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The long time rivalry is renewed in opening week of the NFL as Chicago and Green Bay are set to square off on Sunday Night Football from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Green Bay is coming off a season largely without Aaron Rodgers and missed the playoffs, which is a rarity in Rodgers’ tenure.
Chicago has revamped and retooled on both sides of the ball and are looking to make large strides in new head coach Matt Nagy’s first year at the helm. Green Bay is currently laying 7 points to the underdog Bears.
Chicago Looking to Carry Momentum
Chicago should look a whole lot different with their new head coach from the Andy Reid coaching tree that produced Super Bowl champion coach Doug Pederson. Many around the Bears are hoping that second year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky can make Jared Goff/Carson Wentz like strides in his sophomore season.
The Bears also gave Trubisky some weapons by adding Allen Robinson II, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, and Trey Burton. Not much is know what to expect from this unit, except that it has to be more electric than any Bears team in recent history. Defensively, the Bears added Khalil Mack to join Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks rushing the passer. Mack and rookie Roquan Smith both were late arrivals to the Bears this off season, so their readiness will be questioned heading into Sunday night.
On the back end, Chicago will feature a “bend, don’t break” mentality under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, but do not be surprised if this unit is called upon to create more turnovers in 2018.
Green Bay will go as Aaron Rodgers goes, that is plain and simple and history has proven that. Rodgers got his massive payday, but will be without long-time connection Jordy Nelson in 2018. Green Bay added Jimmy Graham to alleviate the loss of Nelson, but the Pack will largely be looking for increased production from Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, and mainstay Randall Cobb.
Packers Looking to Start Unbeaten
In the off season, Green Bay made one of the best under-the-radar hires by securing Mike Pettine to become their defensive coordinator. Pettine has been successful everywhere he has coached up the defense and I do not expect his tenure in Green Bay to be any different. Green Bay was abysmal in pass defense last year, so expect that to get better under Pettine especially after drafting Jaire Alexander and Joshua Jackson.
The Packers lost linebacker Jake Ryan for the season with an ACL, so questions abound at the linebacker position.
Pick and Prediction
Green Bay should win this game. Green Bay expects to win this game. Chicago comes into this game with any real expectations except to be better than last year, but only time will tell on that one. Aaron Rodgers has long been the grim reaper for Bears fans and I expect that to continue despite the questions on the defensive side of the ball.
Chicago should have enough on the offensive side of the ball to keep this one close though, so I am taking Chicago and the 7.5 points. Green Bay wins 27-20.
