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Although the Lions lead the division now, they are far froma dominant force. After a heartbreaking loss last week at TampaBay, in which a potentially game winning touchdown catch with13 seconds left was reversed by an instant replay, they reboundednicely, and beat the Ravens 35-17.

Lions QB Joey Harrington was 10 of 23 for 97yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. RB Kevin Jones had58 yards on 26 carries and 2 scores. While WR Roy Williams had2 receptions for 24 yards before leaving with a quadriceps injury,which left the Lions with just 3 receivers. WR Charles Rodgerswas suspended 4 games for violating the League’s substance abusepolicy. WR Mike Williams had one catch for 7 yards. The Lion’sso far have invested over $57 million on these five players alone,so it’s easy to say the offense is not pulling its weight.

S Dre Bly had 2 interceptions forced, and recovereda fumble against the Ravens. The Lions have the 19th ranked defenseoverall. The last two games have seen Detroit play against the1st and 2nd ranked defenses. The defensive efforts of the lasttwo weeks haven’t gone unnoticed by the offense. RB Artose Pinnerhad this to say, “Dre Bly and this defense have been playing greatfor us all season long. They’ve been turning the ball over andwe’ve been taking those opportunities and turning them into points.If we do that the rest of the season, we’re going to have a prettygood season.”

In 2nd place in the division are the ChicagoBears. Da Bears could just have easily been tied with Detroitfor the division lead, until 2 TD’s late in the game by the Brownslast week. Bears QB Kyle Orton threw an 8-yard TD to Marc Edwardsto put Chicago ahead 10-6. The defense gave up a 33-yard TD toCleveland’s Trent Dilfer with 3:03 left in the game. On the nextpossession Orton fumbled, and the Brown’s scored again. 38 seconds,2 Tds, game over.

The 3rd ranked defense led by LB Brian Urlacher,with 4 sacks, said “Two Plays killed us. No excuses.” Safety MikeBrown put it a little more bluntly when he said “We’re just terrible.It’s like we suck, man.” Brown is new to this feeling, where atNebraska was 42-6. With Chicago since being drafted in 2000, heis 22-46. Even though the defense looks good on paper, you stillhave to play the games.

Rookie QB Kyle Orton leads the offense. Althoughhe had less than a mediocre outing last week, 16 of 22 for 117and a touchdown, he keeps improving with his confidence as wellas his play. His passer rating though plummeted like a lead balloon,going from 74.4 to 51.7 in the last 2 weeks. The Bears had a strongRB in Thomas Jones, who rushed for 137 yards on 24 carries, his3rd straight 100-yard game, last week before leaving with a kneeinjury. Cedric Bensen is next in line to fill Jones’s spot, eventhough he gained 6 yards on 5 carries and fumbled once.

The Vikings are coming off a bye week, and aregoing to try and turn their season around. After a disappointing1-3 start, they are still only trailing the division leader byone game. So winning this game could be a jumpstart the rest oftheir season big time.

New owner Zygi Wilf has told Coach Mike Ticethat his job is safe this season as long as there are wins involved.Coach Tice is making adjustments to the coaching as well, bringingin a couple of consultants.

The off season loss of Randy Moss some say couldbe the difference, but Daunte Culpepper has been a shell of hisusual self, since injuring his knee in week one. He has 4 TD passesthis year, but 3 of those were in the 1st half of the New Orleansgame. RB Mewelde Moore has one 100-yard game to lead the teamin that category.

The Vikings’ defense has given up 178 yards pergame rushing, worst in the NFL. Opponents are averaging 5.4 yardsper carry. As far as the pass defense goes, the jury’s still outon that one. With the way opponents run against the Vikings, thereis really no reason to establish the passing game.

Time to sit Bret Farve, huh? Sure the ‘Pack’may be 1-4, they are still in the thick of things in the division.After a 0-4 start, the Packers royally dominated the Saints lastweek, 52-3. Green Bay goes into the bye week for a much neededbreak. Last week Farve was as sharp as ever. He threw for 215yards and 3 touchdowns, while only playing three quarters. Hedid not throw an interception, he had 8 in the previous 4 games,and had a rating of 130.9. RB Najeh Davenport had 54 yards and2 TD’s, before a broken ankle ended his season early. Davenportwas filling in for Ahman Green, who Coach Sherman said might bequestionable for Green Bay’s next game at Minnesota, on Oct. 23rd.

The defense under Jim Bates continues to playwell. CB Al Harris intercepted an Aaron Brooks pass and returnedit 22 yards for a score. Later LB Nick Barnett picked off a ToddBouman pass and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown. The Packer’sdefense recorded 4 sacks, 3 INT’s, and forced 4 fumbles recovering2 of them. The Saints only mustered 95 yards on the ground asa team. Green Bay’s defense is allowing an average of only 100.6yards per game on the ground. With a win going into the bye week,the Packers will use it to rest and regroup, to make a run atthe rest of the division, starting with the Vikings, on Oct. 23rd.

I feel Bear’s Safety Mike Brown echoes a lotof players feelings in the NFC North, not just Green Bay’s whenhe said “The only saving grace we have is that our division ishorrible. That’s the only (reason) we still have a chance. Eventhough we have a horrible record, our division is horrible also,so we still have an outside chance of at least doing something,getting into the second season at least.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.