X

Have feedback / suggestions? Let us know!

NFL Chicago BearsGreen Bay Packers

Chicago Bears Face Uphill Climb In Week 10 vs. Green Bay Packers

By

Jay Cutler Aaron Rodgers

Getty Images

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers renew their rivalry on Sunday Night Football in an important game for both teams.

The Packers are having a very good season, but they lost their last game to the New Orleans Saints to drop their record to 5-3. The last thing the Packers want is to be 5-4 and fall two games in the loss column behind the Detroit Lions who have their bye this week and sit atop the division at 6-2. Detroit also currently has the head-to-head advantage with Green Bay, so the Packers are going to be focused and want to keep pace to keep their eyes on the division title.

That’s bad news for the Bears. The Bears have to win this game if they have any hopes to salvage their season. A loss here and the Bears will have to win their last seven games just to have a chance at the postseason. Aaron Rodgers is basically unbeatable at home when he plays Chicago, and Sunday we will see two teams headed in different directions. With no dominant team in the NFC, the Packers are a couple of statement wins away from being the team to beat. Meanwhile, the Bears are desperate for a win, trying to avoid a three-game losing streak and losing five of their last six.

The Bears’ defense has made quarterbacks look like Joe Montana. They are allowing opposing quarterbacks to sport a 101.2 QB rating. Keep in mind that includes quarterbacks like E.J. Manuel, Geno Smith and Ryan Tannehill. Last time Rodgers faced the Bears, he was nearly flawless, and based on his career history against Chicago, there’s no reason to think he won’t have another huge game. The only chance the Bears have in this game is to have an incredible game plan against Rodgers. They won’t be able to keep pace with the Packers offense if Rodgers has them firing on all cylinders. Containing Rodgers is the only way to compete.

The Bears are going to have to limit blitzing, but the defensive line is going to have to get constant pressure on Rodgers without the benefit of extra rushers. They need to force him to make quick decisions without leaving open targets that blitzing tends to give up. Mel Tucker cannot give Green Bay’s receivers the free release he has allowed many other opposing teams to have, and the defensive backs need to get up on the line of scrimmage and really make the Packers receivers fight to get into their passing routes. This may allow a few big plays to the Packers offense, but the Bears can’t afford to let Rodgers pick apart the secondary and move the ball up and down the field with ease.

Even if the Bears play their best game of the season, there is no guarantee they can beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field, and the odds of the Bears playing at a high level right now are slim. The Bears’ defense has given up 78 points over the last two contests and their offense, which was supposed to be one of the best in the league, is yet to score 30 points or more in a game this season.

If anyone can come up with one good reason why the Bears can win in Lambeau on Sunday night, I would love to hear it. This is a game that you should expect the Packers to dominate from the start. The Bears are playing worse than they were a six weeks ago when they lost to the Packers 38-17 at home, and Green Bay is playing significantly better. This game has all the makings of an absolute blowout. Somehow the Packers are only a 7.5-point favorite in Vegas, and this seems like a layup if you are a gambler.

I expect the Bears to be largely out of this game by halftime and maybe make the score look a little more respectable in the fourth quarter when Rodgers is watching the game from the bench.

Final Score: Packers 38, Bears 20

Bill Zimmerman is a Chicago Bears writer for www.RantSports.Com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on