The NFC North is the best division in the NFL. As evidenced by how the teams of the NFC North have performed against the rest of the league.
The Vikings, Bears, Lions, and Packers have a combined record of 17-3 against non-NFC North teams. Via NBC Sports research, the ensuing 85 percent success rate is the highest by any division in the NFL since the 1970 merger.
In theory, all four teams of the NFC North could make the playoffs. To do that, however, each would have to finish higher in the wild-card pecking order than the Rams and the Seahawks (assuming the 49ers win the NFC West).
This week, two teams of the NFC North have an easier path to victory than the others; the Bears host the Buccaneers and the Lions visit the Dolphins.
For the Packers (who play the Patriots in New England) and the Vikings (who play the Bills on Monday night), it will be harder to keep pushing 17-3 to 21-3.
Packers Clips
The Patriots officially ruled out wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle/knee) and running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness).
Coach Mike Vrabel had already announced both would miss Sunday’s game against the Packers.
Brown has played only three games this season, with the most recent coming on Oct. 22. Henderson released a statement on Friday saying that he was recently hospitalized for neurological reasons and that he is working with medical professionals to return to health.
Tight end Hunter Henry (foot), cornerback Marcus Jones (foot), safety Kevin Byard III (chest), cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck), wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot), safety Brenden Schooler (hamstring) and offensive lineman Greg Van Roten (hamstring) are questionable.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (illness), outside linebacker Gabe Jacas (knee), linebacker Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder/knee), cornerback Marcus Jones (foot) and quarterback Drake Maye (right shoulder) do not have a game status for Sunday. All five were full participants.
The Packers will have wide receiver Christian Watson in the lineup against the Patriots on Sunday afternoon.
Watson was limited in practice all week because of injured ribs, but he doesn’t have an injury designation for Green Bay’s trip to New England. That’s also the case for guard Aaron Banks (calf) and safety Jevon Bullard (personal).
Cornerback Keisean Nixon (groin) returned to practice after sitting out on Thursday and is listed as questionable. Running back MarShawn Lloyd (knee) is in the same category while linebacker Zaire Franklin (shin), offensive lineman Travis Glover (knee), center Sean Rhyan (knee), and tight end Josh Whyle (concussion) have been ruled out.
The team said earlier in the week that defensive end Micah Parsons (knee) won’t be activated from injured reserve. Running back Chris Brooks (ankle) is also eligible to be activated and he is considered questionable heading into the weekend.
It will be another Sunday without wide receiver A.J. Brown for the Patriots.
Head coach Mike Vrabel ruled Brown out for this weekend’s home game against the Packers during his Friday press conference. Brown also missed last Sunday’s game due to a knee injury and did not practice at all this week. Brown missed four games while on injured reserve with an ankle injury and the ankle remains part of his listing on the injury report as well.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson will also miss the game for New England. Henderson released a statement on Friday saying that he was recently hospitalized for neurological reasons and that he is working with medical professionals to return to health.
Vrabel also said that tight end Hunter Henry (foot) and cornerback Marcus Jones (foot) will be listed as questionable to play this weekend.
Patriots running back Treveyon Henderson, who missed the Week 8 game against the Dolphins with an illness, remains absent from practice due to illness.
On Friday morning, Henderson posted a statement on social media regarding his health situation.
“Recently, I experienced an unexpected and unusual medical emergency involving a series of unexplained neurological symptoms that required hospitalization for several days,” Henderson said. “During that time, I underwent extensive medical testing and evaluation. While the results of my comprehensive medical testing have come back positive and reassuring, the cause of this remains unknown and unexplainable.
“I will continue working closely with specialists and physical therapists to focus on my recovery, as these symptoms have affected my strength, coordination, and some of my physical functions. I am committed to doing everything necessary to return to full health.
“My health and long-term well-being remain my foremost priorities.
“I want to thank my wife for being by my side throughout all of this, and most importantly, I want to thank Jesus for giving me a peace that surpasses all understanding. Despite all of this, my heart rejoices in The Lord and my heart is at peace knowing that He is always faithful and His promise of Romans 8:28 always remain true. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.’ The purpose of trials in life is not to drive us away from God, but to only bring us closer. May God’s Will be done, not mine.
“My wife and I are deeply grateful for family and loved ones, the New England Patriots organization, my agent, my medical team, teammates, and everyone who has offered prayers, encouragement, and support.
“We respectfully ask for continued prayers and privacy as we focus on my health and recovery.”
Based on the Week 8 injury report, which first listed Henderson as having an illness on Thursday, the situation occurred between Wednesday’s practice and Thursday’s practice. Based on his statement, he could be out for a while; if his “strength, coordination, and some of [his] physical functions” have been undermined, it’s hard to envision him safely playing professional football.
We wish Henderson the best as he recovers, and as he tries to understand what occurred.
The Patriots have a lengthy injury report, with several key players remaining out of practice on Thursday.
Receiver A.J. Brown (ankle/knee), running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness), and tight end Hunter Henry (foot) were listed as non-participants for the second consecutive day.
But cornerback Marcus Jones (foot) was added to the injury report as another DNP.
Safety Brenden Schooler (hamstring) was also added to the report as a limited participant.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (illness) was upgraded from DNP to full.
Safety Kevin Byard (chest), cornerback Carlton Davis (neck), receiver Mack Hollins (calf), outside linebacker Gabe Jacas (knee), linebacker Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder/knee), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot), and offensive lineman Greg Van Roten (hamstring) all remained limited.
And quarterback Drake Maye (right shoulder) remained full.
Bill Belichick fell short of the necessary votes to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, but he may have another chance in 2027.
The Hall of Fame announced the five coaches who have advanced to the next round of consideration in the current selection process. One of those coaches will be selected for consideration by the full selection committee ahead of the Super Bowl.
Belichick is joined by Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves, and Mike Shanahan. All five coaches also advanced to this point in the selection process last year. This is the fourth time that Holmgren has advanced to this point.
Don Coryell was the last coach selected for the Hall of Fame. He was part of the Class of 2023.
Packers cornerback Brandon Cisse has been named defensive rookie of the month, the NFL announced on Thursday.
Cisse had 21 total tackles, seven passes defensed, two tackles for loss, an interception, and a sack in October.
He was the only rookie defensive back to have at least 20 tackles with an interception last month. He also led all rookies with seven passes defensed last month.
Cisse is the third Packers corner to win defensive rookie of the month, and the first since 2015.
In eight games, he’s tallied 34 total tackles with two for loss, 1.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, and an interception.
Packers safety Evan Williams has been named NFC defensive player of the month for October.
In his third season, Williams has helped elevate Green Bay’s defense this year. He had 41 total tackles with four passes defensed, two interceptions, a sack, and a fumble recovery last month.
According to the league, Williams is the third safety since 2000 to tally at least 40 tackles and three takeaways in a single month. He’s the first to accomplish the feat since 2011.
This is Williams’ first defensive player of the month award.
In eight games this season, Williams has totaled 71 tackles, two tackles for loss, four QB hits, six passes defensed, and two interceptions.
Packers defensive end Micah Parsons isn’t willing to pinpoint a date for his return to game action, but it is on everyone’s mind now that he is back on the practice field.
Parsons did individual work in his practice return on Wednesday and said that expects to do even more during next week’s workouts. Recent reports have Week 12 circled as the likeliest time for Parsons to make his 2026 debut and he discussed his expectations for that moment with reporters after his first practice session.
When asked if it’s realistic for him to play at an All-Pro level right out of the gate, Parsons said that it was but added that he expects to “have terrible plays” as well due to how much rest accumulated during his recovery from last December’s torn ACL.
“Am I gonna go out there and play 50, 60 snaps, how I was doing before? Absolutely not. It’s just not realistic,” Parsons said. “My body’s not there yet. I don’t even think my knee is built for that yet. I didn’t go through a training camp. Am I going to be the All-Pro Micah, the person I once was this year? Probably not until later, after I go through all my phases and things like that. . . . I think you’ll see flashes of All-Pro Micah when I get to pass rush, and there’s going to be times when you’re going to be like, ‘Dang, what was Micah doing?’ There’s going to be times when I question myself, too. Like, what was I doing right there? I’m not ashamed of that. I’m not scared of seeing the failure of this thing because I just came back from 11-month injury. I’m not shying away from the possibility of bad plays.”
It’s an honest appraisal of what the return from a long layoff is likely to look like, but a big play or two from Parsons can help swing a game and the Packers would gladly sign up for that while waiting for the total package to come back together.
