The NFL trade deadline has passed. From this point forward, the playoff race is well and truly on.
It's tense in the NFC North, with all four teams on at least six wins entering Week 10. The Green Bay Packers get the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau this week, aiming to avenge their fourth-quarter meltdown (and questionable officiating) in the season opener.
Kirk Cousins was traded back to Minnesota on Tuesday, but will he start against the Packers? What's the latest on Josh Jacobs? Let's get into it.
- Malik Willis injury could hurt Packers' compensatory draft pick
- Josh Jacobs injury update
- Kirk Cousins' status for Week 10 vs. Packers
- Week 9 superlatives
- Christian Watson/Matthew Golden single-season record tracker
- Week 10 rooting guide
- This day in Packers history
Malik Willis injury could hurt Packers' compensatory draft pick
The Dolphins placed former Packers quarterback Malik Willis on injured reserve this week after battling a groin injury. It's not expected to be season-ending, but Willis will miss at least four games, with another former Packer, Kyle McCord, stepping in to cover.
Willis' injury could have an impact in Green Bay.
As Nick Korte of Over The Cap noted, the Packers were projected to receive a third-round compensatory pick for losing Willis in free agency, but missing four games will likely reduce it to a fourth-rounder.
The compensatory pick formula factors in the contract a player signs, snap counts, among other variables.
After losing Willis, Quay Walker, Romeo Doubs, Kingsley Enagbare, and Rasheed Walker in free agency, the Packers hoped to land a significant haul in compensatory picks. Current projections from Over The Cap still have them receiving the maximum of four, but later than they'd have hoped: Willis (Round 4), Quay Walker (Round 5), Doubs (Round 5), and Enagbare (Round 6).
Josh Jacobs injury update
Josh Jacobs will reportedly have surgery this week after suffering a broken finger on Sunday. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, he could return to action in 2-3 weeks.
Jacobs won't be available for Sunday's game against the Vikings, but the Packers are on their bye in Week 11. There's an outside chance he could return for the Thanksgiving Eve showdown with the Los Angeles Rams, but the road game against the New Orleans Saints on December 6 is more likely.
Kirk Cousins' status for Week 10 vs. Packers
The Vikings traded for Kirk Cousins before Tuesday's deadline, but will he play against the Packers on Sunday? He's going to play, right? There's no way Minnesota is rolling out Carson Wentz for a massive divisional game.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell kept his cards close to his chest when asked whether Cousins will start in Week 10: "That's what we're working toward but also want to be fair to Kirk and make sure he feels good about it," he said, via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Matt LaFleur doesn't need confirmation, though: "He'll be starting. I'm fairly confident of that," he said.
Expect Cousins to start at Lambeau.
Week 9 superlatives
Award | Player |
|---|---|
MVP of the Week | Jordan Love |
Unsung Hero | Kevin Zeitler |
Biggest Disappointment | Aaron Banks |
Best PFF Grade | Jordan Love (94.3) |
Jordan Love.
Jordan. Love. He just continues to deliver. Love ranked No. 1 among all quarterbacks in PFF passing grade after throwing for 372 yards and three touchdowns against the Patriots, and he also took home the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
It was just ridiculous to watch. Love looked at ease as he tore apart a talented Patriots secondary led by All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Love went after Gonzalez in a way we rarely see, with both Christian Watson and Matthew Golden burning him deep downfield.
Per Next Gen Stats, Watson and Golden combined for 10 catches and 187 yards in Gonzalez's coverage. Just incredible.
Kevin Zeitler was the unsung hero. He finally got an opportunity at right guard, and while it was a small sample size, Zeitler looked like the same player he has always been.
The veteran earned an excellent 77.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, the best of any Packers lineman. Take that with a pinch of salt, since Zeitler played only four pass-block snaps. We can take more note of his run-blocking performance, where he earned a 70.2 PFF grade on 16 snaps. Only Laken Tomlinson had a better grade.
Zeitler helped open up a lane for Kaleb Johnson on his 34-yard run.
"I've watched it a couple times now ... he is fitting blocks the way I want to see my guard fit a block," former Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga told the Wilde and Tausch show.
Unsurprisingly, Aaron Banks was the biggest disappointment. He struggled in the run game, and PFF credited him with four pressures and a sack allowed. Banks received an atrocious pass-block grade of 7.6.
Christian Watson/Matthew Golden single-season record tracker
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are on pace to become the Packers' most productive receiving duo in a single season.
Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb currently hold the record, having combined for 2,806 receiving yards in 2014. Watson and Golden are on track for an incredible 3,139.
From here, the Packers' explosive duo must average at least 143.1 receiving yards per game. That's combined, by the way – they each went over 150 on their own last week. They've averaged a combined 184.7 yards per game this season, so they are well and truly on track.
They're pacing towards incredible individual numbers, too. Watson and Golden are currently ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in the NFL for receiving yards, respectively.
At their current pace, Watson would end the season with 93 catches, 1,660 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Golden would finish with 100 catches, 1,479 yards, and nine touchdowns.
Week 10 rooting guide
- Patriots over Lions
- Raiders over Seahawks
- Cardinals over Rams
The Packers' biggest priority is beating the Vikings, which would lift them off the bottom of the NFC North standings, tie the head-to-head series, and secure a crucial second victory inside the division.
But we'll also have one eye on three other games in Week 10.
The Chicago Bears are on bye, but the Detroit Lions will open the Sunday slate with a game against the Patriots in Munich, Germany. Green Bay crushed New England in Week 9, so it'll take a bounce-back performance from Mike Vrabel's team. Hopefully, Christian Gonzalez gets back to his All-Pro best, because the Patriots will need him against an explosive Lions offense.
It goes beyond the NFC North, though.
The conference is fascinating because it's probably fair to already rule out New Orleans (3-5), Atlanta (3-6), Arizona (3-6), Washington (2-5-1), and Philadelphia (2-7) from the wild-card picture. Maybe even Dallas (4-5). Some of those teams can still win their respective divisions, but they're unlikely to earn a wild-card berth.
That leaves only the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams (both 5-4) as teams currently outside the playoff spots that should concern the Packers.
According to The Athletic's playoff projections, a Packers win, with losses for the Seahawks and Rams, would increase Green Bay's playoff odds from 64 percent to 81 percent.
This day in Packers history
November 12, 2017: Packers beat Bears without Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers was out with a broken collarbone, leaving the Packers' playoff hopes in the hands of Brett Hundley. Green Bay had lost three in a row to fall to 4-4, but thankfully, they got a matchup at Soldier Field.
Hundley performed as well as the Packers possibly could've hoped, completing 18 of 25 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown, good for a 110.8 rating. Ty Montgomery scored on a 37-yard run, while Mason Crosby put up the other nine points in a 23-16 win.
Both quarterbacks faced heavy pressure, with Hundley sacked three times and the Packers taking down Mitch Trubisky five times. Hundley delivered, though, especially late in the game. On a third-and-10 late in the fourth quarter, he dropped a beautiful pass into a bucket down the sideline to hit Davante Adams for 42 yards.
Crosby missed a 35-yard field goal that would've put the game away, but Green Bay's defense closed it out moments later.
It was a crucial win for the Packers, who improved to 5-4. They would go 2-2 in the next four games with Hundley, keeping the team's playoff hopes just about alive for Rodgers' return in Week 15.
However, the Packers were eliminated with a loss to the Carolina Panthers in Rodgers' first game back. He returned to injured reserve, and Hundley started the final two games.
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