Around the NFC North: Week 14

Jaguars - 10 :: Bears - 23

This game was one-sided from the start, as the Bears led 20-3 after the first half.  The Jags did score a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make things a bit interesting, but that's all they could do.  Robbie Gould later added his third field goal of the game to give the Bears a 23-10 win.

Windy City Gridiron said this after the win:

It was not pretty for the Jaguars early, and it didn't get much easier. The Bears were able to easily handle our guests, partially due to a defense that appeared to care and an offense that got started early.

Texans - 24 :: Packers - 21

The Packers' playoff hopes are officially dead after the Texans went into Lambeau Field and came away with an exciting victory.  This game went back and forth, especially in the fourth quarter.  Ryan Grant started the scoring in the final quarter of the game on a 6-yard run to give the Packers a 14-13 lead.  The Texans answered right back on an 11-yard TD pass to Andre Johnson.  Johnson also caught a pass on the 2-point conversion try to make it a 21-14 game in favor of Houston.  Just a few minutes later, Jordy Nelson caught a 9-yard TD pass to tie things up at 21. 

After the Texans went three and out, the Packers looked like they were on the verge of winning.  Aaron Rodgers completed a 59-yard pass to Donald Driver, moving the Packers all the way down to the Houston 25.  Shortly after the big pass play a holding penalty and a sack took the Packers out of field goal range and forced a punt that was downed at the 3-yard line.  The Texans had a long way to go, but they quickly moved the ball down the field and actually got in field goal range.  As the clock expired, Josh Brown hit a game-winning kick from 40 yards away.

Acme Packing Company was obviously upset after the game, and his outlook on the rest of the Packers' season isn't so great (don't forget who the Packers play in the last game of the season; they will at least win that game).

Thank god. Now we don't have to worry about a stunning collapse at the end of the NFC Championship game this year. With the umpteemth 4th quarter collapse in 2008, the Packers don't have to be thinking about the playoffs anymore. Let's hope they can win another game this season.

The division-leading Vikings head to Arizona to play the Cardinals on Sunday.  The Bears, who are one game behind Minnesota, host the Saints on Thursday night.  The Packers, who are now 5-8, play at Jacksonville.