The Green Bay Packers are determined to get back on track this Sunday against their longtime division rivals the Chicago Bears.
After a pathetic display last week in Minnesota against the Vikings, the Packers are now taking on another divisional foe this week in the Chicago Bears; The bad blood spewed between these two franchises is not a well-kept secret even if the Bears have proved victorious over their rivals since 2018.
It is interesting to see these two teams entering this contest at Lambeau field this week with two contrasting openings to their season. The Bears managed to pull off a win over a very strong San Francisco 49ers team in a game that was as messy as the weather conditions.
The Packers Week One misery is old news at this point, and now almost seems routine to the start of a Packer season. After losing in such poor fashion in Week One, the Packers will surely come out fired up with a different game plan as they look to once again down the Bears.
If the Packers would have stuck to our suggestion here last week, maybe the outcome would have been different. However, after such a poor performance through the air, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has stated just how important it is to get the running game back on track behind the legs of the able bodies of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
Excuses are never something you want to have as a football team, but in terms of injuries last week, the Packers had plenty. Missing not one, but two starting offensive tackles in Elgton Jenkins and David Bakhtiari, Quarterback Aaron Rodgers felt plenty of pressure against the Vikings and never truly looked comfortable in the pocket.
On top of missing two stalwarts on the offensive line; the franchise was also with the favored target of Rodgers going into the season in wide receiver Allen Lazard. The 26-year-old apparently missed the Week One clash, and his presence was sorely missed as Rodgers had to rely on an inconsistent batch of veteran and rookie talent at the position.
With Jenkins, Bakhtiari, Lazard, and also starting left guard Jon Runyan all questionable for this week’s matchup, one would guess that at least three out of the four here should be good to go come Sunday evening. Which may make or break continuing the streak against the dismal Bears.
Expect a run heavy offense balanced with constant pressure on opposing quarterback Justin Fields. Plenty of blitzing packages will be on display as the second-year Bears quarterback has done little to suggest his greatest strength is his arm.
The Packers should be able to take this one, a home game against a much less talented team compared to the Vikings should result in the Packers getting to .500 and getting back on track before a difficult matchup for Week three against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
