A single game stands between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers for the top of the NFC North Mountain.
The surging Packers have won four straight and the Bears will try to weather the storm without quarterback Jay Cutler when these two teams meet on Monday Night Football for a week 9 divisional battle.
Chicago holds a 92-88-6 edge in the NFL’s oldest rivalry, but it’s the Packers who are closing fast with six straight victories in the series.
Chicago Bears (4-3) Analysis: A bye week couldn’t have come soon enough to break up the 1-3 skid the Bears put themselves in. After opening the season 3-0, the Bears struggled to put away the Saints at home and couldn’t come away with wins at Detroit or Washington. To make matters worse, Cutler sustained his groin injury that could keep him out up to four weeks.
With Cutler ailing, the Bears turn to the 34 year-old Josh McCown who has very limited experience at starting games in the NFL. Oddly enough, McCown’s last start was against the Packers on Christmas of 2011 when he threw for one touchdown and two interceptions in a 35-21 loss. With new Head Coach Marc Trestman, the Bears have been fairly efficient through the air (rank 11th at 254.9 yards per game) and McCown has had just as much time as Cutler to learn the system. There’s no shortage of weapons in this offense either, so expect the Bears to attempt to make a run at Green Bay.
In addition to losing Cutler against Washington, the Bears also lost defensive leader and linebacker Lance Briggs. Briggs was their best tackler and is expected to be out four to six weeks. A huge reason for concern from the Bears defense is the recent play of safeties Chris Conte and Major Wright. The Redskins Robert Griffin III specifically targeted the two and had a heyday in the process. When targeting Conte, RG3 went 3-of-3 for 100 yards and a touchdown according to the guys over at Pro Football Focus. If they don’t correct this, Aaron Rodgers will take full advantage of the weakness.
Green Bay Packers (5-3) Analysis: After a slow 1-2 start to the year, the Packers have won four straight games. Coach Mike McCarthy deserves a ton of credit for holding together a team that’s lost wide receiver Randall Cobb, tight end Jermichael Finley and linebacker Clay Matthews to significant injuries.
The Packers’ offense has taken on a whole new approach in 2013. Not only do they have an improved running game, they have one of the best in all of the National Football League. The team ranks 3rd at 141.4 rushing yards per game and rookie Eddie Lacy leads all backs over the past four weeks with 395 yards. With a bigger emphasis on the ground, you would think that the passing game would take a hit, but it really hasn’t. Rodgers and a depleted wide-receiving corps still ranks 5th in the league at 297.4 yards per game. Teams can’t figure out how to stop this unit, no matter who steps on the field.
A key to hurting the Packers’ defense has been through the air where they give up a generous 247.6 yards per game (21st in the league). Teams have been forced to do this because Green Bay’s rush defense is straight nasty. They held the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson to just 60 yards on 13 carries and Minnesota also needed to throw the ball in order to catch up to the fast-paced scoring affair the Packers force opponents in to.
Brutally Honest Prediction: Packers 30 Bears 17
More times than not, the Packers and Bears tend to tilt towards a lower scoring affair because the two teams are so familiar with one another. However, this year brings a lot of new wrinkles because of the coaching overhaul in Chicago. Both teams have potent passing attacks, but I can’t trust McCown enough to think this game will result in a full-on shootout. Moreover, the Packers are infatuated with their new and powerful running game which should help keep a young defense on the sidelines while they grind out some clock.
TV Coverage: 7:40 PM CT ESPN; Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Jon Gruden (analyst) and Lisa Salters (sidelines)
Betting Lines: Green Bay favored by 10.5 points and over/under at 49.5 points
2013 Record straight up: 6-1
2013 Record against the spread: 5-2
2013 Record in over/under: 4-3
Week 8 Pick Redux: Predicted GB 27 MIN 14 (actually GB 44 MIN 31); Hit on straight up and the spread (-10), but not over/under (47).
Do you think the Packers will have trouble making it seven straight versus the Bears? Let me know by commenting below.
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. He also enjoys sharing Fantasy Advice and pretends to be a Golf expert from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best. If social media is not your thing, shoot him an email at grays@uwalumni.com.
*Pictures obtained from wikipedia.com and yahoo.com.