The Green Bay Packers are walking wounded into Chicago as the Bears are coming off a game where they blew away the Cleveland Browns at home. Will that have an effect on Saturday’s showdown between the two teams? Who knows.
What we do know is that the two teams are fighting for position in the NFC playoffs, and the winner of this game should hold a big advantage in terms of winning the NFC North and securing a home playoff game.
First things first, winning a rivalry game, something the Packers did the first time around, and something the Bears hope to do this time.
1. Icy handshake?
Two weeks ago, we talked about the fact that Ben Johnson took a shot at Matt LaFleur in his opening press conference as the Bears’ head coach. After Green Bay’s 28-21 victory at Lambeau Field, LaFleur and Johnson met at midfield briefly.
The emphasis is on briefly. The handshake between the two hardly lasted long enough for them to get any words out to each other. LaFleur downplayed that, saying he’ll see Johnson again in two weeks, but considering the history between these two men, it was interesting to say the least.
2. Missed opportunities
Green Bay’s defense continues to struggle taking the ball away. They had just one takeaway against the Broncos on Sunday but had chances at several others.
Unfortunately, their defensive backs were unable to secure the ball when it would hit their hands.
The Bears do not have that problem. They had three more takeaways against Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Bears are the best team in football at taking the ball away. These two teams played to a draw in the turnover battle two weeks ago, but Chicago’s defense is full of ball hawks, and Green Bay has proven incapable of taking the ball away when it hits their hands. Those missed opportunities could loom large in a game with the margins as thin as this one could be.
3. Religious experience?
The 28-21 thriller at Lambeau Field was capped off by an interception in the end zone by embattled cornerback Keisean Nixon. As it turns out, Nixon ended up covering Cole Kmet on the play, who was supposed to be the assignment for Evan Williams.
Williams would later thank Nixon for saving his bacon, while comparing him to Jesus of Nazareth.
“Kind of off instinct took off and played the flat and was praying that somebody was behind me to make the play on the corner, and sure enough, like, Jesus himself, 25 comes out of the blue and makes a play,” Williams said. “I was just like, ‘Thank you, thank you so much.’”
Maybe not a religious experience, but Green Bay will need more big plays against Caleb Williams and Chicago’s offense this week.
4.) Rivalry returns
The two organizations played for the first time Nov. 27, 1921, at Chicago, when the Bears were named the Chicago Staleys. Bears’ Gaylord “Pete” Stinchcomb scored the game’s first touchdown on a 45-yard run. The Bears shut out the Packers 20-0 in their first meeting, and the rivalry was born. A year later, the Staleys changed their team name to the Bears.
5.) New look defense
The Packers lost the battle against the Denver Broncos, and in the process lost one of their best players. Micah Parsons is likely to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
Green Bay’s defense now has to adjust on the fly. Parsons was a big part of a four-man front that could create pressure without Jeff Hafley needing to send extra rushers.
That might go out the window now with Parsons on the shelf. Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness have not been effective enough in their careers to prove they can simply take over a game. It’ll be interesting to see how Hafley adjusts without Parsons.
6.) Golden opportunity?
Matthew Golden was back from his shoulder and wrist injuries that have ailed him since early November. He was limited the first time Green Bay played against Chicago but had a nice game against the Denver Broncos. He was tied for the team lead in receiving yards with 55, which included two third-down conversions.
With Christian Watson potentially sidelined with a chest injury, Golden could be someone in line to get more snaps. The Packers need to replace the speed element that Watson brings, and Golden has plenty of speed to burn. This could be his moment.
