Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago passing game
Like the Packers, the Bears have a young inexperienced quarterback; they’re averaging just 16.8 points per game and have scored just one touchdown in their last 27 offensive possessions.
Trubisky is 2-2 as the starter and completed 12 combined passes in the two victories, but Trubisky’s superior mobility and decision-making over Mike Glennon’s has made Coach John Fox’s choice to elevate the rookie in Week 5 look like a no-brainer.
Now Trubisky gets a chance to build a rapport with newly acquired veteran wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, who’ll provide some of the requisite size and dependability needed for the rookie to excel.
Trubisky already had perhaps the NFL’s worst group of pass catchers before losing his best, TE Zach Miller, on Oct. 28 to a season-ending knee injury. That’s why the team traded for Inman who should become the focal point of the passing attack.
He is limited in what he sees beyond the primary receiver, more dangerous with his legs than his arm. They will call QB draw on occasion! He is at his best outside the pocket and appears to be accurate on the move.
The best thing we can say about their receiver corps is, they block well down field. That’s akin to saying, “he/she has a good personality.”
Run to win: The Chicago running game
Chicago’s top five rushing offense, headed by Pro Bowler Jordan Howard with rookie triple threat game-breaking changeup Tarik Cohen, is a hallmark of coach John Fox’s idea of building a team on a running game and defense.
The Packers will be tested by Jordan Howard, the “bell cow” of this Bears offense who leads the team with 662 yards (ranking 5th in the NFL) and Tarik Cohen who is an outstanding complement to Howard’s power with his quick twitch ability in the open field.
Cohen is the Bears’ leading receiver with 28 catches for 234 yards and a touchdown. They run Cohen all over the formation looking for exploitable linebacker matchups.
The Green Bay defense
Third down defense has been a major problem for the Packers this season; they are yielding 44.4% conversions on third downs ranking 27th in the league. LAST WEEK THE DETROIT LIONS NEVER HAD TO PUNT! In the previous game, the Saints punted just twice in 11 possessions.
Green Bay has yielded 37 plays of 20+ yards this season (30 passes and 7 running plays). Five of those explosive plays came in the New Orleans game including two of 40+ yards! The Lions had four explosive plays last week.
Last week vs. Detroit, the Packers had a season-high nine tackles for loss (sacks not included). They held the Lions to 64 yards on 33 carries – just 1.9 yards per pop, marking just the fourth time since the merger that the Packers allowed 65 or fewer rushing yards on 30-plus attempts by an opponent.
The Packers have allowed 69.6 percent of opponents’ red zone trips to end in the end zone, ranking 30th in the NFL. Every team has scored at least a field goal against Green Bay when they have entered the red zone. Last week, the Lions were 2-4 on red zone touchdowns; they were 0-2 in goal to go situations.
