NFC North Buzz: Lions, Goff out to tame 49ers; Packers 'coming with purpose', plus Bears, Vikings news

Can the Detroit Lions pull off the unthinkable and upset the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game?  If they do, it could rest on the shoulders of Jared Goff.  We also take a spin around the NFC North to see what’s buzzing for the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings.

Let’s start with the NFC Championship Game where the Lions are looking to pull a road upset over those mighty 49ers.  If they are to do so, the defense will have to ball out and offensively, Goff is going to have to stay patient and show the competitive edge Lions head coach Dan Campbell as seen as an asset for his quarterback since coaching him.

"I found out how competitive he was the first spring we had him out here in the seven-on-seven when it was raining, against our defense," Campbell said Friday, via the team’s official website. "And that's when I was like, 'Wow, OK. That's good to see.'

"And just watching him throw the football and tight window throws and it was heated. And he was not going to lose that day and he just got better and better and better, and his confidence was at an all-time high. So, you may not always see it outwardly, but believe me, he's very competitive. And you can't play the way he's played if you're not competitive."

Lions vs 49ers: Jared Goff has a test ahead against 49ers defense

Goff showed that competitive edge in the Divisional round by leading the Lions to three consecutive touchdown drives against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the 49ers defense with Nick Bosa and Chase Young coming off the edge and dominant linebackers like Fred Warner looking to disrupt things.

Although Goff has the playoff experience and has been to the Super Bowl, he will be facing a hostile environment on Sunday against a team looking to rattle him.  It will be important early that Goff and the Lions offense establish a rhythm early to gain confidence.  It will also be important that the team doesn’t fall behind early. 

Goff is at his best when he doesn’t need to drop back and throw continually.  That would also allow the 49ers defense to tee off on the veteran quarterback, which would decrease the Lions chances in this game.