Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Rosenthal evaluates NFC after ‘September chaos’
The Vikings through the first quarter of the season are 2-2, with both losses coming against division rivals.
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer and a number of players have said they’re ready to bounce back after a tumultuous first four weeks, but it’s no secret that the NFC landscape already is a complicated one.
NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal recently evaluated the conference after what he called “September chaos,” starting with the NFC North. He wrote:
The margin for error is perilously thin in the league’s best defensive division. If being able to win any style of game is a prerequisite to success in today’s NFL, it’s fair to doubt whether the Bears or Vikings have that gear.
Vikings [Head Coach] Mike Zimmer and [General Manager] Rick Spielman have carefully built their defense over the years with homegrown products, contract extensions and incredible continuity. But they still [haven’t been playing] with the cohesion, explosion or ferocity of the Bears group […]. The Vikings are already 0-2 in the division, a significant hole to climb from.
If the Bears can win another defensive game at Tottenham, they’ll hit the Week 6 bye at 4-1. Before the season started, this looked like a division that would produce two playoff teams, and that remains true after four weeks. The surprise here is that the 2-1-1 Lions should also be in that mix. They've already faced the tougher part of their non-conference schedule (Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers), with Sunday’s 34-30 loss to the Chiefs serving as proof that they can compete with anyone.
Rosenthal did not specifically address the Packers in his evaluation of the division. To read his NFC breakdown in its entirety, click here.