Vikings lose quarterback Culpepper for rest of year

The NFC North used to be called the “ Black and Blue” division in its previous incarnation, the NFC Central because the teams beat each other up week after week.

These days the “black a nd b lue” comes mostly from self- in N icted wounds. The NFC North is the league’s lowest-scoring division, with three teams ranked in the bottom 10 in points a game.

This is also the division nobody seems to want to win. Butwhen the co- leaders meet, somebody has to. Consider:

uThe hapless Vikings ( 2- 5) fell to 0- 4 on the road after a 38- 13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. But that could be the least of Minnesota’s problems. The Vikings lost quarterback Daunte Culpepper for the year with torn ligaments in his right knee. “ It’s discouraging for us along with everything that has happened so far this season,” coach Mike Tice said Monday. “ This is just another hurdle that we have to overcome.” Backup Brad Johnson becomes the starter.

uThe Chicago Bears ( 4- 3) took the division lead Sunday with a 19- 13 overtime victory at Ford Field against the Lions ( 3- 4) when quarterback Jeff Garcia threw an ill- advised pass in overtime that Bears cornerback Charles Tillman picked off and ran back 22 yards for a touchdown.

uIn Cincinnati, strange events took place on the eve of Halloween in Green Bay’s 21- 14 loss to the Bengals ( 6- 2).

Brett Favre threw % ve interceptions, a % rst for him; he had the ball stolen out of his hands by a fan who came out of the stands during a last- minute drive; then his illegal forward pass ended the Packers’ comeback try. Contributing: Wire reports

By Paul Sancya, AP Takeoff: The Bears’ Cedric Benson is sent N ying by the Lions’ Kenoy Kennedy.