2020 NFL Week 12: Packers vs. Bears Preview and Prediction

Sadly, Packer fans, my prediction of a loss last week to the Colts came through. Took overtime to make it final. But a loss it was. After rushing out to a sizable first half lead ... well ... a change of fortunes in the second half and OT. A game there for the taking. But, no.

So instead we look to this evening's game vs. Da Bearz at Lambeau Field for a bit of revenge. In the storied 200-game history of this rivalry, the Pack has won 99 times, Chicago 95, with six ties. Let's make tonight an even 100 wins out of 201 games played, shall we?

Let's hope the Packers defense rises to the occasion and puts

pressure on Chicago QB Mitch Trubisky tonight.

(Photo by Dan Powers/USA Today Network - Wis)

The Preview

What we know is that the Packers offense will score. It hasn't always been as consistent throughout the course of a game as we might like, but it's been good enough to average about 30 points or so a game (4th best NFL offense overall) and help lead the Pack to a 7-3 record and a NFC North Division lead. And it's a good thing that offense has been as prolific as it has been behind QB Aaron Rodgers because the Pack's defense and special teams ... well, not exactly the picture of perfection to this point in the season.

While the state of the Packers defense and its coordinator, Mike Pettine, has been and is a point of much concern among fans, they seem to be able to rise when they have to more often than not. It's not the best approach for winning a Super Bowl, but it is what is right now. The biggest problem for the defense is not, arguably, talent but energy. Doesn't seem to be any vocal leadership this season. The Smith Brothers have been fairly quiet, as opposed to last season. Kenny Clark is double-teamed most plays. Linebackers? The schemes Pettine uses are also questionable, giving offenses too much room underneath, which even head coach Matt LaFleur  acknowledged this week. Let's see if that gets addressed tonight. Facing Mitch Trubisky ("Bisquet" as my friend, Billy Da Bearz Fan calls him) should also offer the defense some turnover opportunities ... he hasn't played in a while so let's hope he's a bit rusty and take advantage of that.

Offensively, it would be nice to see the Packers running game get untracked again tonight. Hasn't been as explosive as early in the season. Recovering that balance would help going down the regular season stretch. Davante Adams and Allen Lazard should factor in tonight, but I'm looking for a good make-up game from Marques Valdez-Scantling. I think he really took the overtime fumble last week hard. And I think he's growing into the role of really being a big-time receiver. He can stretch the field. He can make outstanding catches. He needs to be consistent. That redemption may well start tonight.

The Prediction

The Packers are 9-1/2 point favorites in this game. Big spreads always make me nervous. Still, unless the Packers offense gives the ball away multiple times and the defense comes out totally flat (both of which, admittedly are possibilities although not probabilities), the Packers will prevail.

We're calling it Packers 27 - Da Bearz 17.

Go Pack Go!!!

2020 NFL Week 1: Packers vs. Vikings Preview and Prediction

With less than an hour before kickoff in Minneapolis, we're going to skip a game preview ... just too many unknowns for us — other than the usual Pack-Vikes rivalry, Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, the Smith Brothers, etc. ... and go straight to the prediction.

The ViQueens are favored by 2-1/2 points, basically a shade under the home field advantage. Because there will be no fans in the stands, although probably that stupid horn will be blowing, it's hard to know what advantage there will be.

We figure this will be a close game. Lots of weapons for both teams on each side of the ball. But whether the offense or defense of either team dominates at this point, without benefit of any preseason play at all...???

We'll take the Packers (shocking, right?) 27-24.

Go Pack Go

2020 NFC Championship Game: Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers - Preview & Prediction

Quick review: The Packers beat the Seahawks in Green Bay in the Divisional round of the NFC playoffs last weekend, 28-23. It was a battle, as was expected. The Pack played one of their better games in all phases of the game. And they closed it out by never giving the ball back to Seattle late in the game due to timely and needed third down conversions. Packer fans breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Of course, that was temporary. Because next up, for the NFC Championship, was and is the San Francisco 49ers who the prior day had dispatched the Minnesota Vikings.

Which brings us to today.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will need to be "in a Superman cape", according
to former Niners QB Steve Young, for the Pack to have a chance to win today.
(Photo: Stan Szeto, Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)

Preview by way of review

Outside of Packers fans, of course, not many are giving the Packers a chance today. The Niners are favored by 7-1/2 points going into the game. Much of this, or at least a good deal of it, has to due with the Week 12 blow out that the Niners won by 29 points on their home turf, 37-8.

Well, here we are once again, on their home turf in Santa Clara. But while home field is important, typically 3 points to the favor of the home team, that doesn't explain the dismissiveness with which the Packers are considered in this game. Frankly, the Pack just didn't show up at the earlier game. They were lethargic, playing-calling was mediocre, and they allowed themselves to get beat in every phase of the game. Yes, there were some horrible penalty calls that didn't help matters, as well as turnovers that set up the Niners in great position to score. And they did. When the Niners had to go a long ways they usually did so passing to receivers who had no defenders within the same zipcode. It was horrible defense and the offense did nothing to help mitigate the damge. By all measures, it was a throw-away game.

But the Packers learned from that loss. The defense had a closed-door players-only meeting after they returned to Green Bay from that game. They wouldn't be as porous or soft in a game since. And the Packers haven't lost since, either. They tightened up. And with the Packers offense finally getting more in sync, albeit still not seemingly firing on all cylinders for lack of receiving threats other than Davante Adams, the team learned how to battle for a full 4 quarters, right down to the wire. In the end, a 13-3 record was the result...the #2 seed...only missing the top seed by virtue of about 12 inches and a TD on a stop in a game in which they were not participants. Oh, and their opponent is also 13-3. Seems pretty even doesn't it?

Not if you listen to the pundits. They emphasize the strength of the Niners defense, particularly the front four, who were able to dominate the Packers O-line in the last outing, a line which, by the way, lost RT Bryan Bulaga early on and had to replace him with Alex Light who was an unmitigated disaster in a backup role. Bulaga is back and is also now backed up most capably by veteran lineman Jared Veldheer.

The Niners offense will have its trio of running backs — Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert and Matt Breidain — in gear. They ran and ran on the Vikings last week and wore down that defense. The Pack's defense must find a way to minimize the Niners rushing attack in order to force young QB Jimmy Garoppolo to beat them. Given time and porous coverage, Garoppolo can certainly do damage; he's got a good arm and, admittedly, a winning record in his young career. His offensive line has protected him well, which accounts for a good deal of his success; defenses this season, with few exceptions, haven't made life difficult for him in the pocket. Somehow, someway, the Packers defense has to make him uncomfortable. A few sacks and lots of pressure by the Smith Brothers, Kenny Clark and others would go a long way to making a Packers win more of a possibility. That, and somehow also finding a way to tackle TE George Kittle when he gets the ball in his hands. He could single-handedly do some big damage if left unchecked. Not going to be easy to do.

The Packers offense, has shown signs of being on the same page in the last six games or so. Even QB Aaron Rodgers has said, “The last six weeks, I’ve felt really locked in on the preparation, and I think that’s helped us on offense to really be on the same page.” What else has helped are receivers and tight ends stepping up and making clutch catches instead of drops. Having a solid running game behind Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams is going to be key to opening up the passing game for Rodgers and keeping the Pack in the game. Special teams also needs to come up big. The pick up of Tyler Ervin and his insertion as returner and occasional running threat has been a boost, as well.

Bottom line: all the pressure is on San Fran as no one expects the Packers to win. But the Packers can match up with the Niners.

The Prediction

This game will not be a reprise of Week 12's blow out loss for the Packers. This will be a 4-quarter game, likely down to the wire as has been the case for the Pack throughout much of the season. The Packers have nearly perfected into an art form this season the "bend-don't-break" defense. They should be able to get at least one turnover that will be converted into points. We think they'll also give up more field goals than touchdowns today. Finally, in a close game, who would you rather have with the ball: Garoppolo or Rodgers? Yeah, us too.

We're calling this game Packers 27 - 49ers 26.

Go Pack Go!!!