Packers at Bears
THE STORY: Jay Cutler has waited eight long months for another shot at the Green Bay Packers. The end result may not be much different, though, when Cutler and the Chicago Bears host the defending Super Bowl champions in the 183rd edition of the NFL’s oldest rivalry Sunday. Cutler was criticized by nearly everyone around the league – current and former players included – for not playing through what was later revealed to be a sprained MCL in his knee in last January’s 21-14 NFC Championship Game loss to Green Bay at Soldier Field. Cutler was sacked a league-high 52 times last season and he is again running for his life. He was sacked six times in a 30-13 loss to New Orleans last week and has been sacked 11 times on the season.
Green Bay is 2-0, but it has been far from perfect. The Packers have allowed back-to-back 400-yard passing performances – including the latest by rookie Cam Newton in their 30-23 win over Carolina. Green Bay has won four of the last five meetings with Chicago. Each of the last six meetings has been decided by seven points or less. The Bears lead the all-time series 92-84-6.
TV: FOX, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: Packers -3.5, O/U 45.5
ABOUT THE BEARS (1-1): Chicago’s play-calling against New Orleans was skewed drastically in favor of the passing game (52 passes, 11 runs). Protecting Cutler (556 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) becomes more difficult now that rookie RT Gabe Carimi, this year’s first-round draft pick, is out with a sprained knee. It would be wise to lean on RB Matt Forte (324 total yards), who’s accounted for more than half of the Bears’ total offense (623).
ABOUT THE PACKERS (2-0): Green Bay overcame a slew of injuries in 2010, and now it faces more adversity with three-time Pro Bowl free safety Nick Collins (neck) out for the season. Pro Bowl CB Tramon Williams (shoulder) is questionable to return to a suddenly shaky secondary (NFL-high 800 yards allowed). Offensively, reigning Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers (620 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs) is off to his usual fast start. The Packers carry an eight-game winning streak (playoffs included) into Sunday’s matchup.
EXTRA POINTS:
1) Packers WR Donald Driver (9,666) passed Hall of Famer James Lofton for the most receiving yards in franchise history last week.
2) Since he joined the Bears, Cutler is 1-4 with four touchdowns and 10 interceptions in five games against the Packers.
3) Rodgers is 5-2 against the Bears, but he has averaged just over 230 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions in the last five games vs. Chicago.