Bears vs Packers Week 4 Preview: Five Questions with Lombardi Ave
4. The Bears and Packers know each other all too well, but we’ve spent an entire offseason without touching base. Are there any new faces or under-the-radar players who will affect Thursday’s outcome? Give me a Packer on each side of the ball that fans might not be expecting who will make a big contribution on Thursday night.
On defense, look for both rookies – Josh Jones and Kevin King – to show their faces Thursday night. Jones had 12 tackles, two sacks, and two quarterback hits against the Bengals last Sunday. He’s fast, he’s tough and has that assassin’s creed that he brings to the field. It seems he’s always around the ball making plays. Keep that guy healthy and the Packers have a potential star in the making.
King, the team’s overall first pick in last spring’s draft, is another tough player with size and length. He showed up at Atlanta and isn’t shy about covering the opposition’s best receiver. Though A.J. Green tested him greatly last weekend with double-digit receptions and a touchdown, King was competitive as well. The touchdown Green scored in the first quarter was in zone coverage, so King wasn’t responsible. Having Jones and King in the defensive backfield has been refreshing. They cover, they tackle and don’t shy away from making plays. Look for them to shine.
Chicago Bears
On the offensive side of the ball, continue to look Geronimo Allison’s way, especially if Randall Cobb doesn’t play. If Cobb plays, Allison’s snaps may be reduced, but he will still see the field. He’s a second-year receiver who appears to have taken that sophomore step. He’s tall, has lots of range, good speed and makes plays. Aaron Rodgers loves him because of his route running. Fans love him because he’s always making big plays.
5. It’s prediction time. Please give me a brief synopsis and predict the final score.
This game will feature the violence we come to expect from any Packers vs. Bears matchup, but we all know this one will once again come down to the big plays and the play at the quarterback position. Obviously, the Packers have the edge in the quarterback competition, but that is all really reliant on the play of Green Bay’s offensive line. They need a good game after two that have been putrid. Injuries have decimated the line.
As of this writing, it’s uncertain if left tackle David Bakhtiari or right tackle Bryan Bulaga will play. If they don’t, it will be interesting to see what changes Mike McCarthy makes to shore up the offensive line. That all said, I still feel the Packers have the edge … they are playing at Lambeau, they have Aaron Rodgers, and some way they will find a way to win this game.
Packers 26 Bears 16
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Big thanks to Ray for his thoughtful answers. Be sure to head over to Lombardi Ave to get a peek behind the Cheddar Curtain ahead of the Bears vs Packers Week 4 matchup.