We are officially past the halfway point of training camp and the NFL preseason, and teams are shaping into form.
After last week, the Green Bay Packers were looking red-hot and sitting atop the NFC North power rankings.
How did their humbling performance against the Denver Broncos impact their standing after preseason Week 2? As a reminder, these are a pulse of the division, not necessarily a reflection or prediction of the standings.
4. Minnesota Vikings (Previous rank: 4)
Another week, another power rankings with Minnesota in the cellar of the NFC North teams. The Vikings looked ready to rise up in the rankings before the devastating season-ending injury to rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy.
Now, McCarthy will be focusing on rehab and film study instead of being able to get valuable practice reps to build towards taking over as the Vikings' starting quarterback in the future.
Minnesota did get another win this week, taking down the Cleveland Browns. Nick Mullens got the start, with the veterans all sitting out. Mullens went 11/21, throwing for a touchdown on Minnesota's opening drive and leading a field goal drive the next time out. Jaren Hall, Minnesota's fifth-round pick last year, threw two touchdowns. UFL standout Matt Corral, who Minnesota brought in after the McCarthy injury, took some snaps as well, resulting in a sack that led to a Browns safety.
The Vikings have a true competition for the backup role, but they remain in fourth spot without the upside of McCarthy.
3. Chicago Bears (Previous rank: 3)
The Hard Knocks hype has officially worn off in Chicago and may have warranted the fourth spot had it not been for the McCarthy injury. The Bears struggled against the Bengals' reserves in the early going of its latest preseason game, going three-and-out on its first three possessions.
Then the Bears got rolling. A jet sweep to Rome Odunze got the offense moving before a Caleb Williams deep ball led to a pass interference penalty to set them up inside the red zone.
A 45-yard pass to Odunze that set up a Williams 7-yard touchdown scramble a few plays later. Tyson Bagent entered the game to start the second half and threw two more touchdown passes as he looks to lock up the QB2 spot in the Windy City.
Chicago moved to 3-0 in the preseason and was the only team to play starters this week. It keeps the Bears in the third spot this week, topped with a degree of growth from Caleb Williams. The starting defense got some work and could be the key to Chicago staying in games as the offense grows around Williams and Odunze.
2. Green Bay Packers (Previous rank: 1)
Green Bay did not play any starters or key role players in Week 2 against Denver. That said, a 27-2 thrashing at the hands of the Broncos knocks the Packers down a spot this week. There is still a significant enough gap to Chicago and Minnesota to avoid a further fall, but it is worth noting the Packers were the only NFC North team to lose this week.
Overall, Green Bay's offensive line wasn't awful, and the run game was decent, but the team struggled behind Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt, calling for many to say the Packers need to bring in a veteran backup.
Beyond the quarterback spot, the Packers have a decision to make at the skill positions. Emanuel Wilson was impressive once again as the lead preseason back. Grant DuBose and Malik Heath are in a battle for what many presume to be the sixth and final receiver spot. Ben Sims and Tyler Davis are competing for both tight end and special teams snaps. The Packers could keep three of these guys, forcing them to decide between keeping four running backs or four tight ends.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix looked impressive against the Packers' backups, leading two scoring drives. The final score would lead some to have concerns that the defensive struggles of the last couple of seasons may be here to stay, but given that the Packers' long-shot reserves played a lot of the game in a base defense, those concerns aren't warranted yet.
1. Detroit Lions (Previous rank: 2)
Detroit did not play its starters this week against the Kansas City Chiefs. With Green Bay resting its guys and losing, and Detroit's reserves leading a comeback win against the Chiefs, the Lions regain top spot.
Kansas City did play its starters for two drives and got out to a 6-0 lead, which was expanded to a 13-0 lead after a fumbled kick return by the Lions led to Carson Wentz throwing a 22-yard score to Xavier Worthy.
The Lions were able to claw back and kick a walk-off field goal for the win as time expired, taking down Kansas City 24-23. In all likelihood, Detroit will rest its starters for the preseason finale against Pittsburgh. For now, the Motor City's reserves wrestle away the top spot in the NFC North power rankings.
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