NFC North Round-Up: Each Team’s MVP Through Three Games
Josh Frey
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We’re officially three games into the 2022 NFL season, and as we head into the month of October, three teams sit atop the NFC North division tied at 2-1. The Vikings technically hold the tiebreaker amongst these teams due to their 2-0 record within the division, but the point still stands. The NFC North is an extremely tight race one month into the season.
Given how close it is, it makes sense to identify some of the main contributors to the teams’ successes thus far into 2022. Here is each NFC North team’s MVP three weeks into the season.
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Khalil Herbert
The feature back through two weeks of the Chicago Bears season was largely David Montgomery, but it’s been Khalil Herbert to step up in key moments. In Week 1 against the 49ers, Herbert was the guy to seal the game with a touchdown run.
Then on Sunday, as Montgomery was hobbled with an injury, Herbert completely torched the Houston Texans defense. He recorded 20 carries for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
As Justin Fields continues to struggle passing the ball, the Bears still have found ways to win. They probably don’t do that without Herbert over these first few weeks.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Amon-Ra St. Brown couldn’t quite record history on Sunday against the Vikings as his streak of 8-catch games came to an end. That said, he has been the heart and soul of the Detroit Lions passing offense to this point.
St. Brown is an uber-athletic receiver, and he’s consistently found open field throughout the young season. The Lions may be 1-2 to start their season, but they’ve been competitive in every game they’ve played. That is largely because of St. Brown.
De’Vondre Campbell
It may be weird to see a Packers team where Aaron Rodgers has not been considered their MVP. That said, the Packers have scored 14 or fewer points in two of their three games this season and largely have relied on their defense.
Green Bay boasts a number of strong players on that side of the ball, but it’s hard to argue against De’Vondre Campbell being the most important. Through three games, Campbell has recorded 29 tackles and has been a nuisance to opposing offenses all month.
Additionally, it was Campbell that made the pass-breakup against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a potentially game-tying two-point conversion attempt. If Campbell is not on the field there, the Packers may not be looking at a 2-1 record.
Kirk Cousins
There will undoubtedly be pushback on this choice as there is for any topic surrounding the Vikings QB. That said, looking at the Vikings two victories this season, the one consistent theme is that Kirk Cousins has played well in both.
Certainly, the Monday night loss was not a great showing, but even then, that game could look completely different if Irv Smith. Jr. doesn’t drop a wide open touchdown pass or Justin Jefferson runs a correct route.
Cousins has had his moments of weakness, but so has every player on this team. That said, the Vikings QB has had many more good moments than bad ones early in the year, helping the Vikings to an NFC North lead heading into October.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing as well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh can often be found training for a marathon, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his takes, NFL and otherwise, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken