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Week One - Bears vs Packers.


Sugashane

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Chicago Bears vs the Green Bay Packers

One of the great rivalries in sports takes center stage in the opening week of the 2018 NFL season when the Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears. Aaron Rodgers is back for the Packers, but the Bears just made the blockbuster trade for an NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack. Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone after being driven to the ground against the Vikings on Oct. 15. From that point on, the Packers finished the season 3-8, going 7-9 overall for their first losing campaign since 2008. But Rodgers is back, and new GM Brian Gutenkunst focused on the shoring up the weaknesses of 2017, signing veteran free agents such as Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, DE Muhammad Wilkerson and CB Tramon Williams. The Packers have Super Bowl aspirations once again. The Packers have let long-time DC Capers go and hired DC Mike Pettine - a considerable upgrade.

 

To match the Bears have had a busy offseason. After suffering through likely the worst WR corps in the NFL last year the Bears will not have that issue this year. To add to the duo of Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen in the backfield the Bears have signed talent around Trubisk in Allen Robinson, Trey Burton, Taylor Gabriel, drafted Anthony Miller with one of their 2nd round picks and suprise offseason standout Javon Wims in the 7th round. The offensive line now has Kyle Long healthier than he has been in several years, and added the other 2nd round pick in OG/C James Daniels. Aside from offensive boosts the Bears defense looks to build on an even better group. The trade for Mack adds a top 3 defensive talent in the NFL at the most important position in football, but the Bears retained Fuller, Amukamara, Callahan, and drafted freak athlete ILB Roquan Smith at 8th overall and rotation OLB in 6th round pick Kylie Fitts.

 

The Packers made moves to win a Super Bowl this season, the Bears made moves to challenge for the Super Bowl for the next few years.

 

The Chicago Bears, as usual, aren’t being given much of a chance against the Green Bay Packers in Sunday night’s opener at Lambeau Field. It’s not surprising that more than 90 percent of experts are picking the Packers to win their fifth straight game in the historic rivalry. What may be surprising, however, is the outcome.

 

The Bears are bringing a completely revamped roster and coaching staff to Green Bay. Unlike the dated philosophies of John Fox, ineptness of Loggains, and the head-scratching decisions made by Jay Cutler in years past, this Bears team has a chance — a real chance — to pull off an upset victory.

There are several reasons why Chicago will can in Week 1. Here are four of them.

Packers have no idea what’s coming

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The Green Bay Packers are at a major disadvantage this week. Coach Mike McCarthy and his staff are facing Matt Nagy for the first time in what represents his head coaching debut. There’s no film or track record to study for Nagy aside from his time as Andy Reid’s offensive coordinator in Kansas City. But that’s like studying apples to prepare for oranges.

Nagy is calling the shots now and has a roster with different strengths and weaknesses than he had with the Chiefs. Studying how Nagy used Tyreek Hill in the passing game won’t offer much help with how he plans on using Tarik Cohen out of the backfield. Sure, the Packers can prepare for how Nagy liked to target Travis Kelce (and maybe it will be the same with Trey Burton), but the Bears coach never had a talent like Allen Robinson at wide receiver and it’s anyone’s guess how much he’ll involve him in the game plan.

And then there’s the whole Khalil Mack factor, who like Nagy, is making his debut in the Bears’ scheme Sunday night. No preseason games. No scrimmages. Nothing. There’s simply no way for Green Bay to know how Mack will be unleashed until, well, they know.

The Packers have Pettine at DC now, but unlike Nagy there are years of film to detect much of his tendencies. 

Aaron Rodgers adjusting to life after Jordy Nelson

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Rodgers is Rodgers and there’s no doubt he’ll have a productive game with some jaw-dropping throws along the way. We just have to deal with it.  But this is the first time in a long time that he’ll try to beat the Bears without Jordy Nelson, his go-to-guy.

Davante Adams will get the lion’s share of targets from Rodgers, but he’ll have two new faces on passing downs who he needs to build in-game chemistry with. Tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Geronimo Allison will be on the field a lot, and timing with those pass catchers will matter more than ever with Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd coming off the edge.

Rodgers will work out the wrinkles with his new targets this year but defenses usually start the season ahead of offenses. And the Bears defense is ready to pin its ears back and get to work.

Khalil Mack will own Bryan Bulaga

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Mack versus Bulaga is one of the key matchups Sunday night and if you’re betting on who will come out victorious, go all-in on Mack.

Bulaga is making his return from a torn ACL suffered in November and while he’s been deemed fully recovered, he’s going to be at least a little rusty in his first game back. And when that first game back is a matchup against Mack? Yikes.

The Bears pulled off the biggest blockbuster trade in franchise history to land Mack so he can line up for Vic Fangio and destroy quarterbacks. He’s going to do everything in his power to prove GM Ryan Pace right by having the biggest possible impact a Bears pass rusher can have in any season: Sack Aaron Rodgers.

Mitch Trubisky is ready for prime time

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Trubisky has said and done all the right things this offseason. He’s become the Bears’ leader and, by all accounts, has grasped Nagy’s offense quicker than expected.

In Week 1 against the Packers, Trubisky will put all of his offseason work on display against Chicago’s most hated rival in front of a national audience.

He’s ready.

Trubisky isn’t the wide-eyed, inexperienced rookie Green Bay played last season. He’s put in the work, as a starter, all year. He has a revamped wide receiver group consisting of legitimate weapons who can make plays. And beyond any of that, he has his teammates’ trust and confidence.

Trubisky isn’t trying to prove he belongs anymore. Now, he’s trying to win a Super Bowl. And with the talent surrounding him heading into 2018, he’s set to explode.

With little film to study and first-game fatigue sure to set in for the Packers, Trubisky will take a huge step in crafting a breakthrough season in Week 1.

 

Injury Report

Chicago Bears

DeAndre Houston-Carson, S - Out - Sep 7

Comment: Houston-Carson (arm) did not practice Friday and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers.

 

Green Bay Packers

James Crawford, LB - Questionable - Sep 7

Comment: Crawford (hamstring) was limited during Friday's practice and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears, Michael Cohen of The Athletic reports.

Josh Jones, S - Out - Sep 7

Comment: Jones (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's regular season opener against the Bears, Michael Cohen of The Athletic reports.

Oren Burks, LB - Questionable - Sep 7

Comment: Burks (shoulder) was limited during Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears, Michael Cohen of The Athletic reports.

 

 

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52 minutes ago, Madmike90 said:

The key matchup here is our "interior weapons" against their LBs & Safeties...Cohen, Gabriel, Miller & especially Burton can all have huge nights of we get the matchups we want.

And/or Mitch and Robinson taking advantage of his size on the outside against 35 yr old Tramon (5'11) and a rookie (5'10).

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Play this week has been universally terrible; I wonder what this will mean for the game tonight. Does the sloppiness favor the experienced team playing in the same offensive system, or the tapeless offense that hasn't been fully scouted? 

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