has an NFL-low seven sacks -- including none in the first quarter. That should give the Lions a good chance to grab an early lead, beat their season-long trend of slow starts and then direct their defense's attention squarely at rushing quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Although he threw well last week against the Green Bay Packers, Gabbert has a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder and might not hold up well to a barrage of early hits. He's been sacked 17 times this season, the 12th-highest total among NFL quarterbacks.

Tough to tackle: Sunday's game at CenturyLink Field will feature the NFL's two most powerful tailbacks, at least this season. The Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson has gained 404 yards after contact, and the Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch has 303. Those are the top two figures in the NFL. That's not a good sign for the Vikings defense, which has struggled to tackle opposing running backs the past two weeks. On the other hand, Peterson is the Vikings' best chance to take and maintain control of a game in what will be a tough environment. The Seahawks are 3-0 at home and 1-4 on the road, and their pass rush might overwhelm quarterback Christian Ponder if the Vikings fall behind.

(Statistics courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information unless otherwise noted.)