When we last saw our beloved Green Bay Packers, they were dispatching the LA Rams, 36-28, in a game that really wasn't as close as the final score indicated...even though a successful on-side kick in the last minute of play might have made it so.
As it was and is, the Pack went into (finally!) their bye week at 9-3. An opportune time to get QB Aaron Rodgers' broken toe time to recover a bit, without surgery. Also a chance to get some players back for the stretch run into the playoffs. And then to get the gift of Da Bearz coming into Lambeau Field for a Sunday night primetime game. Yes, please!
We hope to see RB A.J. Dillon being congratulated for his efforts again today.
The Packers will want to have a balanced pass-run attack against Chicago tonight.
(Photo by Dan Powers /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
The Preview
Do we really need to do more of a preview than to repeat what Rodgers said to some Chicago fans after scoring a TD in the last meeting in Chicago? You know, that ownership thing? I think not.
Granted, rookie QB and future hoped-for ChiTown savior, Justin Fields, is back from his rib injury and has been named the starter today. The Packers defense will have to account for his ability to run. But they've handled Kyler Murray and Patrick Mahomes so there is no reason to believe they won't handle Fields. But it wouldn't be surprising if the Packers get a few turnovers today, either.
For the Pack, just keep doing what they've been doing. On both sides of the ball. And do better on special teams. Please.
The Prediction
My good friend, Billy Da Bearz Fan, texted me earlier today with his prediction: 19-18 Bearz. The only thing surprising about that prediction from him is that it might be a score-a-gami type of thing. (Someone look that up, would ya?) So there's that.
Of course, for the more rationally-minded among the readership here, we have to actually consider reality. And the reality is the oddsmakers favor the Pack by either 11-1/2 or 12-1/2 points depending upon who you look at and when you check out such things. That's a big spread. And it's there for a reason. The primary one being that the Packers have Aaron Rodgers and Da Bearz do not. The secondary reason is that, overall, the Packers are just a better team, and better coached, than is Chicago. There may be a changing of the guard in the NFC North at some time, but it isn't now. Or the foreseeable future, for that matter.
We're calling it Packers 31 - Da Bearz 17.
Go Pack Go!!!
