It has always been the best game of the year. The rematch in December will be the second best. I don’t care if the quality of football is sub-standard, if either team downright stinks. There is simply no denying the fact THE best rivalry game in the National Football League, year after year after 100 years is the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. No team has won more league championships than the Packers with 13. The Bears are next with 9. With the induction of LeRoy Butler into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month, the Packers now have 33 players or contributors enshrined, just two behind Chicago which has the most with 35. They were there from the start, Chicago and Green Bay are the very essence of professional football.
They will meet once more Sunday night in the 2022 home opener at Lambeau Field. Kickoff is set for 7:20 PM. As a wide eyed youngster and teenager, I walked the mile from my childhood home to sit in section 7 (the old children’s section) and get my first glimpse of the rivalry, attending seven games through high school. The first game I covered as a radio reporter was Chicago’s 15-14 victory over the Pack in December of 1979. Haven’t missed a match since, 84 in a row and counting. In total, that’s 91 of the 204 in the series I’ve witnessed, close to 45%. Privileged for sure which is why I so appreciate the historical significance of the series.
Let’s bring on chapter 205.
The Packers wrapped up the practice week and the tantalizing possibility of getting two key offensive lineman and the expected number one wide receiver on the field is back in play. After working in pads on Wednesday, taking Thursday off, Friday saw David Bakhtiari back in uniform. Elglton Jenkins and Allen Lazard both made it through the week and starting left guard Jon Runyan advanced in the concussion protocol enough to practice as well. All four players were listed as questionable on the week’s final injury report. Considered a 50-50 proposition, I’d hedge bets on Bakhtiari and Jenkins (as badly as they may be needed), looking to see Runyan get fully cleared and Lazard make his debut Sunday night.
When the Packers have the ball.
Commitment to the run is often expressed but more likely given lip service around Lambeau Field maybe since John Brockington last barreled through defensive lines. Matt LaFleur wanted to give Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon the rock in Minnesota but they fell behind by 17 in the second quarter and wound up getting 15 carries combined (despite averaging better than 6 yards a clip). With young receivers learning as they go and an offensive line short on experience, the Chicago game plan has to make good on the commitment to run. The Bears defense is an aggressive bunch, big on the interior of the line, with an active Roquan Smith lurking on the second level. Ask any offensive linemen and they’d tell you they much prefer surging forward to push on people versus standing upright, getting on their toes and fending off a pass rush. A healthy dose of the Pack’s 1-2 punch will give Aaron Rodgers play action, keep action opportunities while slowing down that rush pressure. It could also provide just a bit more time for the passing game targets to gain separation or find holes in zones. Lazard will help in that regard and Rodgers made a point of mentioning Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis as outlet options if Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins and the rookies aren’t winning matchups. Points may be at a premium in this rivalry game so piling up rushing yards will shorten the contest.
When the Bears have the ball.
It’s a new system in Chicago, the Bear offense is coordinated by former Packer QB coach Luke Getsy. Watching Chicago’s opening day victory over San Francisco didn’t offer many glimpses of what the scheme will be like. A monsoon reduced the call sheet considerably but there’s no doubt the Packers’ number one focus must be on quarterback Justin Fields. Still a babe when it comes to reading defenses and deciphering coverages, the extreme athlete can buy time with his legs in a heartbeat and has a cannon of arm that can give secondaries a heart attack. The Pack’s front seven must wrestle through a physical Chicago offensive line with discipline and keep Fields contained in the pocket as much as possible. A better than you’d think running game of David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert will also test the Packers who gave up 90 yards to Dalvin Cook last week which allowed Kirk Cousins to keep the D off-balance. Forcing Fields to make plays with his arm is key. The Packer back end is eager to make amends for it’s showing last week. Darnell Mooney’s speed is the biggest concern but his running mates, former Packer Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis are not in the same Viking weapon ballpark.
The bottom line.
I saw a stat from colleague Bill Huber of SI.com that said teams which start 0-2 have only an 11 percent chance of making the playoffs, even smaller to win the division, especially if both of those losses are to division rivals. The Vikings got over last week and the Bears, sick of getting dominated by the Rodgers-led Pack (he’s 23-5 as a starter and the “owner” of the Bears after last year’s touchdown celebration) now get their shot. It will be a legitimate one but the Packers will prevail on the tundra again.
I like the Pack, 20-13.
