NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Vikings

Bears

• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport says Bears HC Matt Nagy is expected to return in 2021 after helping the team right itself following a six-game losing streak earlier this season, adding Nagy has taken a stronger hand in the play-calling recently. 
• It’s worth mentioning that the Bears secured a wildcard spot in the playoffs and will take on the Saints next Sunday. 

Lions

• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report the Lions also have interest in Steelers VP of football administration Omar Khan, Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay and Patriots consultant Eliot Wolf for their general manager vacancy. 
• The three add the Lions are expected to conduct as many as 10 head coaching interviews, with 49ers DC Robert Saleh one of the top targets. 
• The potential targets include Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, Titans OC Arthur Smith, Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell and even Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald. The Lions have already interviewed former Bengals HC Marvin Lewis and will also interview interim HC Darrell Bevell for the full-time role. 
• Jay Glazer report that Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles has come up as a potential option for the Lions.
• Lions LB Jamie Collins is the most likely to be back in a major role on the team in 2021. (Michael Rothstein)
• Lions K Matt Prater reiterated that he wants to stay in Detroit: “Obviously, I’d love to stay here. Kids are in school in school here, (we) live here year-round. Love playing here, love the city, the organization top to bottom.” (Chris Burke)
   

   

   

   

Vikings

• Vikings HC Mike Zimmer said of QB Kirk Cousins‘ season: “I think he improved a lot. Probably started out a little slow … But I think he’s had a good year. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t do a little bit better and win a few more games so he could showcase himself even more.” (Chad Graff)
• Zimmer summed up their season by saying: “We probably weren’t good enough as a football team this year to be in the playoffs. We weren’t good enough defensively, obviously. But we missed a lot of guys and the guys that ended up playing, they battled like crazy and we still had opportunities to win a few more games, probably. With the turnover that we had, the injuries that we had on defense, we weren’t good enough. We fought like crazy. 7-9 is not great but through all the circumstances and everything that went on, maybe it’s the best that we could have done.” (Courtney Cronin)