NFC North Discussion

The Green Bay Packers might be sending a message to Aaron Rodgers in their lack of activity before Tuesday's trade deadline, as one opposing general manager told Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post:

"The league is really changing, and if you are trying to win, then you've got to be willing to part with picks and be more aggressive. But they also might be looking at it like they just gave their quarterback $50 million and he isn't like [Drew] Brees or [Tom] Brady. There wasn't any discount so they could spread it around to other guys. He wanted every penny, and they might be sending a message back to him now."
The Packers fell to 3-5 with their fourth straight loss in Week 8, but they didn't make any upgrades at the deadline to help out Rodgers.

"Must be a f--ked up place," a different GM told La Canfora.

After multiple years of uncertainty over his future, Rodgers signed a contract extension last offseason that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL with an average annual salary of $50.3 million per year. The new deal came after the quarterback earned the MVP award in each of the past two years, giving him four for his career.

Unfortunately, the Packers also traded away All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, while also losing Marquez Valdes-Scantling to free agency. It left the offense with limited experience at receiver, relying on Allen Lazard and rookies Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson.

The result is an offense that ranks 22nd in the league in passing and 26th in points per game.

Rodgers ranks 27th out of 33 qualified passers with a 38.2 Total QBR.

An impact receiver like Chase Claypool—who was traded to the Chicago Bears—might have helped the Packers, but the team stood pat at the deadline.

Rodgers will now have to try to turn things around himself after a slow start to the season.

3. The Detroit Lions had a better record in their final 24 games under Matt Patricia than they have through 24 games with Dan Campbell. Is there hope?

“Nobody hates losing more than I do, than my family does,” Detroit Lions owner Sheila Hamp said this past week, “but we’ve got to get through it.”

The Lions, 1-6 after blowing a 14-0 lead at home in losing to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, 31-27, now have a 4-19-1 record (.188) under Campbell. They finished 5-19 (.208) over their final 24 under Patricia. No one is longing for the dark days of Patricia, but at a certain point, the Lions need to improve in the standings. When is that time coming?

The Lions under Campbell have lost by 8.1 points per game. The Lions under Patricia lost by 4.5 points per game. The team was 36-28 under Jim Caldwell before that, outscoring opponents by 0.3 points per game.

“It shows you what a travesty it was to get Caldwell out of there,” an exec from another team said. “Think about how (screwed) up you’d have to think to fire Jim Caldwell because he wasn’t your guy, when he’ll get along with anyone — that’s never been a problem with him his whole career.”

Head coach and quarterback are the two positions every franchise must get right for sustained success. Those two key variables remain question marks in Detroit. Even if you like what Campbell has brought to Detroit, is there evidence he gives the Lions an edge? He brings enthusiasm. He projects toughness. He sounds determined. Does he make a tangible difference through scheme, play calling, vision, tactics or in other areas that affect outcomes on game days? He might, but it’s tough pointing to evidence. At quarterback, the Lions haven’t really tried to find a long-term starter to build around.

“My thought is that as frustrating as it is, I know how close we are, because we are still talking about one play,” Campbell said after Sunday’s game.

Jim Schwartz’s tenure as Lions coach could provide some hope. Detroit was coming off a winless 2008 season when Schwartz took over, making Schwartz the last Lions coach to walk into a situation worse than the one Campbell walked into. Detroit went 4-20 in Schwartz’s first 24 games, the worst record for a Lions coach through 24 games. Schwartz lost his next four, then went 14-6 over his next 20. That 20-game stretch ended with the team finishing 10-6 in 2011, snapping an 11-year streak without a playoff appearance.

So, we’re saying there’s a chance. It just doesn’t seem like a very good chance right now.

The 2011 Lions featured Matthew Stafford emerging to lead an offense that ranked sixth in expected points added, while the Schwartz-coordinated defense ranked ninth. The 2022 Lions aren’t anywhere close to fielding top-10 units on both sides of the ball (the 2022 team is much better on special teams, at least).