Detroit Lions: Do the Lions Trust Goff?

For the Lions in 2021, it is most likely going to be a rebuilding year with QB Jared Goff under center. The team is looking to form a culture with new head coach Dan Campbell and the era of Matthew Stafford officially over. Detroit is going to have their struggles in 2021 due to a young roster so that will be expected. The one bit of unknown for Detroit is how they view Goff. Goff, who was recently traded by the Los Angeles Rams for Stafford, has had underwhelming years since his Super Bowl run in 2018-19. Is Goff just a bridge guy? Or does Detroit view him as a building block for a winning culture in their future?

Minnesota Vikings: Can the Young Secondary Improve Enough to Compete?

Outside of a rough start to the year by QB Kirk Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings offense was a force in 2020, pushing the ball down the field with two pro bowl caliber receivers while also having the ability to hand the ball off to all-pro RB Dalvin Cook. WR Justin Jefferson broke the receiving yards record for a rookie, totaling 1,400 yards. His running mate, Adam Theilen, had 14 touchdowns as well, helping Cousins throw 35 in 2020. Despite this, the Vikings missed the playoffs and went 7-9 due to having the worst defense in the NFC. Minnesota gave up a conference worst 475 points and struggled in the secondary. Despite this, they have two young corners in Cam Dantzler and Jeff Gladney that showed improvement as the season progressed. Cleaning up the secondary would be huge for the Vikings to complement their offense. A lot of it will be on the shoulders of the growth of their two young corners, who I expect to take a big step in 2021.

Green Bay Packers: What is Going On with Rodgers?

I do not believe any team has had a crazier offseason to this point than the Green Bay Packers and the state of their QB Aaron Rodgers. It has been made very clear by Rodgers that he does not want to be there and has made no effort to show up to anything yet, including missing mandatory minicamp. Rodgers, the reigning MVP, was in the news last year when QB Jordan Love was drafted. Many felt this strained his relationship with the Packers, and this year may or may not have proved it. The biggest question right now for the Packers is who is going to be their quarterback in 2021? They have been stern on wanting Rodgers back, but also have a first-round pick waiting in the wings. Things are not going to get easier from here in Green Bay with important questions remaining unanswered.

Chicago Bears: Are the Bears Contenders or Pretenders?

People seem to forget that the Bears made the playoffs in 2020 and were a dropped touchdown away from possibly winning against the Saints. Regardless, the Bears needed to make a change to get out of the crossroads of contenders or pretenders. The Bears have been mediocre the past few seasons, but have had enough talent to compete. QB Justin Fields will more than likely become the starter at some point this season. If he plays well, the Bears will be right in the mix for the division and the playoffs.

Info from profootballreference.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas

Photo Credit: Getty Images

What happened?

Nick Foles, that’s what happened.

Maybe that’s a bit of an oversimplification. Let’s recap shall we? The first quarter ended with the Eagles providing the only score by way of a field goal. The Bears struggled to get anything going offensively, settling for short passes that were mostly contained by what’s been a suspect Eagles secondary for most of the year. However, the Bears continued to look strong defensively, with the Bears consistently stuffing the run and keeping the Eagles out of the end zone. The quarter ended with Roquan Smith picking off Nick Foles, again highlighting the strength of the Bears defense.

The second quarter began with a field goal on the first Bears possession, tying the game at 3-3. The Eagles would finally start to move down the field on the next drive, only for Adrian Amos to pick off Foles in the end zone. After a few punts from both teams, the Bears would have one final drive of the half, which ended in a Cody Parkey field goal. (The only half of this game to end with a Cody Parkey field goal). 

Both offenses would start to open up in the second half. The Bears couldn’t capitalize on their first possession of the quarter, but the Eagles were able to score the game’s first touchdown. How did this come to pass? Well, the Bears committed no penalties in the entire first half, but had three penalties on the Eagles first drive of the second half. In a drive that started at their own 17 yard line, the Bears committed 52 yards worth of penalties. This drive would end with a ten yard pass from Foles to Dallas Goedert. The quarter would end with the Eagles leading 10-6.

The Bears would open the scoring in the final quarter with a field goal, making the score 10-9. They accomplished this by driving down the field with a big pass from Trubisky to Allen Robinson II. Finally the Bears offense was able to exploit some holes in the defense. Following an Eagles punt, Mitchell Trubisky was able to find Robinson II again down the sideline to make the game 10-15. After bringing in Khalil Mack as a decoy to go for two points, they failed to get into the end zone. After a stop by each defense, a poor punt from Bears punter Pat O’ Donnell gave the Eagles the ball at their own 40. In what has become expected from Nick Foles, he drove the Eagles down the field and put the Eagles ahead 16-15. (They would also fail to convert).

And now the ending that caps the Bears entire season; Tarik Cohen would return the ensuing kickoff to their own 42 yard line with 48 seconds remaining in the game. Trubisky would complete another big pass to Robinson II, then another to bring the Bears to the Eagles’ 25 yard line. With 10 seconds left, Cody Parkey nailed the chip shot field goal. And that’s how the game would end.

Except Doug Peterson called a timeout to ice Parkey.

Which proved successful, as Parkey then hit the left upright to send his team home. The defending champs beat the top defense in the league, and that is the end of the NFC North for the year.