Story Created:
May 21, 2009
Story Updated:
May 21, 2009
Next game: Monday, December 22nd at Chicago
Packers Gameday now on Newsradio 620 WTMJ and a live blog here
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears get it on again.
It's the 177th meeting between these teams.
It seems like forever, though, since the last one.
That was a 37-3 destruction of Chicago at Lambeau Field.
That was before four straight losses came Green Bay's way.
The last three came in the final two minutes.
It's time for Green Bay to regain some confidence.
It's also time for the first sweep of Chicago since 2003.
Will they pull it off?
"Our Experts" give their thoughts.
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Packers at Bears
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| Our Expert |
When Packers have the ball |
When Bears have the ball |
Prediction |
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Lance Allan
Pregame Analyst,
Packers Gameday
Sports Anchor/Reporter, Today's TMJ4
More - Sports Glance with Lance
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Run in the cold.
The last time these teams met, the Bears were so concerned about the Packers' passing attack, and Chicago rarely had more than seven in the box, and safety help was deep. The Packers shoved the Bears all over the field for 200 yards on the ground. After the Dec. 23, 2007 debacle, when the wind was swirling around and the Packers gave up in the cold, Green Bay knows it has to run and pound a weak interior of the Bears defense, and it appears it might be nearly as cold as last year.
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Stop Orton and Hester.
Devin Hester is more of a factor in the passing game, with four catches last week. He also drew two key defensive penalties, including one that set up the Bears with their game winning field goal in overtime against the Saints. Kyle Orton is healthy and will be more accurate than his woeful comeback performance at Lambeau Field.
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Green Bay 27, Chicago 24.
One of these weeks, the Packers will win, adn the last two years at Soldier Field, the team that was leas suspected to win...won!
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Jim Ganzer
Editor, Sportsbubbler |
Better decisions in the passing game.
The last two weeks, they keep throwing downfield on 2nd and 3rd down and short yardage. The Packers need to minimize the slow-developing plays and get back to the quick hitting slant and post routes.
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Play with confidence and pride.
Much of the blame for the poor season is falling on the defense. They need to dig deep and play with heart. That's the only way they'll stop the Bears' offense.
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Green Bay 24
Chicago 17.
The Packers' defensive backs will step up big with two interceptions.
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Greg Matzek
Co-Host, Wisconsin
Sports Weekend, 620WTMJ
Contributor,
Sportsbubbler |
Don't....
....throw it to the other team in the fourth quarter.
....hand it of to the fullback on 3rd or 4th and 1.
....kick field goals instead of scoring touchdowns.
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Do....
....get a sack from someone who doesn't wear a jersey number including 74.
....cover the running backs and tight ends, and make the Bears' wide receivers beat you.
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Chicago 23,
Green Bay 21.
I imagine this to be a close game. The Packers have been awful in close games this saeson. That being said, the Bears win a tight one and remain in the playoff hunt.
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Jay Sorgi
Postgame Anchor,
Packers Gameday
News and Sports Anchor/Reporter,
620WTMJ
Sportsbubbler:
"What the Blog's
Going On Out
Here?" |
Contract, then stretch (or vice versa) the Bears' defense.
Green Bay showed it could pound the Bears' interior line with the running game. The Chicago secondary has also proven time and time again it can't cover Packers receivers when it focuses on the run. If it's 7 in the box, run Ryan Grant up the middle. Once Chicago gets the message and cheats a safety, run slants and similar patterns which can put Packers receivers in position to turn their YAC from a pedestrian 14th in the league toward last year's best in the NFL.
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Win the battles in the middle and make Orton beat you outside.
In the last four weeks, Kyle Orton has produced four touchdown passes and seven interceptions. If the Packers handle Matt Forte and prove they can actually cover a tight end, it puts pressure on a quarterback who isn't prone to destroying teams by going up top and depending upon his wideouts, including the dangerous but inexperienced Devin Hester.
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Green Bay 24,
Chicago 13.
Green Bay has, to say the last, tended not to win the close game. For whatever reason, this one won't be.
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