To say that the Chicago Bears weren't at their best when they met with the Green Bay Packers earlier in the season wouldn't tell half the story. Clearly, Matt LaFleur was still in his feelings and wanted to make a statement against Ben Johnson. Nice for him.
But now that the Bears have gotten Jeffery Simmons and the team is getting into a groove, the tables might turn when these teams meet again on Christmas. That's especially true after watching the Packers sit tight at the trade deadline.
The team with the worst rushing game and one of the worst offensive lines in the league didn't make a single move. That should give the Bears a clear blueprint to attack when they host them at Soldier Field in Week 16.
The Packers' wasted trade deadline is a win for the Bears
The Packers didn't need to establish the run when they beat the Bears 31-7. That said, they will now have to gameplan to stop Caleb Williams, their nemesis, instead of a combination of Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent.
LaFleur's team has only run for 100 yards once this season, and with Josh Jacobs dealing with an injury, that won't change any time soon. Even so, they refused to acknowledge their most glaring weakness and trade for another running back.
They might be 6-3 now, but the Detroit Lions have already shown how to manhandle their explosive WR duo. Matthew Golden can't handle the physicality, and Christian Watson has always been a bit of a boom-or-bust guy.
Also, what worked in the first half of the season won't necessarily do the trick later on in the year. Teams have more footage to study and analyze tendencies, and it won't be long before everyone else in the league catches up with Jordan Love's explosive passing.
The Packers' shaky offensive line will now have to deal with the best interior pass rusher in the game, Jeffery Simmons. They obviously won't be able to run the ball on him, either, not with that personnel, and Jordan Love has never been known for his decision-making under duress.
Granted, Chicago's outside cornerbacks also have left plenty to be desired, and they looked terrible in that tough loss. That said, one team clearly got significantly better when it could, while the other overrated a roster that might not be able to sustain the momentum once teams start taking away the big play.
Let's see who gets the last laugh.
| More Bears on DaWindyCity |
Add us as a preferred source on Google