Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears preview: League's oldest rivals battle for NFL supremacy
It’s exactly the type of game every football fan loves to watch; two teams that are both unbeaten and bitter rivals. That’s exactly what we’ll get in a Monday night showdown between the Chicago Bears and
the Green Bay Packers from the Windy City.
The Packers are 2-0 just as everyone expected, while the Bears are one of the season’s surprises at 2-0. After going 0-4 in the preseason and their new offensive system out of sync, the Bears offence is
finding their groove under Mike Martz’s system and Jay Cutler’s gun-slinging arm. They will get a good test from the Packers.
Cutler has looked impressive for Chicago, as he has cut down on the interceptions and he is fitting in well with Martz’s pass-oriented system. He is finding a rhythm with his receivers as Devin Hester,
Johnny Knox and tight end Greg Olsen are sharing catches. Ironically, Bears’ running back Matt Forte is their best receiver with 12 catches and three touchdowns through two games.
Chicago will be a pass-first team this year as Forte looks more like a wide receiver lined up in the backfield than an every-down back. This system is proving to be a match made in heaven as Cutler looks
right at home and the system is utilizing his strengths.
The Packers’ defence will look to ground the Bears as cornerback Charles Woodson will need to be at his best. The 2009 Defensive Player of the Year has to be a factor, as the Bears will throw the ball
very often. Another key will be linebacker Clay Matthews who has six sacks in just two games. One way to force Cutler into mistakes is to harass him and it’s not secret what the Packers will try to do to slow down the Bears’ passing game.
The Bears have met their match because the Packers will throw the ball just as often, if not more than them. Aaron Rodgers has a ton of weapons and running back Ryan Grant is out for the year, so the plan
is simple, but even if you know what’s coming, it's not easy to stop it stop it. Rodgers has Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and tight end Jermichael Finley. The Bears have to focus on the passing game and they’ll have to force Rodgers into some bad decisions.
No team has yet to test the Packers too much as Green Bay has faced two weak defences in Philadelphia and Buffalo. If the Bears want to prove they’re for real, then their defence must be dominant once
again. Defensive end Julius Peppers has to be on top of his game and be the feared pass rusher that Chicago is paying him to be. He signed for over $90 million this off-season to resurrect the Bears’ defence. Don’t forget linebacker Brian Urlacher who is always
a force to be reckoned with.
If you like to see a shootout, tune in on Monday night. You’ll see a heavy passing game from both teams and teams that can do it well. The Packers are the favourites but you can’t count the Bears out at
home. It will be a classic division game, back and forth with plenty of momentum changes. It can go either way and Chicago has a chance to prove how good they are. Wins over the Lions and a struggling Cowboys team are one thing, but a win over the NFC favorites
would be nothing to take lightly. In turn, the Packers can prove why they are the NFC favorites. A win on the road in primetime would cement them as the powerhouse of the division.
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