NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS

WR Justin Gage has replaced Mark Bradley, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Bradley's ability to make yards after the catch will be missed. Gage, who lost his job to Bradley earlier this season, lacks quickness in and out of his breaks. But he uses his height (6-4) and long arms to make plays. He caught a touchdown against the Saints.... LCB Charles Tillman, who was drafted to match up against top receivers, had a rough start but has recently come on strong. He is aggressive in coverage, sees the deep ball well and is good in run support. Tillman is best in press coverage; his tight hips hinder him when he has to play off fast receivers. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The offense has struggled all season, but it has excelled in the red zone. WR Muhsin Muhammad and RB Thomas Jones, who thrives in short-yardage situations, have contributed a lot. Muhammad (6-2, 217) provides a big target, and defenses have keyed on Jones so much that QB Kyle Orton has been successful with play-action passes. Also, the Bears have been good at using TE Desmond Clark and FB Marc Edwards around the goal line.--Brad Biggs

DETROIT LIONS

The team is beginning to realize that WR Charles Rogers, the No. 2 overall pick in 2003, might be a bust. After returning from a four-game drug suspension, his practice habits were worse than ever, so the Lions didn't take him to Minnesota. Rogers once had good speed, hands and game-breaking ability but has shown none of that this year.... Kyle Kosier was signed as a free agent to back up both tackle spots but has been forced to start at left guard. Kosier has upgraded the running game because he is tough and gets good leverage. He gets out quickly on pulling plays and is good in pass protection. But Kosier can be overpowered by massive tackles. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The run defense has been excellent-and it has been dismal. And it depends entirely on gap discipline. When players aren't overpursuing or trying to make plays on their own and are confident their teammates are doing the same, they're getting to the ball and aren't giving up big runs. When they abandon their duties, they've been steamrolled.--Tom Kowalski

GREEN BAY PACKERS

The club released CB Joey Thomas, meaning rookie Mike Hawkins will play a lot in passing situations. The coaches envision Hawkins being a shutdown corner someday because he has 4.3 speed and good ball skills. Hawkins, however, played only one year of college football and is raw. He needs to be more physical, anticipate routes better and improve at bump-and-run coverage.... There's so little talent and experience on offense that the coaches have pared down the playbook and gone with fewer complicated passing formations and fewer plays overall.... There is no thought being given to playing rookie QB Aaron Rodgers over Brett Favre. The team wants Favre to return next season, and Rodgers isn't close to being ready. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The tight end is back in the offense. The team has three capable receivers at the position and is trying to create favorable matchups in multi-tight end sets. Donald Lee and David Martin have the versatility to be split out wide, or they can line up tight and be used more as blockers.--Tom Silverstein

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The team shifted from a vertical passing game to one based on ball control after QB Brad Johnson took over for Daunte Culpepper (knee), who is out for the season. Johnson can throw downfield, but his strengths are accuracy on short and intermediate passes and the ability to manage a game.... CB Antoine Winfield has shown he is more effective playing off wide receivers than trying to jam them at the line. Playing back allows Winfield to read the quarterback and use his hitting ability to break up passes.... The team has reliable, exciting kick returners for the first time under coach Mike Tice. KR Koren Robinson has three returns of more than 40 yards, and PR Mewelde Moore is a sure-handed, instinctive open-field runner. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The team might be glad its early-season attempts to trade RB Michael Bennett were unsuccessful. Bennett is not as fast as he used to be, but he is running straight ahead to get the most yards he can and also has shown he can gain a few yards after the initial hit. Bennett is valuable because Moore, the starter, is not capable of being effective for an entire game.--Kevin Seifert

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