***Pre-Game Thread*** Green Bay at Chicago (1 Viewer)

[flapgreen]

In the NFL, anything can happen on any given Sunday. If the Packers were a 10+ point lock, they would be favored by 10+ points. If the general public thought Packers -3.5 was an easy bet, the books would be too lopsided and the line would have moved. I think most people realize how close this game will be.

In the betting world, being a home dog is significant. It doesn't mean the public thinks it will be a close game as much as it means the public thinks the Packers are significantly better than the Bears. They think so little of the Bears that they think a #6 seed is going to go into Soldier Field and beat them in the NFC title game.

This is very significant to me. If I was a Pack fan, I would be more concerned about this than anything else. You know the Bears have a chip on their shoulder. They are well aware of what's being said out there and how they're dogs in their own house against a team they beat for the division title. The players are still human, and this will only make the Bears play even harder.As a Bears fan, I know were already have plenty to worry about but I found that aspect significant.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

In the NFL, anything can happen on any given Sunday. If the Packers were a 10+ point lock, they would be favored by 10+ points. If the general public thought Packers -3.5 was an easy bet, the books would be too lopsided and the line would have moved. I think most people realize how close this game will be.

In the betting world, being a home dog is significant. It doesn't mean the public thinks it will be a close game as much as it means the public thinks the Packers are significantly better than the Bears. They think so little of the Bears that they think a #6 seed is going to go into Soldier Field and beat them in the NFC title game.

This is very significant to me. If I was a Pack fan, I would be more concerned about this than anything else. You know the Bears have a chip on their shoulder. They are well aware of what's being said out there and how they're dogs in their own house against a team they beat for the division title. The players are still human, and this will only make the Bears play even harder.As a Bears fan, I know were already have plenty to worry about but I found that aspect significant.

I don't worry about that in the least. If the Pack can't "get up" and motivated for the NFC Championship, then they have no business playing in the Super Bowl. Ditto for the Bears - if they need silly stuff like this for motivation.....well, then they are grasping at straws.Either way, I expect a battle on Sunday.

 

[two_dollars]

Plus now we have 20+ degree weather in Bear land, now do you stop the Packers, pick your player, I guess, but either Rogers or Starks will have a big game.

High of 13 degrees on Sunday.

Where is this coming from? The high tomorrow is supposed to be 20-22 degrees in downtown Chicago.

My droid. I'm in Aurora, 40 minutes west of Chicago.

 

[cr8f]

Now it's 19 slight wind of 8 SSE sounds like good football weather.

Crazy winds off the lake are the only thing that worried me and they aren't predicted.

In the NFL, anything can happen on any given Sunday. If the Packers were a 10+ point lock, they would be favored by 10+ points. If the general public thought Packers -3.5 was an easy bet, the books would be too lopsided and the line would have moved. I think most people realize how close this game will be.

In the betting world, being a home dog is significant. It doesn't mean the public thinks it will be a close game as much as it means the public thinks the Packers are significantly better than the Bears. They think so little of the Bears that they think a #6 seed is going to go into Soldier Field and beat them in the NFC title game.

This is very significant to me. If I was a Pack fan, I would be more concerned about this than anything else. You know the Bears have a chip on their shoulder. They are well aware of what's being said out there and how they're dogs in their own house against a team they beat for the division title. The players are still human, and this will only make the Bears play even harder.As a Bears fan, I know were already have plenty to worry about but I found that aspect significant.

The Packers know that too and are confident in their game plan. Time will tell who is right.

 

[DoubleG]

I really can't see how the Packers can lose this game, I mean their RED HOT during their playoff run:Rogers QB rating through two play off games 134.5

Michael Vick was the hottest QB in the NFL coming into the Bears game....where he was then sacked, hurried repeatedly, picked off for the first time this season and eventually lost. What Aaron Rodgers did against the Eagles and in a dome, is very different than playing the Bears at Soldier Field. I think the Packers have been playing great...and it's time for them to drop a clunker. It's been said that Julius Peppers takes games off. He didn't get a sack last week (although he bull-rushed Okung into Hass's lap several times). He will this week. Mr. Rodgers, meet Mr. Turf.Oh - and Seven Hester has 2 of his 10 punt return TDs vs. the Pack - and history shows that when the lights shine the brightest, Solider Boy bring's his "A" game. 23 on the 23rd? Sounds like a good omen to me. The Bears are 8-4 when Chicago Hurricane takes one to the house on special teams. You know why they call it "Special Teams"? Cause Devin Hester plays on it.One last thing. Do you know why the mixed artificial surface into the turf at Lambeau?A: To stop the cheer leaders from grazing on the field.

 

[BeaverCleaver]

Interesting stat....

Cutler's four career passer ratings against Green Bay have been: 43.2, 74.9, 82.5 and 43.5.

 

[DoubleG]

Interesting stat....Cutler's four career passer ratings against Green Bay have been: 43.2, 74.9, 82.5 and 43.5.

Fascinating...an upward trend, until the game that the Bears didn't need to win.

 

[Stinger Ray]

Interesting stat....Cutler's four career passer ratings against Green Bay have been: 43.2, 74.9, 82.5 and 43.5.

Fascinating...an upward trend, until the game that the Bears didn't need to win.

That's right....Cutler wasn't trying that game. He was just out there to get pounded into the ground.

 

[Tickle Monster]

One last thing. Do you know why the mixed artificial surface into the turf at Lambeau?A: To stop the cheer leaders from grazing on the field.

 

[Green94]

Two days away from the biggest sporting event Chicago has ever seen....I cannot wait.

Wait. Wat?

 

[Flash]

And that means exactly what now?

You don't think a head to head win in the same season means anything?

Ummmm no?The Bears beat the Packers and the Packers beat the Bears.What does that mean going into tomorrow?

 

[Stinger Ray]

And that means exactly what now?

You don't think a head to head win in the same season means anything?

Ummmm no?The Bears beat the Packers and the Packers beat the Bears.What does that mean going into tomorrow?

Some Bear fans think their team wasn't trying to win that game week 17 and one of them actually thinks they weren't trying to score on the final drive.

 

[two_dollars]

And that means exactly what now?

You don't think a head to head win in the same season means anything?

Ummmm no?The Bears beat the Packers and the Packers beat the Bears.What does that mean going into tomorrow?

Some Bear fans think their team wasn't trying to win that game week 17 and one of them actually thinks they weren't trying to score on the final drive.

I think they were definitely trying to win, I just don't think they were calling plays from the entire play book.

 

[Green94]

And that means exactly what now?

You don't think a head to head win in the same season means anything?

Ummmm no?The Bears beat the Packers and the Packers beat the Bears.What does that mean going into tomorrow?

You were referring to the Bears having no chance against either AFC opponent when they have already beaten one of them.

 

[Stinger Ray]

And that means exactly what now?

You don't think a head to head win in the same season means anything? :(

Ummmm no?The Bears beat the Packers and the Packers beat the Bears.What does that mean going into tomorrow?

Some Bear fans think their team wasn't trying to win that game week 17 and one of them actually thinks they weren't trying to score on the final drive.

I think they were definitely trying to win, I just don't think they were calling plays from the entire play book.

The excuses get better and better! So how many teams use their "entire play book" each game?

 

[two_dollars]

I think they were definitely trying to win, I just don't think they were calling plays from the entire play book.

The excuses get better and better! So how many teams use their "entire play book" each game?

I just mean I believe they with held some plays they didn't want on film for other playoff teams. They weren't gaining anything using them to try to beat the Packers. Their position was locked. So yeah, they played to win, within a certain list of plays..

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I just mean I believe they with held some plays they didn't want on film for other playoff teams. They weren't gaining anything using them to try to beat the Packers. Their position was locked. So yeah, they played to win, within a certain list of plays..

Actually, in this case as it turned out they would have gained playing a different opponent in the NFC Championship Game. So yeah, they would have gained something.

 

[Stinger Ray]

I think they were definitely trying to win, I just don't think they were calling plays from the entire play book.

The excuses get better and better! So how many teams use their "entire play book" each game?

I just mean I believe they with held some plays they didn't want on film for other playoff teams. They weren't gaining anything using them to try to beat the Packers. Their position was locked. So yeah, they played to win, within a certain list of plays..

Oh, like calling the Forte pass against Seattle with a 28-3 lead. :(

 

[Flash]

Just heard a funny story from Dan Hampton, who by the way is picking the Packers tomorrow......

Anyway, back in 1990 the Bears beat the Packers at Lambeau. After the game Dan Hampton and Steve McMichael were out in the parking lot with Packer fans drinking beer. The Bear bus was ready to leave, Ditka ordered the bus to leave and as they were driving away he flipped off Hampton and McMichael. :X

Both players were fined $2k.

Hampton said it was money well spent.

 

[flapgreen]

In the NFL, anything can happen on any given Sunday. If the Packers were a 10+ point lock, they would be favored by 10+ points. If the general public thought Packers -3.5 was an easy bet, the books would be too lopsided and the line would have moved. I think most people realize how close this game will be.

In the betting world, being a home dog is significant. It doesn't mean the public thinks it will be a close game as much as it means the public thinks the Packers are significantly better than the Bears. They think so little of the Bears that they think a #6 seed is going to go into Soldier Field and beat them in the NFC title game.

This is very significant to me. If I was a Pack fan, I would be more concerned about this than anything else. You know the Bears have a chip on their shoulder. They are well aware of what's being said out there and how they're dogs in their own house against a team they beat for the division title. The players are still human, and this will only make the Bears play even harder.As a Bears fan, I know were already have plenty to worry about but I found that aspect significant. :X

I don't worry about that in the least. If the Pack can't "get up" and motivated for the NFC Championship, then they have no business playing in the Super Bowl. Ditto for the Bears - if they need silly stuff like this for motivation.....well, then they are grasping at straws.Either way, I expect a battle on Sunday.

It's human nature. Of course they will all "get up" for the game, but these types of things get teams going even more sometimes. Why do you think they post this stuff in the team locker rooms? Do you really think the Jets weren't a little more hyped up for the Pats game because no one gave them much of a chance? It was obvious afterwards. It doesn't mean they weren't motivated before but going out there, just a little more so when they felt disrespected. From a Bears perspective, I'd much rather be in the underdog role. :eta: Not saying it will definitely affect the game but it won't hurt.

 

[flapgreen]

Just heard a funny story from Dan Hampton, who by the way is picking the Packers tomorrow......Anyway, back in 1990 the Bears beat the Packers at Lambeau. After the game Dan Hampton and Steve McMichael were out in the parking lot with Packer fans drinking beer. The Bear bus was ready to leave, Ditka ordered the bus to leave and as they were driving away he flipped off Hampton and McMichael. :X Both players were fined $2k.Hampton said it was money well spent.

That team was crazy.

 

[flapgreen]

Interesting stat....Cutler's four career passer ratings against Green Bay have been: 43.2, 74.9, 82.5 and 43.5.

Fascinating...an upward trend, until the game that the Bears didn't need to win.

That's right....Cutler wasn't trying that game. He was just out there to get pounded into the ground.

Can we cut this #### out already?

 

[Green94]

 

[Stinger Ray]

Interesting stat....Cutler's four career passer ratings against Green Bay have been: 43.2, 74.9, 82.5 and 43.5.

Fascinating...an upward trend, until the game that the Bears didn't need to win.

That's right....Cutler wasn't trying that game. He was just out there to get pounded into the ground.

Can we cut this #### out already?

Tell your counterparts to stop making excuses about that game.

 

[flapgreen]

Interesting stat....Cutler's four career passer ratings against Green Bay have been: 43.2, 74.9, 82.5 and 43.5.

Fascinating...an upward trend, until the game that the Bears didn't need to win.

That's right....Cutler wasn't trying that game. He was just out there to get pounded into the ground.

Can we cut this #### out already?

Tell your counterparts to stop making excuses about that game.

They aren't my counterparts. We like the same team. That's about as far as it goes, unless that fireman dork at the Jets games represents all Jets fans.

 

[Stinger Ray]

They aren't my counterparts. We like the same team. That's about as far as it goes, unless that fireman dork at the Jets games represents all Jets fans.

Well then don't get mad at me...get mad at them for their nonsense!

 

[Pipes]

Interesting stat....Cutler's four career passer ratings against Green Bay have been: 43.2, 74.9, 82.5 and 43.5.

Fascinating...an upward trend, until the game that the Bears didn't need to win.

That's right....Cutler wasn't trying that game. He was just out there to get pounded into the ground.

Can we cut this #### out already?

Tell your counterparts to stop making excuses about that game.

That game doesn't matter anymore.. This thread is about the NFC championship game...please stay on topic.

 

[flapgreen]

They aren't my counterparts. We like the same team. That's about as far as it goes, unless that fireman dork at the Jets games represents all Jets fans.

Well then don't get mad at me...get mad at them for their nonsense!

 

[Alex P Keaton]

5. Terry McAulay. The ref in the Bears-Packers game is the same who reffed the first Chicago-Green Bay game this year, the one in which Green Bay was assessed 18 penalties. Eighteen! "Perfect,'' Brian Urlacher said with a smile Thursday. One big, big difference: Postseason crews are all-star crews, so McAulay will have different men with him in this game. But you can bet he'll be on the lookout for those offensive holds.

From Peter King. This scares me more about tomorrow's game than anything else.

 

[two_dollars]

5. Terry McAulay. The ref in the Bears-Packers game is the same who reffed the first Chicago-Green Bay game this year, the one in which Green Bay was assessed 18 penalties. Eighteen! "Perfect,'' Brian Urlacher said with a smile Thursday. One big, big difference: Postseason crews are all-star crews, so McAulay will have different men with him in this game. But you can bet he'll be on the lookout for those offensive holds.

From Peter King. This scares me more about tomorrow's game than anything else.

Well, to be fair, they held Peppers almost every play when they weren't so scared they jumped off sides..

 

[Alex P Keaton]

5. Terry McAulay. The ref in the Bears-Packers game is the same who reffed the first Chicago-Green Bay game this year, the one in which Green Bay was assessed 18 penalties. Eighteen! "Perfect,'' Brian Urlacher said with a smile Thursday. One big, big difference: Postseason crews are all-star crews, so McAulay will have different men with him in this game. But you can bet he'll be on the lookout for those offensive holds.

From Peter King. This scares me more about tomorrow's game than anything else.

Well, to be fair, they held Peppers almost every play when they weren't so scared they jumped off sides..

I'm not blaming the officials. Just saying that it scares the hell out of me.

 

[two_dollars]

5. Terry McAulay. The ref in the Bears-Packers game is the same who reffed the first Chicago-Green Bay game this year, the one in which Green Bay was assessed 18 penalties. Eighteen! "Perfect,'' Brian Urlacher said with a smile Thursday. One big, big difference: Postseason crews are all-star crews, so McAulay will have different men with him in this game. But you can bet he'll be on the lookout for those offensive holds.

From Peter King. This scares me more about tomorrow's game than anything else.

Well, to be fair, they held Peppers almost every play when they weren't so scared they jumped off sides..

I'm not blaming the officials. Just saying that it scares the hell out of me.

They did a hell of a lot better in week 17, it shouldn't scare you as long as the ref is honest.

 

[Keysersoze666]

I don't post here much any more (I Lurk, lol) but there is one main theme in this thread that needs to be addressed.

Sportsmanship.

I am a life-long Packer fan and growing up watching the games in the 70's, there was always one thing that baffled me. Packer fans, and I assumed the Players ... HATED the Bears, yet over and over the Green Bay defenders would go out of their way to help up, this Bear running back wearing #34.

Over the rest of Walter Payton's career I eventually came to view him as the greatest player I have ever seen play (never saw Jim Brown, etc.). After watching this bitter rivalry, with me living and dying on EVERY play, I still look back on those days and realize that as a boy, that's where I learned the meaning of Sportsmanship. A hated opponent that played his heart out and EARNED the respect of even his greatest rivals.

A Championship of any kind is ENHANCED by the quality of your opponents. It's true in every sport. To win while beating your greatest rival is icing on the cake. A fair chunk of both Bear and Packer fans in this thread should be ashamed of themselves. Petty, poorly thought-out bickering that actually DISRESPECTS the history of the Bear/Packer rivalry.

Root for your team to the bitter end, yet RESPECT the quality of your opponent and the battles that have been fought before you. Halas and Lombardi were fierce competitors that had more invested in this rivalry than ANY member of some silly football message board, yet showed class and dignity towards the other team when the final whistle blew.

Realize that honoring your rival appropriately is a true Warrior attitude, only the foolish disrespect a worthy opponent. I'm rooting for Green Bay and I think it will be an epic game in the history of the rivalry. I will also be a willing Bear fan in the Super Bowl if thats how it turns out.

Carry on, may the best team win.

 

[sts911911]

I don't post here much any more (I Lurk, lol) but there is one main theme in this thread that needs to be addressed.Sportsmanship.I am a life-long Packer fan and growing up watching the games in the 70's, there was always one thing that baffled me. Packer fans, and I assumed the Players ... HATED the Bears, yet over and over the Green Bay defenders would go out of their way to help up, this Bear running back wearing #34.Over the rest of Walter Payton's career I eventually came to view him as the greatest player I have ever seen play (never saw Jim Brown, etc.). After watching this bitter rivalry, with me living and dying on EVERY play, I still look back on those days and realize that as a boy, that's where I learned the meaning of Sportsmanship. A hated opponent that played his heart out and EARNED the respect of even his greatest rivals.A Championship of any kind is ENHANCED by the quality of your opponents. It's true in every sport. To win while beating your greatest rival is icing on the cake. A fair chunk of both Bear and Packer fans in this thread should be ashamed of themselves. Petty, poorly thought-out bickering that actually DISRESPECTS the history of the Bear/Packer rivalry.Root for your team to the bitter end, yet RESPECT the quality of your opponent and the battles that have been fought before you. Halas and Lombardi were fierce competitors that had more invested in this rivalry than ANY member of some silly football message board, yet showed class and dignity towards the other team when the final whistle blew.Realize that honoring your rival appropriately is a true Warrior attitude, only the foolish disrespect a worthy opponent. I'm rooting for Green Bay and I think it will be an epic game in the history of the rivalry. I will also be a willing Bear fan in the Super Bowl if thats how it turns out.Carry on, may the best team win.

Good stuff!!!

 

[RudiStein]

Interesting stat....Cutler's four career passer ratings against Green Bay have been: 43.2, 74.9, 82.5 and 43.5.

Fascinating...an upward trend, until the game that the Bears didn't need to win.

That's right....Cutler wasn't trying that game. He was just out there to get pounded into the ground.

Can we cut this #### out already?

Tell your counterparts to stop making excuses about that game.

We'll address this at the next global meeting of Bear Fans Inc.

 

[flapgreen]

I don't post here much any more (I Lurk, lol) but there is one main theme in this thread that needs to be addressed.Sportsmanship.I am a life-long Packer fan and growing up watching the games in the 70's, there was always one thing that baffled me. Packer fans, and I assumed the Players ... HATED the Bears, yet over and over the Green Bay defenders would go out of their way to help up, this Bear running back wearing #34.Over the rest of Walter Payton's career I eventually came to view him as the greatest player I have ever seen play (never saw Jim Brown, etc.). After watching this bitter rivalry, with me living and dying on EVERY play, I still look back on those days and realize that as a boy, that's where I learned the meaning of Sportsmanship. A hated opponent that played his heart out and EARNED the respect of even his greatest rivals.A Championship of any kind is ENHANCED by the quality of your opponents. It's true in every sport. To win while beating your greatest rival is icing on the cake. A fair chunk of both Bear and Packer fans in this thread should be ashamed of themselves. Petty, poorly thought-out bickering that actually DISRESPECTS the history of the Bear/Packer rivalry.Root for your team to the bitter end, yet RESPECT the quality of your opponent and the battles that have been fought before you. Halas and Lombardi were fierce competitors that had more invested in this rivalry than ANY member of some silly football message board, yet showed class and dignity towards the other team when the final whistle blew.Realize that honoring your rival appropriately is a true Warrior attitude, only the foolish disrespect a worthy opponent. I'm rooting for Green Bay and I think it will be an epic game in the history of the rivalry. I will also be a willing Bear fan in the Super Bowl if thats how it turns out.Carry on, may the best team win.

Get lost!

 

[flapgreen]

Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers baby! Be afraid, Pack! They're coming for you.

 

[flapgreen]

HUGEBEARSFANSINCEFOREVER!

 

[sho nuff]

5. Terry McAulay. The ref in the Bears-Packers game is the same who reffed the first Chicago-Green Bay game this year, the one in which Green Bay was assessed 18 penalties. Eighteen! "Perfect,'' Brian Urlacher said with a smile Thursday. One big, big difference: Postseason crews are all-star crews, so McAulay will have different men with him in this game. But you can bet he'll be on the lookout for those offensive holds.

From Peter King. This scares me more about tomorrow's game than anything else.

Well, to be fair, they held Peppers almost every play when they weren't so scared they jumped off sides..

I'm not blaming the officials. Just saying that it scares the hell out of me.

They did a hell of a lot better in week 17, it shouldn't scare you as long as the ref is honest.

Have done a lot better all year. I give the coaches credit for fixing what was going on. I think they ended up with something like the 4th fewest penalties in the league for the season. Cutting down to about 3-4 penalties per game after that.Hope that continues today.

 

[pantagrapher]

Looks like we got a few inches of snow overnight.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

I don't post here much any more (I Lurk, lol) but there is one main theme in this thread that needs to be addressed.

Sportsmanship.

I am a life-long Packer fan and growing up watching the games in the 70's, there was always one thing that baffled me. Packer fans, and I assumed the Players ... HATED the Bears, yet over and over the Green Bay defenders would go out of their way to help up, this Bear running back wearing #34.

Over the rest of Walter Payton's career I eventually came to view him as the greatest player I have ever seen play (never saw Jim Brown, etc.). After watching this bitter rivalry, with me living and dying on EVERY play, I still look back on those days and realize that as a boy, that's where I learned the meaning of Sportsmanship. A hated opponent that played his heart out and EARNED the respect of even his greatest rivals.

A Championship of any kind is ENHANCED by the quality of your opponents. It's true in every sport. To win while beating your greatest rival is icing on the cake. A fair chunk of both Bear and Packer fans in this thread should be ashamed of themselves. Petty, poorly thought-out bickering that actually DISRESPECTS the history of the Bear/Packer rivalry.

Root for your team to the bitter end, yet RESPECT the quality of your opponent and the battles that have been fought before you. Halas and Lombardi were fierce competitors that had more invested in this rivalry than ANY member of some silly football message board, yet showed class and dignity towards the other team when the final whistle blew.

Realize that honoring your rival appropriately is a true Warrior attitude, only the foolish disrespect a worthy opponent. I'm rooting for Green Bay and I think it will be an epic game in the history of the rivalry. I will also be a willing Bear fan in the Super Bowl if thats how it turns out.

Carry on, may the best team win.

I was wondering about how to achieve this, and serrendipitiously here was your post.

 

[Sabertooth]

Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers baby! Be afraid, Pack! They're coming for you.

Neither is as good as Woodson. Or Matthews for that matter.

 

[Green94]

In my mind, this game comes down to the Bears DLine/Secondary against the Packers offense. If the Bears can play to the level they did in the final game of the season, they put themselves in a good position to win the game. If they play like they did at the end of the Seahawks game, it is going to be a loooong day. The Packers run game against the Bears has been non-existant this year.

2 key names to watch for the Bears today - Tommie Harris and DJ Moore. Both played well in week 17 and Moore will be out there a ton with 4 and 5 wide sets.

Packer fans who think this game is going to be a blowout are putting far too much stock into one game. Did they play well, absolutely, they were impressive. Rodgers is playing out of his mind and the Packers receiving core is tops in the league. Now they travel to Chicago... where they have to contend with a far slower track and a better defense.

My feeling is we get a Tillman ball punch or a Peppers (drop back into coverage) interception that turns the tide in this game. I think the Bears ground game will get going early giving Jay a few looks down the field. I'd expect a few different receivers to get a little more involved this week as well (DA/Earl Bennett)...especially if Woodson is shadowing Olsen. Hester had a return TD in the first meeting and I think he'll set them up with good field position all day.

My homer prediction: Bears 23-Packers 21.

The Packers are the better team, but the Bears get it done at home and continue on this incredible season.

 

[Green94]

And I hope it snows... no Packer/Bears NFC Championship game would be complete without snow.

Go BEARS!

 

[Green94]

Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers baby! Be afraid, Pack! They're coming for you.

Neither is as good as Woodson. Or Matthews for that matter.

Does this shtick continue if the Packers lose?

 

[Alex P Keaton]

And I hope it snows... no Packer/Bears NFC Championship game would be complete without snow.Go BEARS!

It's been snowing all morning already.

 

[boubucarow]

It is like Christmas morning.

 

[cr8f]

In my mind, this game comes down to the Bears DLine/Secondary against the Packers offense. If the Bears can play to the level they did in the final game of the season, they put themselves in a good position to win the game. If they play like they did at the end of the Seahawks game, it is going to be a loooong day. The Packers run game against the Bears has been non-existant this year.

2 key names to watch for the Bears today - Tommie Harris and DJ Moore. Both played well in week 17 and Moore will be out there a ton with 4 and 5 wide sets.

Packer fans who think this game is going to be a blowout are putting far too much stock into one game. Did they play well, absolutely, they were impressive. Rodgers is playing out of his mind and the Packers receiving core is tops in the league. Now they travel to Chicago... where they have to contend with a far slower track and a better defense.

My feeling is we get a Tillman ball punch or a Peppers (drop back into coverage) interception that turns the tide in this game. I think the Bears ground game will get going early giving Jay a few looks down the field. I'd expect a few different receivers to get a little more involved this week as well (DA/Earl Bennett)...especially if Woodson is shadowing Olsen. Hester had a return TD in the first meeting and I think he'll set them up with good field position all day.

My homer prediction: Bears 23-Packers 21.

The Packers are the better team, but the Bears get it done at home and continue on this incredible season.

The Bears have complained about the footing more than Green Bay and how it slows their defense.

Martz said he didn't like the game they played weeks ago so this could be an offensive game. I know he hates running the ball so much. It's hard to know what twists both teams will use in this game.

The Bears can't cover Jones and Nelson with their 3rd and 4th DB's.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers baby! Be afraid, Pack! They're coming for you.

Neither is as good as Woodson. Or Matthews for that matter.

Thank goodness they all play different positions and are such easily compared entities.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

In my mind, this game comes down to the Bears DLine/Secondary against the Packers offense. If the Bears can play to the level they did in the final game of the season, they put themselves in a good position to win the game. If they play like they did at the end of the Seahawks game, it is going to be a loooong day. The Packers run game against the Bears has been non-existant this year.

2 key names to watch for the Bears today - Tommie Harris and DJ Moore. Both played well in week 17 and Moore will be out there a ton with 4 and 5 wide sets.

Packer fans who think this game is going to be a blowout are putting far too much stock into one game. Did they play well, absolutely, they were impressive. Rodgers is playing out of his mind and the Packers receiving core is tops in the league. Now they travel to Chicago... where they have to contend with a far slower track and a better defense.

My feeling is we get a Tillman ball punch or a Peppers (drop back into coverage) interception that turns the tide in this game. I think the Bears ground game will get going early giving Jay a few looks down the field. I'd expect a few different receivers to get a little more involved this week as well (DA/Earl Bennett)...especially if Woodson is shadowing Olsen. Hester had a return TD in the first meeting and I think he'll set them up with good field position all day.

My homer prediction: Bears 23-Packers 21.

The Packers are the better team, but the Bears get it done at home and continue on this incredible season.

I don't know a single Packer fan who thinks this game will be a blowout. Most people expect it to be a very close game, a real battle.