The Chicago Bears shut out the 2023 season the best way they began it — with a recreation in opposition to the Green Bay Packers.
Of course, the Bears hope for a unique outcome Sunday at Lambeau Field after the Packers shocked them with a 38-20 win within the opener Sept. 10 at Soldier Field.
That was the Packers’ ninth straight victory within the rivalry. The Bears’ final win in opposition to the Packers was in 2018, and their final win at Lambeau Field was in 2015.
As kickoff approaches, right here’s our snapshot have a look at the sport.
Players within the highlight
Jordan Love and Justin Fields
The stakes are excessive for each quarterbacks — however in numerous methods.
In his first season as starter changing Aaron Rodgers, Love has led the Packers to an 8-8 report and the brink of the playoffs. If they beat the Bears, they’re in.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus and a few his gamers famous how comfy Love has seemed recently. In serving to the Packers go 6-3 over their final 9 video games, Love has accomplished 67% of his passes for two,351 yards, 19 touchdowns, three interceptions, 15 sacks and a 105.5 passer score.
“The coaches have done a good job coaching the rhythm and timing of what they are asking him to do,” Eberflus stated. “They are on the same page with the receivers. You can feel that chemistry there.”
Meanwhile, Fields isn’t enjoying for a postseason berth, however he could make an excellent ultimate impression because the Bears resolve their path at quarterback transferring ahead.
Fields has had success of late, too, serving to the Bears to a 4-2 report since getting back from a dislocated proper thumb. He has accomplished 60% of his passes for 1,213 yards, 5 touchdowns and one interception (three in case you depend picks on Hail Marys) and likewise has run for 393 yards and three touchdowns. Building upon a giant efficiency in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 definitely would give the Bears one thing to contemplate as they plot their course.
Fields has been constant in specializing in his weekly work quite than the long run.
“I don’t even know if we’re going to get next week, so I’m just worried about the rest of the day and the rest of the night,” Fields stated. “So I’ve got these meetings I’m about to head to. We’ve got a game Sunday. I’m not focused on what happens after that.”
Pressing query
Can the Bears present the Packers they’re higher than the Week 1 crew that flopped?
When linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi watched the movie from the Bears’ season-opening loss, it appeared “like years ago.”
“We feel like we’re a completely different defense now, and we’re excited to go out there and put it on display,” Borgonzi stated.
A Bears that didn’t get a takeaway in opposition to the Packers — and had solely two via 4 video games — now has 27 takeaways, together with a league-leading 22 interceptions, due to an elevated chemistry and the addition of Pro Bowl defensive finish Montez Sweat. A Bears protection that gave up 31 factors to the Packers — the opposite seven approaching a Packers pick-six — has allowed simply 15.2 factors per recreation over the past 5 video games.
While the Bears don’t have the playoffs to inspire them, multiple participant talked about wanting to indicate how a lot the crew has modified within the rematch.
“We want to go in there and get a dub, not just because it’s Green Bay but just because we owe each other that,” cornerback Tyrique Stevenson stated. “Coming out Week 1, not being the prepared team we are now, and just going out there now and knowing we’re going to go play our game is just a different feeling.”
Eberflus insisted his crew was “going to keep it about us” as an alternative of constructing it about spoiling the Packers’ possibilities. But Fields did get one dig in at their rival when requested about going through a troublesome highway take a look at.
“It’s going to be a fun environment to walk into their home field,” Fields stated. “I know their fans are going to be loud because there’s not much to do in Green Bay except watch football.”
Keep a watch on …
The Bears teaching employees
Beyond Fields’ future, Bears leaders even have choices forward about whether or not to retain Eberflus and his teaching employees, particularly offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. And whereas Sunday is only one recreation, it’s additionally an opportunity for the Bears to drive dwelling that the progress they’ve made over the past 5 weeks is actual — and to do it in opposition to the crew’s greatest rival.
Eberflus has sidestepped questions on his and others’ future, together with one this week about Getsy’s job safety.
“Any question like that I’m going to answer it the same way,” Eberflus stated. “And it’s just going to be (wait) till next week. We’ll look at everything, all-encompassing, players, coaches, everybody. “We’ll sit down and have evaluations with everybody and we’ll do that next week.”
Getsy, whose unit will go in opposition to a protection that’s twenty first with 344 yards allowed per recreation and Twenty eighth with 131.6 speeding yards allowed, additionally declined to supply big-picture solutions in regards to the effectiveness of his offense this season. But he did say he believes his relationship with Fields is nice.
“The going-forward part, that’s something that’s bigger than where we’re at right now, because we’re thinking about Green Bay,” Getsy stated. “We’re all in that mindset. We have a great relationship, we work really well together. He inspires me daily with his mentality, his focus, his faith. We have a really good relationship, and I think Justin’s future is super bright.”
Eberflus stated he believes the franchise has motive to be “optimistic” about their future with the No. 1 draft decide in hand.
“It’s an exciting team to be a Chicago Bear and be a Chicago Bear fan,” Eberflus stated. “There are a lot of bright things that are coming ahead of us in the future, and we’re certainly excited about all those things.”
In the zone
After a terrific efficiency slicing up the Falcons protection Sunday, Fields will take a unique type of take a look at in Green Bay. He’s 0-5 with a passer score of 72.8 in 5 profession begins in opposition to the Packers. And he’ll should elevate his efficiency to raise the Bears offense in opposition to a protection that makes use of a heavy quantity of zone protection appears to be like.
Fields is considerably extra comfy and simpler in opposition to man-to-man defenses, which contributed to his success within the win over the Falcons. Now he’ll have to seek out solutions in opposition to a Packers protection that will get its juice from defensive finish Kenny Clark and outdoors linebacker Rashan Gary.
Said Getsy: “They have this elite front that makes you not be able to hold the ball very long. And then you have these zone defenders where their eyes are on you and playing your game.”
Getsy has additionally taken word of how efficient the Packers have been at protecting the highest on their protection and limiting deep passing alternatives. ”You’re not getting behind them,” he stated. “You have to be detailed and you have to be in time. Timing and rhythm is critical when you play zone defenses like this.”
Injury report
Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson hasn’t practiced this week and is formally listed uncertain to play with a shoulder harm he suffered in opposition to the Falcons. Receiver Darnell Mooney, in the meantime, has been declared out with a concussion, ending the ultimate season of his rookie contract.
In an under-the-radar growth, lengthy snapper Patrick Scales missed two practices this week with a foot subject, and the Bears signed 38-year-old veteran Matt Overton to the apply squad as their security internet. But Scales was again on the sector Friday, is formally listed as questionable and needs to be in line to play in his a hundred and twentieth consecutive recreation.
Other Bears questionable are Kyler Gordon (calf), Lucas Patrick (calf) and Khalil Herbert (again).
For the Packers, operating again A.J. Dillon (thumb/neck) and security Rudy Ford (hamstring) will probably be out. The Packers have eight gamers listed as questionable, most notably receivers Christian Watson (hamstring), Jayden Reed (chest) and Dontayvion Wicks (chest) and outdoors linebacker Preston Smith (ankle).
Predictions
Brad Biggs (12-4)
Nothing is at stake for the Bears however every thing is on the road for the Packers, and that makes it a terrific take a look at for Matt Eberflus’ crew. At least 12 groups will probably be beginning a backup quarterback in Week 18, however the Bears will go in opposition to rising expertise Jordan Love, who will get far much less nationwide protection than Justin Fields despite the fact that he has thrown 30 landing passes in his first season as a starter. That’s as a result of Love’s future isn’t a hot-button subject. The Bears ought to be capable to transfer the ball on the bottom, though the Packers’ Twenty eighth-ranked run protection has been higher the final three weeks. One urgent query is how Fields will carry out in opposition to a secondary that can lean closely on zone protection. Wide receiver DJ Moore obtained solely two targets within the first assembly. That quantity needs to be multiplied by three or extra. If Eberflus’ protection stays opportunistic, the Bears can do to the Packers what the Lions did a 12 months in the past — hold them out of the postseason.
Bears 24, Packers 21
Colleen Kane (11-5)
The Bears are 2-6 on the highway this season — although two of these losses got here below backup quarterback Tyson Bagent — and I think about Lambeau Field isn’t going to be a simple place for them to play Sunday afternoon. It appears to be like like an excellent alternative for the Bears to maintain their run recreation going robust, however the Packers protection may problem Justin Fields and the passing recreation. The concept of a signature win for Matt Eberflus and Fields has come up a few instances this season. This can be one. Whether the outcome sways the minds of Bears leaders by some means, a win up in Packers territory definitely can be a memorable strategy to shut out the season. But the Packers and Jordan Love have the playoffs inside attain, and that might give them the psychological edge.
Packers 27, Bears 24
Dan Wiederer (11-5)
The Bears have a golden alternative to punctuate their late-season surge with a highway upset that might finish the rival Packers’ season. Intriguing, proper? The protection has been enjoying at a excessive degree not too long ago, sufficient to hold its weight Sunday afternoon. So finally, this would possibly come right down to how nicely Justin Fields performs. He should be sharp in opposition to the Packers’ zone coverages. He should handle the soccer and keep away from tide-turning sacks. In the tip — and within the curiosity of nice season finale-theater — Fields will probably be positioned to steer a game-winning drive within the late phases of the fourth quarter. Hold on to your seats.
Packers 24, Bears 22
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com