Email
Embed
MySpace
Facebook
Digg
Forget about the Green Bay Packers versus the Chicago Bears, instead the Bears’ hopes for a shot at a division title and playoffs will come down to the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons duel.
Though the matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers is always a highly anticipated one, their upcoming Monday night game at Soldier Field may be relatively subdued. That’s because by the time each team steps foot onto that increasingly problematic, slippery field they will already know their final NFC North fates.
With the Chicago Bears (8-6) currently second in their division and Green Bay Packers (5-9) following closely in third, the Bears’ chances of yanking the division title from the first-place Vikings and keeping their playoff dreams alive are looking increasingly slim. That said, the Packers pretty much have third place locked down.
And so, Monday’s classic rivalry between Chicago and Green Bay won’t matter as much about the Bears and Packers performance, but rather how well the Vikings play against the Falcons on the Sunday before. Considering the 35-14 defeat the Vikings handed the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Bears’ efforts may very well be in vain come Monday night.
For the sake of both Chicago and Green Bay fans everywhere, let’s assume for a moment that the Vikings may just choke against the third-place NFC South Falcons and actually offer the Bears a shot at the division. If so, then Monday night’s game against the Packers will likely come down to offense.
It has been an on-again, off-again struggle for the Bears throughout this season, and if they do fall to the Vikings in the end, the offense will be largely to blame. QB Kyle Orton is walking into Monday night’s game with 15 touchdowns and 2,586 passing yards under his belt so far this season.
Orton will go head-to-head for QB honors against the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers who has 884 more passing yards and 16 more touchdowns this season than Orton. Rodgers, who stepped up as QB on the heels of the Brett Favre retirement debacle, has proven himself to be much more than just the poor man's Favre. Overcoming the wavering expectations and high-stress demands of filling this legendary Packers' position, Rodgers may be a tough nut for the Bears defense to crack.
Likely picking up any offensive slack for the Bears will be scapegoat and rookie running back Matt Forte. Racking up the yardage with 1,115 rushing yards to date and seven touchdowns, Forte has been the Bears’ offensive edge throughout the season.
(Page 2 of 2)
Like green is to yellow or blue is to orange, Ryan Grant is to Matt Forte. Totaling 1,036 rushing yards this season for Green Bay, Grant trails Forte by just 79 yards and three touchdowns overall. He’ll certainly be someone to watch for when the cheese heads come for round two against the Monsters of the Midway.
Defensively, the Packers and Bears are running a relatively even race. The Bears are averaging 17.7 less yards against than the Packers, placing them 17th overall in the league. A marginal difference in the scheme of things, it is mandatory that each team brings their defensive A-game on Monday night.
So, while the Bears vs. Packers showdown may be nothing more than quality sports entertainment come Monday night, it should still produce the same rivalry-tastic, trash-talkin’ excitement it always does. Whether the Vikings knock the Bears out of this race or not, Chicago still has something to prove during Week 16.
As you may recall, the last time the Bears faced the Packers they were forced to leave with their tails between their legs after a Week 11 37-3 Green Bay ass-whoopin’. Here’s to avoiding the same painful beatdown.
