NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

Since retaking his job as the starter, Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky has turned in a solid stretch of play. Chicago is 2-2 and Trubisky has thrown eight touchdowns to just three interceptions while going over 70 percent completion percentage each of his past three games. The Bears offense has benefited from the threat of Trubisky’s mobility and he looks much more at ease. 

“I feel very comfortable right now,” Trubisky said via the team website. “I think we keep getting better each week as an offense, which is important. We’re gaining confidence as a unit and right now, we’re executing at a high rate, which helps consistency across the board. And we’ve been efficient. So I definitely feel comfortable. And I’m very confident with where we’re at, mindset with the guys and how we’re handling each week.”

Trubisky looked for sure like a goner after the Bears declined his fifth-year option this past offseason and benched him in Week 3 this season. But he’s breathed new life into his NFL career the past couple of weeks and if he can keep it up he’ll give himself options for the future. 

“I would say I just wanted to control my own destiny,” Trubisky said. “I’m controlling what I can control at this point and I’m just trying to take control of my career and put it in the direction I want it to go. Sometimes you’ve got to be a little more assertive and speak up for what you want to happen, for what you believe in. And just go out there and continue to put the team first, like I have. Just continue to work hard, try to perfect my craft, keep getting better each and every day. But there was a little switch that flipped in the beginning where I just had to get that edge a little bit to where I’ve got to take control of my own destiny at this point.”

Lions

The Lions will be down to a skeleton-crew coaching staff on Saturday against the Buccaneers, as interim HC Darrell Bevell, DC Cory Undlin and a number of position coaches on defense will be unable to be on the sidelines due to being in the COVID-19 protocols. Detroit will be down to backup play-callers in all three phases of the game, but Lions QB Matthew Stafford said the players just have to be ready to roll with it. 

“We all just got to be ready to adapt,” Stafford said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I kind of, it’s been that way all season. Shoot, I was locked in a hotel room for a week not too long ago, too, so we’ve all been there taking our turns. It’s not easy, it’s not fun. It’s understandable. We’re trying to do what’s right, trying to keep everybody safe in this building, but at the same time it’s difficult, yeah, but there’s plenty of teams in the league have dealt with these things. We’re just one of them at this moment. It’s on us to make sure that we’re prepared and ready to go play well.”

• Bevell said the team pushed to have the game moved to Sunday when the coaching staff would have been at full strength but the league didn’t acquiesce. (Michael Rothstein)
• Stafford(ribs) said he is “doing OK” and isn’t doing “any worse” than experiencing soreness. (Rothstein)

Packers

Packers HC Matt LaFleur took a leap after interviewing unsuccessfully for the Titans head coaching job in 2018. He took a risk to leave the Rams to join Tennessee anyway as the offensive coordinator under HC Mike Vrabel despite never having worked with him before. He was able to turn that experience into his current gig as the head guy in Green Bay, where his Packers will face off against the Titans Sunday.  

“I didn’t know Mike prior to taking that job,” LaFleur said via ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I had just interviewed for the head coach job and felt I needed to take the next step in terms of my own growth. I spoke to Mike and had a lot of respect for him, knew he was a good person. That helped my decision. It’s never easy, especially when you’re with one of your best friends in Sean McVay there but I felt it was a much-needed step in the process.”

• Packers RB Aaron Jones has said he would love for his next contract to come from Green Bay but told reporters Thursday he’s focusing on football for the time being: “I actually need to call my agent after this and see what’s going on, but I’ve said it before on where my heart is at.” (Matt Schneidman)