I doubt the Bears will defeat the Packers….
The Minnesota Vikings had one of the top five defenses going into their game on Sunday night. With a victory over Chicago the next week, Green Bay will have a chance to qualify for the playoffs thanks to the devastating play of Jordan Love, Jayden Read, and an unexpected Bo Melton against that defense.
Love was excellent, going 24/33 for 256 yards and three touchdowns along with a short rushing TD. He also nailed many huge throws against Minnesota’s forceful blitz packages. Melton was the biggest benefactor of Love’s well-preparedness and composure when the Vikings brought five or more rushers, frequently finding himself wide open against the exhausted secondary.
With two highlight-reel touchdowns in his first half, rookie Jayden Reed made up for missing the second half of the game with an injury. With just 17 seconds remaining in the first half, he scored his second touchdown—a 25-yard catch and run—which basically ended the game. A swift slant allowed Reed to break multiple tackles before he turned on the jets and bullied through two Vikings defenders to reach the goal line. Aaron Jones (20 carries, 120 yards) played a great game that guaranteed the Vikings would not mount a comeback.
The much-maligned Packer defense had to do what it had to face unheralded rookie quarterback Jaren Hall of the Vikings, who came out of BYU. During his brief appearance in the first half, the Packers’ front pressured Hall, making CB Corey Ballentine throw an erroneous interception. Preston Smith, who has been playing really well lately, also recorded a strip sack of Hall. Nick Mullens replaced Hall on the bench at the half after Hall’s meager 67 passing yards. By the time Mullens entered the game, the Vikings were already behind 23–3. The defense kept Mullens in check as well (13/22, 113 yards, 1 touchdown).
Packers Have Power Over Their Future
The Packers will be in charge of their own fate this week when they play the Bears thanks to their victory and Seattle’s defeat against the Steelers. If they triumph, they will likely start the playoffs as the seventh seed, with a possibility to move up to the sixth spot. They may theoretically enter with a loss under two complicated circumstances, but ideally they would easily defeat an improving Bears club in Lambeau.
With the Chicago offensive, not much has changed. Your best chance of winning is to slow down exceptional receiver DJ Moore and prevent quarterback Justin Fields from outrunning you. Although the Bears’ offense is average, they may occasionally score large touchdowns, as they did against Atlanta on Sunday.
With the acquisition of edge rusher Montez Sweat, who was acquired around the trade deadline, they have made significant progress defensively. The Bears have the fifth-best defense over the last four games, according to the advance statistic Weighted DVOA, and they have forced at least three turnovers in five of their previous six games. Although Sweat has significantly enhanced the team’s pass rush, Jaylon Johnson, a cornerback, has emerged as one of the league’s best, frequently stopping the top receiver for the opposition.
In week one, the Packers thrashed the Bears 38–20. However, Chicago has advanced significantly during the year. Green Bay will need to play turnover-free football and rely on their depth at the pass-catching position if they want to close out their season and qualify for the playoffs. The absence of Christian Watson, Luke Musgrave, and Dontayvion Wicks has not affected the squad in any way thanks to tight end Tucker Kraft and receiver Bo Melton. Even though several of the starters are back, the key to defeating this Bears team is to extend their depth in the defensive secondary and keep pushing players like Kraft and Melton. Thankfully, Green Bay is arguably the league’s most offensively sophisticated club, and the Vikings posed a comparable threat. Love passed with flying colors, and the playoffs are a genuine possibility if he maintains his composure under duress.
The Packer team, should they secure the sixth seed, will play the regressing Lions in their opening round match at Detroit. They have the potential to cause significant harm if they manage to get entry.
