ESPN Search

Breakdown: The Packers' 2013 schedule has a familiar ring. They open with the San Francisco 49ers for the second consecutive season, a quirk that also affords a rematch with the team that knocked them from the 2012 playoffs. They'll play the Detroit ...

Yippee! Both of our NFC North contestants in the "Madden NFL 25" cover contest have advanced to the quarterfinals! As you can see, former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders is now pitted against former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Mon...

Steve Young was the San Francisco 49ers' primary quarterback in 1995 when Jerry Rice set the NFL record for receiving yards in a season. As Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson approaches the record -- he is 182 yards away from breaking it -- Young ...

In Week 2, the Detroit Lions' running game wasn't good enough to exploit a San Francisco 49ers that was aligned dramatically to stop the pass. Things got only incrementally better upon Mikel Leshoure's debut in Week 3, and as a result, it's worth not...

Until shortly before midnight Monday, I was struggling to decide which NFC North game to cover in Week 4. The Minnesota Vikings were fresh off a surprising victory over the San Francisco 49ers, a result that made Sunday's matchup with the Detroit ...

After the Minnesota Vikings' 24-13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, here are three issues that merit further examination: Sitting in the Metrodome press box offers a live version of the "All 22" coaches' video that the NFL has now made avail...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Greetings from the Metrodome, where we are a little more than an hour away from the Minnesota Vikings' matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. While we have a moment, let's catch up on who is playing and who isn't in the three early NFC ...

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 3: Running aground: The Minnesota Vikings' punchless offense is going to have a tough time functioning against the San Francisco 49ers' physical, fast and sure-tackling defense. Receiver/running back Percy Harv...

My early-season goal is always to see each NFC North team at least once in the first few weeks, and we'll accomplish that goal by covering Sunday's Metrodome matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers. Through three weeks, I wil...

I've now seen the San Francisco 49ers dispatch two of the NFL's best offenses in successive weeks. In Week 1, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was reduced to dumping off passes toward receiver/running back Randall Cobb and tight end Jermic...

After the Detroit Lions' 27-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, here are three issues that merit further examination: Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw 16 interceptions in 663 pass attempts last season. Nine of those interceptions came during a ...

SAN FRANCISCO -- A few thoughts at the midpoint here from Candlestick Park: The San Francisco 49ers are proving that last week's victory at Lambeau Field was no joke. Their coverage on the Detroit Lions' downfield receivers is excellent and t...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Let the record show: At 4:30 p.m. local time, Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz departed the locker room and walked onto the field at Candlestick Park. Schwartz shook hands with someone standing on the Lions sideline. Then he turned, ...

SAN FRANCISCO -- As we expected, the Detroit Lions won't have either starting cornerback available for Sunday night's matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Cornerbacks Chris Houston (ankle) and Bill Bentley (concussion) were both deactivated and w...

This AccuScore video suggests the Detroit Lions will significantly improve their chances of winning Sunday night at Candlestick Park if they can force San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith into at least two uncharacteristic interceptions. Smi...

Greetings from NFC North blog headquarters, where I've returned for a 24-hour pit stop before continuing our Week 2 adventure. Remember, I'll be at Candlestick Park on Sunday night for the Detroit Lions' matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. While we...