Bears vs. Packers Prediction: Rivalry time |
To say the past three weeks have been a whirlwind for the Chicago Bears would be an understatement, as this franchise has been in turmoil lately. To make matters worse, the never-ending drama surrounding this team needs to be put on hold as it is Packers and Bears week round 1.
The longest NFL rivalry hasn't been much of a rivalry the past 30 years as Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love have had their way with this franchise. Not to mention, current Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is 10-0 against this team while Bears head Coach Matt Eberflus is 0-6, and you can see that the Bears haven't been able to do much of anything right against the Packers. Does that change this week? The likelihood of that happening when all the drama surrounding this team is still around isn't very likely. They are riding a three-game losing streak that all started on the Washington Commanders game-winning Hail Mary, and it does seem like that play has broken the Bears and has sent them into a tailspin. With the NFL's hardest schedule the rest of the way, wins might be tough to come by for this team, and that would ultimately solidify the final nail in the coffin for Eberflus. However, should the Bears find a way to get the job done this weekend and somehow beat the Packers to get back to .500, you could see such a momentum swing within the organization that it could change everything the rest of the way. Here are some things to look for ahead of the rivalry game:
After rumors swirled about Eberflus making some changes to the offense, that change was finally made. Shane Waldron was relieved of his OC duties and replaced by passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, who will now take over the playcalling duties. While the decision was easy, naming Brown his replacement comes with mixed reviews. Before coming to Chicago, he was the Carolina Panthers' OC. However, with no one else on the roster with play-calling experience, Brown was the most obvious choice to take over for Waldron. Knowing how badly the offense has performed this season, this team can only go up from here. Hopefully, Brown is the spark the offense needs to get back on track and perhaps keep things interesting over the final two months.How does Thomas Brown fare?
Caleb Williams is on a shorter leash
Although there were some reports earlier in the week that some of the veterans in the locker room wanted Williams benched in favor of Tyson Bagent, those reports have now been confirmed not to be accurate. Even at that, Eberflus is considering all options to get this offense back on track, including benching Williams.
Eberflus may not have directly said there was a quarterback controversy, but it does appear he is taking a week-to-week stance on Williams right now to protect him from injuries and still get him the reps he needs. After taking nine sacks last week and 15 over the past two games, the Bears offensive line is a liability, and with the Packers, Vikings, and Lions lined up the next three weeks, expect Williams to be under duress a ton.
At some point, you need to make an executive decision to get him out of there, and that decision may hinge on how he looks from one game to the next. Welcome to the NFL, Williams, as this isn't the college game anymore.
When will the Bears see Brisker again?
Not only has the offense gone 23 straight possessions without a TD, but the defense is starting to wear down as they have been on the field a lot. The defense has been carrying the team this season, and the longer they are on the field, the more likely they will wear down.
The biggest issue with the Bears and their defense right now is not getting to the QB, as the Bears haven't been able to generate many sacks. Throw in several significant injuries, including one to safety Jaquon Brisker, and the Bears are starting to reel at the wrong time. When it comes to Brisker, it's beginning to look like he will not only miss the rest of the season, but also is leaving the questioning when they will see him again.
Brisker has been out nearly a month with a concussion and hasn't been able to pass the concussion protocol yet. Any time that happens, you have to be concerned, especially when you look at Tua Tagoviola. It does appear the Bears are taking a more cautious approach with Brisker, as they have placed him on the IR, which will keep him out for at least four more games.
That will put us at week 15 when the IR stint ends, and when that happens, you have to wonder if the Bears will even put him back on the field. This is just one of the many tough blows the team has gone through this season, as the once-promising season is now starting to look bleak.
Prediction: Packers win 31-13
While this may be the longest-standing rivalry in the NFL, it has been anything but a rivalry over the past 30 years as the Packers have dominated this series to take over the all-time lead. It doesn't seem to matter who plays quarterback for Green Bay or Chicago; it has become an issue where it is more of the same for the Packers as they continue to embarrass this organization from one game to the next.
As hyped up as the Bears should be with a new play-caller calling the shots, this is still a major mental block for this team, and until they can get out of their own ways, wins will be hard to come by. Look for the Bears' defense to set the tone early, but it will once again be more of the same for this team as the Packers send the Bears to their fourth straight loss, 31-13.
