The Chicago Bears head to Lambeau Field in Week 5 for their first head-to-head showdown of the season with the Green Bay Packers. Though the Bears are the reigning NFC North champions, the Bears and Packers alike have both fallen at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings, who now holds the top spot in the division.
The Packers have had a rough go of the season so far, but they can't be considered out quite yet. They sit on the season at 2-2, but they've displayed several weaknesses that the Bears must exploit for a win in the next edition of this heated and historic rivalry.
Use the run game
Through the first four weeks of the season, the Green Bay Packers have posted the worst rushing game in the entire NFL, only compiling 232 yards, averaging a poor 58 yards per game. Their offensive line has been a weakness early, and they've made several moves to bolster it, though the results haven't quite shined through yet. The Bears must use their superior running game to eat the clock and find the end zone.
Be aggressive on third down
According to Pro-football-reference.com. the Packers have the worst third down conversion rate in the NFL, converting only 12 of their 46 attempts. That's only a 26.1% success rate! The Bears would be wise to exploit this clear opening in the armor. Playing aggressive on third down could create a very uncomfortable situation for Jordan Love when the drive is on the line.
The Packers offensive line has been one of their biggest problems through the season, and it could absolutely be traced back to the entire root of all of these problems. A good offensive line is paramount to a run game, and a crumbling line on third down will definitely give you stats like I cited above. That's why LaFleur has been calling the plays he has.
Eliminate the first and second looks
Jordan Love got the ball out of his hands faster than any other quarterback in Week 4, holding the ball for only an average of 2.20 seconds. Those types of quick passes are exactly what reveals the weakness the Bears must exploit.
That sort of gunslinger mentality shows that neither Jordan Love, the Packers quarterback, or LaFleur trust their offensive line to hold up for any amount of pressure. As a result, they're getting the ball out as quick as possible. Who needs an offensive line if the ball is gone in mere seconds?
If the Bears can manage their coverage well and eliminate those quick passes, it forces the Packers to rely on their line. Love has been slinging the ball out to his first reads because they're open, and the play was designed that way. Eliminating that target forces Love to scramble.
The Bears have been the victor in this most historic rivalry for the past season, and this week doesn't give the Packers high hopes that it will change any time soon. If the Bears can hit these three marks, they'll continue their route to the top of the NFC North, where Minnesota is waiting.
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