Week 2 Bears Preview: Bears, Packers Meet for Sunday Night Showdown
Bears look to send early message to NFC North that could radiate across NFL
No two rivalries are the same.
For instance, not many rivalries have lived over the course of 294 match-ups like the one between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, which will bump up to 295 this Sunday night as the Bears visit Green Bay in front of a national audience on NBC.
Entering this weekend, the Packers lead the all-time series, the NFL’s oldest, with a record of 103-95-6.
Tale of Two Weeks
In spite of its hold of the series lead, the Packers are not the ones heading into Week 2 with the momentum. The 1-0 Bears pulled off quite an upset in the season-opener, defeating the 49ers 19-10 in what many have deemed “The Rain Game” given the wet and chaotic conditions inside and outside the field of play.
After the Bears’ triumph last Sunday, the Packers squared off against another division foe in the Minnesota Vikings and were handed a disappointing 23-7 loss. Rodgers was sacked four times and held to a 67.7 rating. That being said, the 38-year-old quarterback knows how to bounce back. According to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times, Rodgers is 8-0 following a defeat since 2019. That record extends to 9-0 for the Pack under head coach Matt LaFleur.
An Unstoppable Force
Sunday will mark the third Bears-Packers game featuring Justin Fields and Aaron Rodgers. The first two battles were won convincingly by Mr. Rodgers and his Pack. In the December 2001 meeting last season, Rodgers threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns.
“Take in all the information, you really do because things change. And he’s been around. He's had success for a long time. And he’s done it with different pieces, different guys around him,” head coach Matt Eberflus said on Wednesday when asked about how he approaches a match-up versus Rodgers.
Eberflus is tasked with changing the tide against the Packers. Dating back to 2010 the Bears have won just four of the 25 games against Green Bay.
Luckily, the Bears won’t have to deal with Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams, who the Packers dealt to Las Vegas in the off season. Now, Rodgers will have to rely on a receiving corps led by fifth-year pass catcher Aaron Lazard.
A pivotal key to containing Rodgers will be the Bears’ own Pro Bowler, defensive end Robert Quinn. The 32-year-old did not light up the stat sheet last week, but game footage showed he still played a significant role in pressuring the 49ers young sign-caller Trey Lance.
Hello Old Friend
Sunday’s game will also be a homecoming for first-year Bears coach Luke Getsy who coached in Green Bay on two separate occasions. At 38, Getsy is in his first season as an NFL offensive coordinator.
On Wednesday, Getsy was asked about how working with Rodgers helped shape his style of coaching.
“He challenges you every day to be on it.” Getsy said. “Your details, there's no maybe kinda sort of’s. You gotta bring it and you gotta know it. And dude's intelligence is very high. So you better bring it.”
Monster Sized Meaning
This game always holds a special meaning to each fan base but it also holds a special place in those taking part.
“It means a lot. Of course I want to win every game you play. Of course this is tradition, it means a lot to the team, the fanbase, the people upstairs. It means a lot to everyone in the building,” Fields said on Wednesday when asked about the meaning of this game.
Cole Kmet, a native of Lake Barrington, Ill., did not hold back when asked about the upcoming showdown.
“I’m from here, this is a big deal to me. To play in this game is an honor in itself. This games means a lot to me. I don’t have a problem saying that. As a kid growing up and rooting for this team.”
Bear Tracks
Coach Eberflus named guard Lucas Patrick this week's honorary captain.
Rookie wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., who was out in Week 1 with a hamstring injury, is listed as doubtful for Sunday night’s game.
Bears placed offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood on the non-football illness list. As a result, the team re-signed offensive lineman Michael Schofield to the active roster.
Kick-off is set for 7:20 pm Sunday Night.
TV: NBC
Radio: WBBM Newsradio 780 AM and 105.9 FM
Spanish Radio: TUDN 1200 AM and Latino Mix 93.5 FM
Weather: 61 degrees with 40% precipitation
Saul Rodriguez is WARR Media’s associate producer and lead Bears reporter