The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have been going at it for a long time. A long time meaning 187 games in a 93-year rivalry that has featured many different era of players, coaches and teams.
It’s one of the oldest and most hard fought rivalries in all of sports, and this game should be no exception. This time, it’s the likes of Aaron Rodgers and the struggling Packers against Jay Cutler and his high-powered Bears team.
The Packers sit at 1-2 and at the bottom of the NFC North, while the Bears are tied for first at 2-1. The Packers know they can’t afford a 1-3 start, but a win at Soldier Field will be hard to come by. Here’s what you can look for in Sunday’s matchup.
Quarterback
Rodgers sits 17th in the league in passing yards, 12th in quarterback rating and 21st in completion percentage. Those aren’t numbers fans are accustomed to seeing from him, and it hasn’t helped the Packers in their poor start.
The Packers could be dealing with a combination of the loss of James Jones and Jermichael Finley and Rodgers slumping. Either way, a matchup against a Bears pass defense that allowed 233 yards per game through the air could help.
Other the other side, Cutler ranks higher than Rodgers in all three categories listed above. He’s been able to throw eight touchdown passes, putting him third in the league with Peyton Manning. That’s good company.
However, he’ll be up against a surprisingly strong Packers pass defense that ranks sixth in the league in passing yards allowed. Granted, that number is inflated after playing Geno Smith and Russell Wilson, but the defense held Matthew Stafford in check last week.
Running back
Coming into the season, the Packers and Beard held claim to two of the top running backs in the league in Eddie Lacy and Matt Forte. However, they ranked 38th and 28th in the league in rushing yards, respectively.
The good news for these backs is that neither team defends the rush very well, so it could grounds to run much more often that in the previous three game. Can Lacy start picking up steam and Forte break a few more tackles?
If conditions in Chicago are anywhere near unfavorable, these two could be the key to the game. At some point, these teams need to establish a run game, and this week could be a great chance.
Defense
Like a usual Bears-Packers matchup, there might not be much defense played in the game. The Packers rank 19th and the Bears 21st in total defense, which will seem worse when put up against these offenses.
The Packers did show potential when they slowed down Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions last week. He threw two interceptions, but the Lions defense was just too good for Rodgers to handle.
The Bears, though, haven’t fared as well in the defensive game. In their two wins, they were outgained by a significant amount. This matchup could be determined by which defense can slow the offense quicker.
Prediction: Bears 31, Packers 28