Keys To The Game: Green Bay Packers
September 10, 2023, 12:36 PM CDT
It's that time of year again. The Bears are opening up their 2023 NFL season at home against the Green Bay Packers. It's been 5 years since we've last beaten Green Bay, all the way back in 2018. It looked like we had a chance last year, but conservative playcalling in the 4th Quarter ended those hopes. However, with Aaron Rodgers gone and the Bears having a whole new look after a great offseason, there are just a few things we need to do to get the win today. Here are my three keys to a Bears victory today.
1. Stop The Rushing Attack
If Matt LaFleur is smart, he will have a heavy rushing attack against the Bears today. Our run defense was ranked 31st last season, and the Packers have two really good running backs in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. With no Christian Watson for Green Bay today, and Romeo Doubs also being limited, the Packers are going to use the run game to support Jordan Love today. The Bears need the DLine guys consisting of Andrew Billings, Justin Jones, and the rookies Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, to step up today and stop Jones and Dillon. If they can do that, Green Bay will have trouble moving the ball.
2. Distribute The Ball Through The Air
While Green Bay does have Jaire Alexander, who will be covering DJ Moore most if not all of the game today, they are without Eric Stokes, their third-year CB2, to begin the season. This leaves them depleted at CB, which will help out Justin Fields. Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, Cole Kmet, and even Tyler Scott should all be able to get open and make an impact through the air. If you can move the ball around to those guys, as well as use the abilities of DJ Moore, the offense could be scoring a lot of points today.
3. The Offensive Line
The Bears overhauled their O-Line over the offseason, drafting Darnell Wright to play Right Tackle and signing Nate Davis to play Right Guard. Lucas Patrick will play Center today and Cody Whitehair will play Left Guard with Teven Jenkins out to begin the year. And standout 2022 5th Round Pick Braxton Jones enters year two as the starting Left Tackle, looking to build on the impressive rookie season he had last year. The Packers have a very good D-Line, but star Edge Rusher Rashan Gary will be limited today as he continues to recover from a Torn ACL he suffered last season. The O-Line needs to step up today and protect JF1, as well as open up space for Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, and maybe even Roschon Johnson, to get big gains on the ground and get points on the board.
Score Prediction: Bears 31, Packers 21
In the past I would've picked Green Bay so as to not jinx us, but screw that, it's a new era in Chicago. We are winning this game, we have to. It is probably the most important Bears game since January 6, 2019. Let's get this season started at 1-0 and start Green Bay at 0-1. Also, I didn't have time to write a full season prediction article for the Bears, so here is a condensed version with my record prediction, ceiling and floor predictions, and my Super Bowl prediction.
Bears Record: 10-7 (Wild Card Round Loss)
Bears Ceiling: 10-7
Bears Floor: 6-11
Super Bowl Prediction: 49ers over Dolphins
I'm being optimistic this year. We can make a lot of noise with our weak schedule. We need to capitalize on the games we should win and the games that are toss-ups. If we can do that, hey you never know. We could go even further than I think we will. But only time will decide if that is the case.
Justin Fields rushes for a touchdown against Green Bay last year
Bold Predictions For Bears vs Raiders
October 22, 2023, 11:52 AM CDT
It was pretty hard to come up with three keys to this week's game, considering how both sides are starting backup Quarterbacks. So for this week, I decided to put together three bold predictions for this game. It might be a rough watch, or it could be a great watch, it really all depends on how the offenses perform despite the Bears being without Justin Fields and the Raiders without Jimmy Garoppolo. So without further delay, here are three bold predictions for the Bears vs Raiders Week 7 contest.
1. Tyler Scott Has 70+ Yards Receiving
Tyler Scott finally got an uptick in snaps and targets last week, catching two out of four targets for 12 yards. I expect him to get more looks today, and with his speed, I believe this will be the big game we've been waiting for from him. I can't say whether he will score a touchdown or not, but I expect him to get a lot of yards today.
2. Tyson Bagent Gets Sacked Less Than 3 Times
The Bears' Offensive Line is pretty banged up, and with Maxx Crosby going up against Larry Borom today, the expectation would be that Bagent gets sacked a lot today. But I believe Luke Getsy will make a game plan that allows Bagent to get the ball out quickly and avoid the pressure from the Raiders D-Line. The right side will be locked down with Teven Jenkins moving to RG, and Darnell Wright is also healthy after suffering a shoulder injury in practice this week. It all depends on whether the left side can surprise people and keep Crosby in check.
3. The Bears Force 4 Turnovers
The Bears' defense last week had their best game of the season, and I expect them to keep it up today against Brian Hoyer. The defensive line will need to get pressure on him in order to get four turnovers, but with the way they've been playing, I think they have it in them. Two interceptions and two force fumbles are what I'm thinking for this prediction, and for the interceptions I'm thinking Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson both get one today. Forcing turnovers will be the only chance we have to win this game, so let's hope the defense can do just that and we improve to 2-5 on the year.
The Bears and Raiders last faced off in Week 5 of 2021
Bold Predictions For Bears at Chargers
October 29, 2023, 6:58 PM CDT
It's Week 8 and somehow both the Bears and Chargers enter this matchup with two wins each. Granted, the Chargers have looked a lot better than the Bears and have already had their bye week. Plus, the Chargers are big favorites tonight, with the betting line in their favor by 9.5 points. The question is, can they cover that spread? Or could the Bears shock the world on Sunday Night football and jump to third place in the NFC North? Here are my three bold predictions for the Bears and Chargers matchup at SoFi Stadium.
1. Austin Ekeler Scores Three Touchdowns
Ekeler has just one touchdown in three games played this season as he has missed a few games with an injury. And while the Bears defense has played better as of late, they haven't had to face an offense with as much talent as the Chargers since they played Kansas City in Week 3. The Chargers, led by Quarterback Justin Herbert, will drive the ball downfield, and Ekeler will score either on the ground or through the air. I'm not expecting many big plays like the last time we played at SoFi (Week 1, 2021 against the Rams), but I do expect the Chargers offense to move the ball on us and for Ekeler to make fantasy owners very happy.
2. D'Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson Combine For 200+ Yards Rushing
D'Onta Foreman had the game of his life last week, with three touchdowns and 120 total yards. He's got the hot hand, and I'm sure the Bears will continue to stick with him. But rookie Roschon Johnson is also back from his concussion and will get carries as well. Expect the two of them to rotate during offensive possessions, which will allow their legs to be kept fresh and the Chargers defense on their heels. It will also free up some pressure on Tyson Bagent, who is making his second career start tonight.
3. Darnell Mooney Scores A Touchdown
It's no secret that Darnell Mooney has had a slow start to the season, especially with it being a contract year. He's not the primary target like he was last year and only has 14 catches for 184 yards and one touchdown, which came in Week One. However, I expect his season to begin turning around tonight. Bagent will find him in the endzone on the Bears' first red-zone trip and he'll put six points on the board. Pretty simple prediction here.
As for a final score prediction, I'm going to go with a Bears 35-24 loss. Bagent will have another decent game, but he just won't be able to keep up with the Chargers offense. Hopefully, I am wrong about this one though.
The Bears lost to the Chargers when they last played in 2019