Bears vs. Packers Prediction: NFC North on the Line |
Dustin Riese
· · 3 hours ago
This is what football in December is supposed to be about, as the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears get set to face off against each other for the second time in three weeks. In a similar scenario to their first meeting, Chicago is in first place in the NFC North, while Green Bay is in second place and looking to move out of the role of a road team in the playoffs.
That is what makes this such a critical matchup for both teams: a win by the Packers all but seals the NFC North, while a victory for the Bears puts them in the driver's seat and would clinch a playoff spot. Hearing the words "playoffs" and "Bears" together in the same sentence has to make everyone feel good, as this team has struggled to sniff the playoffs in recent seasons and will now have an opportunity to make a deep run. Here are some things to look for ahead of week 16.
It is becoming comical at this point when it comes to the Green Bay Packers and their quarterbacks. Whether it be Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, or now Jordan Love, the bottom line is that Green Bay has had excellent quarterback play for three decades, and Love is just the next in line to carry that torch. Up until recently, Love was right in the middle of the MVP conversation, and when he faced off against the Bears the first time, Chicago understood why. However, his play against the Broncos knocked him down significantly in the rankings and exposed a key flaw in his game: he plays poorly under pressure. There is no denying that he has the talent to be an MVP, as he is one of the best quarterbacks in the game when given a clean pocket. It's when the pocket breaks down that the issues arise, as Love has always struggled under pressure. Considering the Bears have an opportunistic defense on the back end ready to make plays, the quicker they can get the pressure, the better they will be.
Despite his overall struggles with accuracy at times this season, Caleb Williams has still put together an impressive sophomore campaign as he continues to lead this Bears offense. That will have to continue on Saturday as the Bears are in a dangerous position to put it lightly. Not only will they be without their leading receiver, Rome Odunze, but they are also without Luther Burden III, as the Bears have ruled both out for this one. It's hard enough to beat the Packers when everyone is healthy, but to go up against them with first place on the line and key players out will make it that much tougher to get the job done. Everyone has been pushing Williams to push the ball downfield more, and against this secondary, the Bears have an opportunity to do just that. The next question becomes, who can make the plays when called upon, as both of the Bears' top receivers are going to miss this game. Look for Olamide Zaccheus to keep plenty of reps this week, as Chicago needs to figure out a way to get this dub.
Beating the Packers on your home turf is one thing; beating them with the division on the line is an entirely different thing, as the Bears have a chance to bury the Packers on Saturday and end any hopes of a potential division title. There have been many important matchups between these two teams, with the NFC Championship more than a decade ago as the big one, but you could make the case that this one is equally as big, if not bigger. This is the Bears' chance not only to take back the North this season, but also to gain some momentum as the team to beat in the NFC. Should the Bears find a way to lose, not only are you looking at a situation where the Packers will once again rule the NFC, but Bears fans will be left with the harsh reality of if not now, when.
If this week is anything like their game two weeks ago, expect the unexpected. These teams got after each other at Lambeau, with the Packers finding a way to get the victory as a late-game interception by Keishaun Nixon sealed the Bears' chance. Don't expect much to be different this week, as both teams know what is on the line and will do what they need to win the game. While most people are going with the Packers in this one, it's hard to ignore what the Bears have done, especially at home lately. Either way, expect this to be a highly competitive game that will go to the wire, but in this instance, it's the Bears taking the win to move into sole possession of first place, 21-20.Pressure Jordan Love
Who will be catching passes this week?
This one means more
Prediction: Bears win 21-20
