Dissecting Most Crucial Matchups in Chicago Bears’ Week 10 Contest vs. Green Bay
Published by Ross Read on November 5, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are now off their bye week and will turn their attention to Green Bay. If Chicago wants to right the ship and get its season back on track, it is going to have to beat the Packers in their building.
In order to have a chance in this ballgame, the Bears must win the crucial matchups they failed to win in their Week 4 meeting.
The most important matchup starts on defense for the Bears. In the first meeting, Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson torched them for 10 receptions and two touchdowns.
Rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller better be rested and healthy from his nagging injuries, because slowing down Nelson is going to fall on his shoulders.
Fuller has to be more physical with Nelson within the first five yards of scrimmage. In the first meeting, Nelson had too many clean breaks off the line and was able to get wherever he wanted on the field.
It’s up to Fuller to make Nelson work more for his catches. Slowing Nelson also disrupts quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ timing as he looks through his secondary progressions.
The battle to win on the outside is just as important on offense for the Bears. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall must be the superior player when lined up opposite cornerback Sam Shields.
Marshall had only two catches in the first meeting, as the Bears devoted a lot of attention to running back Matt Forte and things ultimately got out of hand in the second half.
Over the past few games, Marshall has been anything but an All-Pro receiver. Quarterback Jay Cutler is at his best when he and Marshall are dialed in. Marshall has to beat Shields to spots and play a more physical brand of football.
At the end of this game, Shields should be physically exhausted from trying to keep up with Marshall. If this happens, Shields will not have two interceptions like he did during the first game.
Finally, it’s time for Jared Allen to step up and be a disruptive force. He will be going against unproven left tackle David Bakhtiari.
With Lamarr Houston out for the year, Allen will see a significant bump in snaps. This week is the perfect chance to prove he’s still a top pass-rusher in the league.
It’s paramount Allen makes Aaron Rodgers feel uncomfortable in the pocket. The Bears got one sack on Rodgers in the first meeting, and he was as comfortable as ever sitting in the pocket and carving up the secondary.
In the Packers’ three losses this season, Rodgers has been sacked nine times. It’s simple math: If you put pressure on him, you have a much better chance at winning the game. Jared Allen has to be that guy to do so come Sunday night.
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