Which team is in more trouble: Packers or Vikings?
At one point looking like one of the strongest divisions in football, the NFC North now has two teams in danger of falling off completely.
After the Green Bay Packers entered the season as division favorites, and the Minnesota Vikings started off with a 5-0 run, both teams are in danger of implosion,coming off multi-game losing streaks.
With the Vikings banged up and lacking some identity, and the Packers' lack of a running game causing more problems than expected, the question remains: Which team is in more trouble?
Vikings (5-4)
Injuries to Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson didn't seem to bother the Vikings early on, but now that more have piled up and opposing defenses have figured out their simple strategies, it's a big problem.
The Vikings lost their third offensive tackle of the season Sunday as Jake Long was ruled out for the year, along with Matt Kalil and Andre Smith, who were both placed on injured reserve earlier in the year. In past years, Peterson's talents made up for their subpar offensive line. With no All-Pro running back and backup blockers in the lineup, it's tough to expect much from the run game. Having offensive coordinator Norv Turner walk out the door because he essentially couldn't see how the offense was going to work was a pretty telling sign.
Defensively, the Vikings started off lights out, but they evidently aren't at the level of the 2015 Broncos or 2002 Buccaneers, who won Super Bowls without any offensive firepower.
General manager Rick Spielman bet big on his own team after losing future franchise quarterback Bridgewater, which could make their implosion worse. Trading away a first-round pick for Sam Bradford in hopes of making a Super Bowl run was questionable at the time, but now it just looks dangerous. Most teams can at least take comfort in knowing their sinking ship will be rewarded with a high draft pick.
Upcoming games against the Cardinals, division-leading Lions, and Cowboys are absolutely crucial - but none of which will be easy outs. Coming off four straight losses, the Vikings are in danger of becoming irrelevant by the final quarter of the season after dominating the first one.
Packers (4-5)
It's time to stop asking what's wrong with Aaron Rodgers and look around the entire Packers locker room. Giving up 47 points to the Titans and dropping below .500 doesn't just happen because of some bad throws.
There's been no real threat of a running game all season and the return of 31-year-old Jordy Nelson didn't provide the overall spark Packers fans were hoping for. It's become obvious that relying on Rodgers to just make receivers better hasn't worked. Ted Thompson and the front office haven't done a lot to rejuvenate the receiver corps that once thrived with the likes of Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Randall Cobb, and Nelson. Only two of those pieces remain and Davante Adams hasn't displayed the consistency to make up the difference.
Head coach Mike McCarthy needs to pull something new out of his bag of tricks or it might cost him his job. McCarthy took over the play-calling duties he had previously given up this season and it hasn't worked. To be fair, it didn't work well without him last year either, but everyone kind of just chalked that up to a lack of Nelson.
An undersold storyline this year has been the Packers' defensive struggles, which don't appear to be ending anytime soon. The secondary has been decimated by injuries, regularly relying on their third-, fourth-, and fifth-slotted cornerbacks to cover opposing team's starters. Clay Matthews' return to the edge hasn't worked as well as expected. He missed the last three contests and has just three sacks on the season.
The Packers have a chance to get back on track against the inconsistent Redskins, but if they don't, the Eagles', Texans', and Seahawks' defenses will be gladly waiting to take down the Pack. For the first time in eight years, Rodgers may not be able to get Green Bay into the playoffs.