Already, the Chicago Bears have an advantage over their hated rival with the Green Bay Packers dropping each of the past two matchups. The final loss came in an epic postseason collapse that has to leave a bit of mental scarring on a team that watched an impossible lead melted away by Caleb Williams and the Chicago offense. Already, this is a difficult hill to climb and leaves reason for the Bears to believe they will once again finish at the top of the NFC North. A notion that has been further fueled by this past week's decision to place Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list.
This is due to an alarming legal situation that is far bigger than football and remains in question. However, there is no way around the impact this has on the North and the fact it serves as another advantage for the Bears. Jacobs being out for an unknown amount of time has left Green Bay scrambling to find an answer and its current backfield a collection of injury-prone and unproven players.
Chicago has two options in D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai that both offer far more proven upside than Green Bay's current backfield. The lack of balance that this could create works in Chicago's favor and creates an advantage that should only add to the steam of the Bears repeating as NFC North champions.
Bears will unquestionably benefit from Packers losing star running back Josh Jacobs
With that said, it is important to note that Chicago would far rather beat the Packers at their best and leave no excuses. The entire situation around Jacobs is truly alarming and not one that should be celebrated in any way. Rather, this is simply pointing out the unavoidable football fallout and understanding that it will work in Chicago's favor with the Packers losing an important piece of their team.
Jacobs has offered Green Bay a combined 28 touchdowns over the last two seasons and been a source of frustration for the Bears. The rusher runs with a punishing style that wears on a defense and can lead mounting fatigue for an opposing defense.
A concern that no longer matters for the time being and gives the Bears yet another reason to believe they hold the superior roster. It will be interesting to watch from a division rival's perspective whether any desperation moves are made and whether or not it could set up a slow start to a season that appears to be another year the Bears finish atop the North.
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