After pulling off a wild Week 1 win, the Chicago Bears will attempt to accomplish one thing Sunday night time they haven’t since 2015 — win at Lambeau Area.
The Bears have misplaced six straight to the Inexperienced Bay Packers and 11 of 12 however will attempt to flip the tide in coach Matt Eberflus’ first style of the rivalry.
As kickoff approaches, right here’s our snapshot have a look at the sport.
1. Participant within the highlight
Aaron Rodgers
Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams has a message for his gamers this week.
“Don’t drink the Kool-Support of what the media is making an attempt to promote that there’s gloom and doom in Inexperienced Bay,” Williams stated. “Don’t fall into that entice.”
Rodgers is within the highlight of most each Bears-Packers recreation given his 23-5 file within the collection, however this time it’s as a result of the Packers are coming off a 23-7, season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Rodgers threw an interception and misplaced a fumble. With Packers offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins sidelined, the Vikings sacked Rodgers 4 occasions. And rookie large receiver Christian Watson dropped what may have been a 75-yard landing go.
However Williams needs his gamers to stay cognizant of Rodgers’ capability to bounce again from a loss, together with final yr’s 38-3 season-opening defeat to the New Orleans Saints. The Packers received their subsequent seven video games.
Rodgers is in new territory taking part in with out longtime high receiver Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Packers additionally performed with out large receiver Allen Lazard, and Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson stated the absences confirmed on movie.
“They’re actually studying,” Johnson stated. “You may see that (the receivers) are usually not within the spots that he would need them to be. You may inform that he’s not as comfy as he’s been within the earlier years. However I undoubtedly really feel like they’re going to enhance. So I’m not searching for those self same mess-ups or something like that this coming week.”
Williams believes the quarterback will assist his teammates alongside.
“Don’t underestimate the facility of nice management,” Williams stated. “He is a superb chief, and he'll get these guys into form. What we’re making an attempt to do is to dam out all the pieces else and concentrate on the duty at hand, which is enhancing every week, comply with the method, keep the course.”
2. Urgent query
Can Justin Fields and the Bears offense construct on their Week 1 second half?
Regardless of an unpleasant first half within the Bears’ Week 1 win over the San Francisco 49ers, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy favored quarterback Justin Fields’ mindset.
“I used to be actually impressed by how he dealt with each state of affairs,” Getsy stated, “the way in which we have been capable of discuss what occurred on the sphere if you’re backed up after which he throws an interception.
“That entire time, that dude was stone chilly. He was able to go. There was no ‘woe is me’ in any respect in that younger man.”
Fields’ ultimate numbers weren’t nice: 121 passing yards and two touchdowns, one interception and 28 speeding yards. However he helped spark the Bears to a few consecutive landing drives within the second half to salvage the win.
Now the Bears are going up in opposition to a Packers protection that Vikings large receiver Justin Jefferson destroyed on the way in which to 9 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bears don’t have a participant like Jefferson, however they’re hopeful they'll benefit from Packers errors to make progress within the passing recreation. Solely working again David Montgomery had multiple catch Sunday.
“There are a variety of explosive performs that may be made,” Bears large receiver Darnell Mooney stated. “They sort of acquired confused on sure issues. However final yr they have been 0-1 (after) Week 1 and so they went on to win seven video games. You may’t concentrate on Week 1 in any respect. You’ve acquired to go on the market and play ball.”
3. Keep watch over…
Williams had an fascinating identify for the Packers’ two-headed run menace of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who mixed for 94 speeding yards and a landing in opposition to the Vikings. Additionally they had eight catches for 73 yards.
“We name them ‘thickians.’ Which means they've thicker decrease our bodies,” Williams stated. “They'll transfer the pile. Good bounce cuts. They've nice imaginative and prescient. They'll catch the soccer. They shield properly. Two very full backs. Two backs that may change the ballgame. Two backs that may transfer the sticks.
“So we’re going to have our fingers full by way of the place that’s involved. We’re going to need to deliver further guys to ensure we cease these two. We want six, seven, eight guys to maintain these two guys.”
It may not be the heavy downpours of the Bears-49ers recreation, however climate studies predict some rain may fall at Lambeau Area on Sunday night time. We’ll see if that modifications both group’s recreation plan.
4. Odds and ends
Three distinguished members of the Bears offense are returning to Lambeau Area for the primary time since switching sides within the rivalry.
Getsy labored for the Packers for seven seasons, most lately because the passing recreation coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Middle Lucas Patrick performed in 73 video games over 5 seasons in Inexperienced Bay. And large receiver Equanimeous St. Brown had 37 catches for 543 yards over three seasons with the Packers.
Getsy stated it’s extra enjoyable than emotional to return to Inexperienced Bay, the place he acquired his begin within the NFL in 2014.
“We had an unbelievable time up there,” Getsy stated. “We now have so many associates in that city. That’s the half the place it was onerous to go away, the friendships that you've got with the folks of Inexperienced Bay. And clearly the folks within the group. Three of my sons love ball — I imply love ball. In order that they shortly have been all about Justin Fields.”
5. Harm report
Patrick may stay in a proper guard rotation with Teven Jenkins as he wears a solid whereas recovering from a proper thumb damage. Getsy stated he thought the rotation went properly and benefited each gamers, although he wouldn’t decide to it this week. Patrick stated he's comfy with it.
“My first few years within the league I used to be a rotational inside man, so I perceive internally methods to put together myself to go in at a second’s discover or come out at a second’s discover,” Patrick stated. “I’ve gone in for guys when their shoelaces popped and run 4 performs and are available out. And I’ve gone in when guys sadly don’t return to complete the sport. So one other state of affairs I've a variety of banked reps at.”
Bears rookie large receiver/returner Velus Jones Jr., who missed the opener, missed observe Thursday as he continues to battle a hamstring damage.
For the Packers, Bakhtiari (knee) and guard Jon Runyan (concussion) missed observe Thursday, whereas Jenkins (knee) and Lazard (ankle) have been restricted.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (0-1)
The final time the Packers misplaced consecutive regular-season video games, the Bears have been 12 video games into the Matt Nagy regime. That was a very long time in the past. The Packers are in search of consistency with younger large receivers, and accidents complicate issues for the offensive line defending Aaron Rodgers. The Bears have their very own challenges on offense, and it’s onerous to think about Rodgers and Co. searching of types once more after a tough begin on the street in opposition to the Vikings.
Packers 24, Bears 17
Colleen Kane (0-1)
I’m with Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams: Don’t let the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Vikings idiot you. Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers, and whereas he may be adjusting to life with out Davante Adams, he all the time appears to discover a method to will the Packers to victory. A minimum of in opposition to the Bears, who appear to attract out his motivation. The Bears offense nonetheless has rather a lot to show, and so they don’t have a Justin Jefferson to tear up the Packers protection. The Bears’ rivalry dropping streak is more likely to proceed.
Packers 23, Bears 17
Dan Wiederer (0-1)
Aaron Rodgers has 5 Week 1 losses on his profession resume however has by no means began 0-2. Even with so many transferring elements round him — a younger and reshuffled receiving corps, an injury-riddled line, new offensive assistants — Rodgers has a knack for figuring issues out. He additionally has a knack for getting as much as face the Bears. Sure, Matt Eberflus’ group is targeted and feisty sufficient to maintain this recreation aggressive. Bu they may have a number of extra steps to go earlier than they’re able to win a high-profile street recreation in opposition to a championship contender.
Packers 24, Bears 13
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