Bears vs Packers: Inside the Matchups
Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
When the Packers Have the Ball
The Packers boast the 6th ranked scoring offense in the league, matching up against the Bears’ 21st ranked defense. The Bears give up an average of 372.4 yards per game while the Packers gain an average of 346.1 yards per game. As long as Aaron Rodgers is at the wheel, Packers fans sit back and R-E-L-A-X.
Packers Rushing Offense (24th, 97.5 YPG) vs Bears Rush Defense (13th, 110. YPG)
For as much preseason hype as he’s gotten, Eddie Lacy hasn’t done much this season. He’s got 428 yards and 4 TD’s. The Packers claim they’ve been saving Lacy for this part of the season, when the weather gets cold and they need to grind out some tough yards.
For the Bears, they’ve vastly improved in their rush defense. Give Phil Emery credit, he identified a weakness and put a lot of resources toward fixing it. The Bears held Lacy to 2.8 yards per carry in their first matchup this season. Last year, in Green Bay, Lacy went off for 150 and a TD. The Bears will be without Lamarr “Eat Dirt” Houston, who’s nursing the torn ACL he suffered in New England celebrating a garbage time sack of the Patriots’ backup quarterback. That will force Willie Young to step up against the run.