NFC North Rundown: Timeout blunder leads to the Vikings’ primetime loss

Some of the Sunday mystique was lost this week with the 7-1 Green Bay Packers already having appeared on Thursday Night Football. But the fourth-quarter intensity of the mid-week win helped lead to a much calmer weekend, especially as the Packers’ chief competitors dropped another game in the divisional standings.

Perhaps no loss was more disappointing than that of the Minnesota Vikings, who lost a late lead to a Dak Prescott-less Dallas squad. Contributing to the loss was a timeout mistake by Head Coach Mike Zimmer, which cost Minnesota dearly on the final drive of the game. At the conclusion of the game, the news only got worse as the Vikings learned they would be without one of their top defensive performers for the rest of the season.

Today’s NFC North rundown examines each of those storylines in Minnesota, while checking in on more crushing losses in Chicago and Detroit.

Chicago Bears (3-5)

Lost 33-22 vs. San Francisco; Next at Pittsburgh

Game Recap: Bears’ skid reaches three with loss to 49ers

Seven straight 49er scoring drives were the difference in a game in which Justin Fields showcased his athleticism on offense.

From Matt Nagy’s secret bunker, the real story of the Bears’ loss to the 49ers!

Now that you’ve read the recap, here is the game story directly from the head coach itself...or is it?

Roster Move: Bears activate Graham off COVID list

One former Packer is back on the field this week after a few weeks away from the action.

Minnesota Vikings (3-4)

Lost 20-16 vs. Dallas; Next at Baltimore

Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 16: Vikings take well-deserved loss

The Vikings lost to backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who led a game-winning final drive that put the Cowboys in front for the first time of the game.

Mike Zimmer ‘screwed up’ calling consecutive timeouts in Vikings’ loss: ‘I forgot that I called one’

That final drive was aided by a timeout blunder that gave the Cowboys five free yards ahead of a crucial third down.

Minnesota Vikings DE Danielle Hunter out for season with torn pectoral muscle

It appears Green Bay will play the Vikings twice this season without Minnesota’s top pass rusher.

Detroit Lions (0-8)

Lost 44-6 vs. Philadelphia; Next is the bye week

Detroit Lions absolutely throttled in blowout loss to Philadelphia Eagles

A 17-0 game at halftime became absolutely ugly by the end of the third quarter as the Lions remained winless nearly halfway through the season.

Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell on NFL trade deadline: ‘We’re open to listening to anything’

The Lions are not likely to buy or sell at the deadline, but new General Manager Brad Holmes has made three trades during his 10 months in the position.

Notes: Jerry Jacobs has traveled a tough road to get to the Lions

Despite a lot of negativity in Detroit this week, the remarkable story of Jacobs’ perseverance to find a home in the NFL is a happier story.