Keys to the Game

The bye week is over, and the Green Bay Packers will be back in action this weekend against their arch rival, the Chicago Bears. After an October schedule that saw them catch a couple of breaks, November hit the Packers in the face like a ton of bricks. In what was the first of four games in 25 days, the Packers were outclassed by the Detroit Lions, losing 24-14 at Lambeau Field. There is no time to lick their wounds. The Packers will now be forced to take on a Chicago team that has improved from a year ago but has gone through the growing pains of having a young quarterback. The Bears hit their low point of the season in late October, losing on a Hail Mary to the Washington Commanders. The Bears are looking to make a playoff push and finally get the monkey off their back of beating the Packers. The Packers are looking to continue a 10-game win streak against their hated rivals. Here are the keys to doing just that: Josh Jacobs vs, Chicago’s Run Defense In a group that has been inconsistent, Josh Jacobs has been a shining star. Jacobs has been the model of consistency through nine games this season, and when nothing else seems to work, the team can rely on him. Jacobs looked like he was in line for another big day against the Lions when he ran for 95 yards on his first 12 carries. He never got another carry after that, however, due to the game script. As the Lions pulled ahead, the need for Jacobs lessened. Perhaps the Packers were trying to limit some hits on him as well, considering he entered the game with an ankle injury that held him out of practice. Jacobs will be facing a Chicago defense that for all of its strength has been vulnerable against the run this year. They’re ranked 20th in the NFL in rush yards allowed per game. In addition, one of their best run defenders, Andrew Billings, will likely miss the game with a pectoral injury that required surgery. Green Bay’s offense, for all of its glitz and glamour, appears to be at its best when it operates through Jacobs. Getting him and the rest of the run game going should help slow things down for Jordan Love — who will likely be eager to prove his turnover issues from the first half of the season are behind him. Turnovers One of the biggest issues that plagued the Packers in the first half of the season was the propensity they had to give the ball away. Love entered the bye week leading the league in interceptions and threw a particularly egregious one during the team’s 24-14 loss to the Lions. With the Packers trailing 10-3, Love uncorked his second pick-six of the season, and this one all but ended their chances of scoring a big win against a division rival. The Bears’ defense is nasty. They’ve been ranked as high as the top of the league in opponent’s passer rating this season. Jaylon Johnson, Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard have all had success taking the ball away in the past. Matt Eberflus, for all of his faults, knows how to coach defense. Last year, as the Packers made their run to the postseason, Chicago’s defense was the only one to truly slow them down. Chicago’s offense has struggled this season, and one of the ways to give them life is to turn the football over. Love said it was going to be a point of emphasis for him to take better care of the ball. That needs to start this week against a really good Chicago defense. Lukas Van Ness This key could spotlight the entire pass rush, but the reality is there was one name that had to have been circled on Brian Gutekunst’s roster when he traded Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lukas Van Ness was supposed to be one of the breakout players for the team this season. The second-year defensive end finished the season strong a year ago and has limitless potential. That has not parlayed itself into the strong second season that many were hoping for. Van Ness has one sack and two quarterback hits through nine games. His one sack came against the Titans, who were one of the worst offensive lines in football. With Smith out the door, there are going to be more opportunities for younger players. Van Ness is one of them, and he simply has to play better. The Packers invested a top-15 pick in Van Ness, and he has rarely, if ever, looked like he was going to live up to the billing. A big game against Chicago’s below-average offensive tackles could be the springboard that this group needs to start getting after the quarterback in a way they are designed to do.