The 100th season of Even the NFL will begin on Thursday night when the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field live on Sky Sports Action and Main Event.
Here is what to expect…
Green Bay (6-9-1 last season) finally made a head coaching change in the end of last year after 13 years of Mike McCarthy and his offense that had lots of success but ultimately become stale and predictable. Matt LaFleur, who arrives as a Sean McVay’disciple’, will at the very least mean defenses won’t know what to anticipate.
The defense has seen a complete revamp, together with the Packers uncharacteristically spending large in free agency (Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos) and adding two first-round selections in the 2019 NFL Draft (Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage Jr).
After an eight-year playoff absence, the Bears (12-4) returned the postseason. First-year head coach Matt Nagy was named athlete of the Year, second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky bettering his death touchdowns (24) from the year ahead and the defense let a league-low 17.7 points. A first-round playoff depart in the home was a major disappointment.
Last year’s breakout means Chicago have hefty expectations this year, and the way they respond to this loss of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio (Denver’s new head coach) will go a long way to determining their achievement. The players are there, however, will Chuck Pagano be in a position to replicate this past year’s sanity?
It begins with his favorite goal along with Aaron Rodgers Davante Adams, who hauled from 111 moves last year. Nevertheless, the question is can offense look with LaFleur in charge? Can Rodgers be slinging it? What’s the program with the running game along with Aaron Jones?
Green Bay have a secondary using playmakers. Jaire Alexander was outstanding as a rookie, and rookie Darnell Savage, Adrian Amos and Kevin King Comprise the rest of the back four. Can they make a game-changing employee turnover?
Chicago fans may wish to see Mitchell Trubisky progress further in year two with Nagy. Wideout Allen Robinson was coming from injury a year ago, but will he return to his 2015 Pro Bowl form entirely healthy?
Rookie running back David Montgomery is also anticipated to have a direct impact, and a rushing attack that already averaged over 120 metres per game last season could be helped by him.
Then, among a complete team of studs that are defensive, there’s Khalil Mack. In last year’s opener from the Pack, he managed a touchdown, one forced fumble, 1 recovery, an interception and just one sack. Plus, he included 2.5 sacks at the return fixture. He could win the match for Chicago.
The series record between these two is 97-95-6 in favour of the Packers. Last season, the spoils were shared 1-1 with both teams winning at home by one score. These groups are tough to separate.
But we hardy secondary of Chicago and are looking for the new Green Bay crime and how they will handle the wonderful pass-rush, handling linebackers.
Rodgers was stifled – he threw 42 passes with one pick, zero touchdowns and only 25 completions – and has been shot five times. Leading rusher Jamaal Williams only managed 55 yards on the ground also.
LaFleur’s attack – and he calls the match against this defense – will be the secret to this matchup.
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