The Chicago Bears are heading up north to face the Green Bay Packers.
It feels like this game is the rivalry teetering on an edge, with the last 34 years of Packers dominance on one side and a slide back in Chicago’s favor on the other.
At least, that seems to be how Chicago media is framing this game.
But fans know that isn’t that easy. Nothing’s been easy for the Bears against the Packers since all those years ago when the first Hall of Famer took over for the green and gold.
The Packers, no matter
how vulnerable they seem, will always give the Bears a fight. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that two of the years the Bears were able to take it to Green Bay, those seasons ended with a coaching change up north.
However, the Packers have a lot more questions than the Bears this week. And on paper, the Bears look like they should be deserving road favorites.
So what’s it going to take for the Bears to win? Let our crew explain.
Sam: The Bears want to kill their opponents every which way. By a thousand cuts in the ground game or by dropping big explosive plays over the defense’s head, or by throwing blitzes and disguises at you on defense that the offense gives it away. But with a backup QB, Ben Johnson is going to want to establish a stranglehold on Green Bay, dominate both lines of scrimmage and impose the Bears’ physical will on the Packers.
Lester: On Monday, Bears wideout Luther Burden said, “We just want to beat them real bad and make them quit.” Which seems like the only key I want to highlight this week. Chicago has the NFL’s best rushing offense, and the Packers are allowing 140 rushing yards per game. Give me 50 rushing attempts and pummel them into submission.
ECD: Offense: Limit the turnovers — looking at you, Agent Bagent — and maintain ball possession much like you did against the Jets.
Defense: Force the Packers to maintain long drives into the red zone, and challenge them on third downs. Then make Jordan Love’s life hell behind the league’s worst OL. They have the 6th most “3-and-outs” in the league.
Special Teams: Set up big returns on kickoffs and pin the Packers deep in their own territory.
Bonus: Get under Matt LaFleur’s skin. He crumbles when pressed into a corner.
Josh: he Bears need to relentlessly attack the ground game until they break the defense’s will. It’s an injured unit that already has to be feeling thinned out, so just make them exhaust themselves. On the flip side, they need to keep the ball in front of them and limit explosive plays by just refusing to let scheme beat them.
Gary: Feels like beating a dead horse but pound the rock!! Packers run defense is near the bottom of the league and we field the best rushing attack in the NFL. Wear down their defense, take advantage of them overcommitting to the box with play action, and control the game like we saw against the Jets. This is a Packers team reeling right now; marching into Lambeau and punching them in the gut might be a deathblow for their season. On defense, it’s simple: pressure Love and what little offensive success the Packers can commit to falls apart. He’s had a horrible time with pressure this year, and early pressure in a game only compounds that, causing inaccuracy issues down the stretch of four quarters, in both situations with and without pressure.
Sarah: Bears offense needs to start hot. In the matchups against Green Bay last season, they didn’t get going until the second half. They also need to capitalize in the red zone, as that’s been a struggle for them these past few weeks. The Packers defense has struggled in the red zone.
Our run game will be a huge advantage to us since the Packers have a poor run defense and a terrible run game. Additionally, Bagent needs to do a better job of protecting the ball.
On defense, put pressure on Love and take advantage of their bad offensive line.
Donald: Is it strange I think the key to the game against the Packers is just – don’t hand them anything? The Bears have the best rushing attack in the NFL and the Pack is one of the worst teams at stopping the run. And I haven’t even mentioned their historically bad pass rush win rate for their offensive line. So the key here – for Bagent (as he has been named starter by Ben) – just don’t screw it up, man. Don’t throw bad, underthrown, passes over the middle that are easily picked off. Stay within yourself, let the run game carry the Bears, and you’ll walk your way into a victory. For the Defense – it is pin your ears back time, boys. Go get Love, because the Pack doesn’t have the horses on the offensive line to turn you back. I’m expecting multiple pressures and sacks as the Bears disrupt the Packers’ passing attack, and their run fails because they don’t have the line or the backs to challenge in the run game. Follow that path and it is not just a Bears win – it is a Bears rout.
What are your keys to the game? Let us know in the comments.
