NFC North News

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Sure, the NFC North standings are an inanimate object, incapable of verbalization and sitting on the agate page of the morning paper waiting for your perusal and not much more.

It was supposed to be an intriguing battle between a pair of 4-3 playoff hopefuls, two of the past three NFC champions.

A little more than a year ago, the Green Bay Packers climbed to 4-3 in the standings after a resounding 34-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field.

Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz says there's no feud between Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford .

Last Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings came into Lambeau Field and beat the host Green Bay Packers 38-26. In the process, they made a statement: "We are the better team." Packers fans made a statement, too, booing their former signal caller when he took the field and, for a while at least, when he touched the ball.

The Minnesota Vikings are back from their bye week with an even bigger lead in the NFC North.

Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz says he's optimistic that wide receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Kevin Smith will play Sunday at Seattle.

Getting the bumbling Kyle Orton out of town was an added bonus. But nine weeks into the season, it is Orton and the Broncos who are in first place and threatening to run away with the AFC West.

If Aaron Rodgers wasn't scrambling for his life every other snap, the Green Bay Packers would probably be in a better situation.

Kurt Warner envisioned doing this on a regular basis at Soldier Field. Good thing for the Arizona Cardinals, the Chicago Bears took a pass on him.

Ten years to the day he died, Walter Payton was honored by the Chicago Bears with a ceremony at halftime of Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns .

Rob Ryan called. The Browns defensive coordinator revealed that his sideline exchange Sunday with Jay Cutler consisted of: "You were $#$#%$# better in Denver.

If Aaron Rodgers wasn't scrambling for his life every other snap, the Green Bay Packers would probably be in a better situation.

NFL Preview Look up, way up Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers readies to throw against the Minnesota Vikings at Heinz Fielddies to on October 25, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

CHICAGO The Bears will look to snap a two-game losing streak and rebound from the most lopsided defeat in Lovie Smith's six seasons as coach today when they host the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field.

's unfathomable season in Minnesota could be analyzed like a corporate earnings report.

Fire up the DeLorean and cue the Huey Lewis music. The Green Bay Packers might be going back to the future to protect their ailing quarterback.

The NFC North, the Black & Blue division, is showing a little bit of west coast swagger these days.

By Scott Garbarini, Associate NFL Editor -- - The Arizona Cardinals have yet to lose on the road this season, while the Chicago Bears have won every one of their home games thus far in 2009.

Now Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen has to show he can get sacks against somebody other than the Green Bay Packers.