In Week 7, the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears posted wins that stunned the football world, while the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers were on the opposite end of upsets. However, the division will soon return to order. Here are the predictions for Week 8 in the NFC North:
Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at Green Bay Packers (2-4): In the Packers’ first home game in over a month, the revitalized Vikings greet them, riding high off a stunning upset of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. While anything can happen in a divisional matchup, especially when the Packers and Vikings tangle, the 124th all-time meeting between the teams may come down to how Packers QB Jordan Love handles what head coach Matt LaFleur called the Vikings’ “aggressive scheme” on defense.
The Vikings blitz more than any other team in the NFL (56.4 percent), and the unit is coming off a 12-pressure, one-sack performance against 49ers QB Brock Purdy. Meanwhile, behind a banged-up offensive line, Love completes 53 percent of his passes when facing a blitz (31st) and 43 percent when pressured (30th).
PREDICTION: Vikings, 23-16
Chicago Bears (2-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-4): With QB Justin Fields still doubtful with a thumb injury, undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will have to out-duel Justin Herbert if the Bears hope to win back-to-back games for the first time since 2021. The Chargers (11th) and Bears (5th) are stingy against the run but rank near the bottom of the NFL against the pass, which is probably an area both teams plan on attacking.
After the Bears allowed Las Vegas Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell to post an 83.8 passer rating (10-of-13, 75 yards, 1 TD/1 INT) in relief of Brian Hoyer, busted finger or not for Herbert, he’s unlikely to be outplayed by Bagent on “Sunday Night Football.” Crazier things have happened, but not this week.
PREDICTION: Chargers, 31-20
Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2): The Lions were exposed a bit in a 38-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but a matchup with the Raiders on “Monday Night Football” may be the best remedy for their woes. After backup running D’Onta Foreman ran all over the Raiders (16 carries, 89 yards, 2 TD), Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs must be licking his chops.
The Raiders defense offers some resistance against the pass (5th), but their 23 points against per game are 22nd in the NFL. Even if QB Jimmy Garoppolo returns from injury, this sounds like a classic get-right game for Detroit.
PREDICTION: Lions, 28-10