Bears Blitz

Published by Abdul Yaro on January 19, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

It’s become commonplace that teams entering the last couple weeks of the NFL regular season with playoff spots secured take the opportunity to rest their starters.

The Chicago Bears had an opportunity to do so in Week 17 of the regular season in their matchup against NFC North rival, Green Bay. A Chicago win would’ve eliminated Green Bay from the playoffs and ensured the Bears less treacherous path to the Super Bowl. 

The Bears defied conventional wisdom and played their starters the entire game, in what ultimately was a defensive battle, and lost. Chicago missed an opportunity to rid itself of an all too familiar foe.

Green Bay won that game 10-3 and propelled itself into the 2011 playoffs, where it’s arguably the hottest team in the tournament this year.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is playing the best football of his career at the moment, passing and running with ease for four touchdowns and almost 600 yards in two games. In doing so, Rodgers has made a convincing argument for his inclusion in the discussion of elite quarterbacks in the NFL. 

This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season and it’s sure to be a memorable one. Much like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens last week, these two team know each other well and match up well on the field.

They split their regular season matchups, with the respective home team prevailing by three points each time. 

In a defensive struggle between both teams, I’d give a slight edge to the Packers, who are playing their best football down the stretch and have proved capable of getting to Chicago quarterback, Jay Cutler, by doing so eight times in the regular season.

The defensive backfields and linebacking corps are evenly matched with both capable of making timely plays.

The Bears are stacked with the more heralded trio of Peppers, Urlacher and Briggs, but the Packers easily match that with the youth, speed and play making ability of Pro Bowlers Matthews and Collins, and the veteran Woodson.

Look for the defensive lines to be the difference if in fact a defensive struggle ensues. 

The x-factor for Chicago will be the play of All-Pro kick returner Devin Hester, who has eluded Green Bay’s defenders once already this season on a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown in Week 3.

Look for Green Bay to kick away from Hester, but they may do so at a price in the usually windy conditions at Soldier Field. 

In a battle of offenses, I’d look for both teams to try to establish the run early, particularly if the weather is a concern. Rodgers has proven to be the more accurate passer while Cutler has shown a tendency to rely heavily in sheer arm strength.

If the defensive pressure becomes a problem for either, I like Rodgers’ chances given his mobility. Expect to also see one or both tight ends featured heavily on Sunday.

I can’t see Chicago’s Greg Olson having another 113-yard performance this weekend, but he’ll feature heavily in Mike Martz’s offense. 

At the risk of sounding like one of the talking heads on television, this game will come down to mistakes and the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win, be it on offense, defense or special teams.

It’ll be a close game but I for one have a hard time arguing against the Packers and Aaron Rodgers at the moment.

He’s playing with the kind of relative ease that makes you think he may just have seen the answers to test but studies just to be sure. Packers win 17-10 in a close one. 

Find out what else is on my mind by visiting my blog, iSportsFannadict or follow me on Twitter @SportsFanaddict . 

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