The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears face off for the second time Sunday night in what is a huge game for each teams playoff hopes. While things are certainly more dire for the Chicago Bears, a loss by the Packers would leave them possibly two games behind Detroit and with Philadelphia, the resurgent Minnesota Vikings, and the world-beating Patriots on tap in November, they have very little wiggle room.
For the Bears it is cut and dried – lose and their done. The Bears would have to win out if they lose to the Packers for any shot at the playoffs and for a team that has struggled lately, winning two in a row isn’t even likely, much less seven.
On paper, and by recent history, it would seem the Packers should win the game easily. But one of these times the Bears are going to show up and play a decent game against the Packers. I don’t count last year’s Bears’ win in Lambeau because Aaron Rodgers only played one drive. And the Packers actually had the lead late in that game with Seneca Wallace at QB. But I digress.
The difference in almost every Packers-Bears game of recent years has been Jay Cutler is a turnover machine and Rodgers is not. If Cutler can protect the ball for once the Packers would have to win a shootout and the Bears have the weapons to score in a hurry.
Both teams have had two weeks to stew after blowout losses and pressure is mounting on Marc Trestman after going 11-13 in his first season-and-a-half after taking over a 10-6 Lovie Smith coached team. On the flip side Packers head coach Mike McCarthy signed multi-year contract extension today.
I don’t have a feel yet for this game but I do think the Packers will not be winning the division if they lose it. The Lions’ schedule is too easy and the Packers would have two division losses and four conference losses, the latter a huge factor in the wild card race as well.
More to come…