Mikel Leshoure | AllGreenBayPackers.Com

Around the NFC North in week 10

Week 10 brings about two great matchups in the NFC North. With the Green Bay Packers on a bye, the Chicago Bears host the Houston Texans while the Detroit Lions travel to Minnesota to finish out their season series against the Vikings. Let’s look at some of the storylines surrounding the games.

Houston Texans (7-1) at Chicago Bears (7-1)

This is the marquis matchup for the NFL’s week 10 slate and is the Sunday Night game. Each team comes in having lost just one game and playing well. Chicago has won six straight and Houston has bounced back from their first loss of the season and won their last two in a row. Each team’s last loss came at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.

Defense is the name of this game. Houston ranks 3^rd overall in yardage allowed (286/game) while Chicago ranks 6^th (318/game).

The Bears are leading the league in takeaway’s with 28 and takeaway ratio at +16. They’re turning those takeaway’s into points and have seven interception returns for scores this season by five different players. Their defense has become nearly as potent, in terms of scoring, as their offense.

Chicago is tied with New England for fumbles caused with 11. Just last week, Chicago forced five fumbles, two by CB Charles Tillman. Tillman has been hot after the ball this season and has seven caused fumbles and has two of Chicago’s interception returns for touchdowns. Some say he’s an early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. Read more... (981 words + 3 images, estimated 3:55 mins reading time)

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Who the Packers Will Pick: NFL Draft Experts Have Their Say

It’s a phenomenon that happens every year.

If you’re a fan of the NFL, you immediately turn into a draft expert for your team once the season comes to an end. The Green Bay Packers and their fanbase are no different.

It’s a part of what makes the draft process great—everyone has their own opinion on who to pick and why. And surely, a few mock drafts you’ll read from fans will get a number of picks right.

Yet contrary to popular belief, actual “experts” on the draft are typically more informed and in-tune with who each team might pick than the common fan.

They’re paid to know (or sound like they know) and their connections to the football world give them an obvious step up.

Here are the most recent mock picks to the Green Bay Packers from several of the most well-known experts and draft websites.

ESPN (Todd McShay, Mel Kiper, Jr.), CBS Sports (Chad Reuter): Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona

With nearly constant comparisons to Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, Reed has shot up many draft boards.

Both ESPN whiz-kids (or whatever other adjective you use for them) have the Packers taking Reed to be the playmaker opposite Matthews for the Packers defense.

If his story continues to follow in the footsteps of Matthews, it’d be hard to argue with the pick. Read more... (929 words + 1 image, estimated 3:43 mins reading time)

This is a preview of Who the Packers Will Pick: NFL Draft Experts Have Their Say. Read the full post (929 words + 1 image, estimated 3:43 mins reading time)

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