Predicting Chicago Bears first four games
By Adam Childs
The Chicago Bears look to repeat as NFC North champions but they have a tough schedule this year. Getting off to a great start is big for Chicago. So how will they fare in the first four games?
We are less than two weeks away from the opening Thursday of the NFL season as the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers kick off the 100th season.
We have analyzed the schedule and noted how the Bears have a much tougher schedule this year because of winning the North last year, but the beginning looks a little easier than the rest. If the Bears want to have a good year and repeat they need to get off to a good start. Luckily for them, they play some of the bottom teams to start the year.
Playing the weaker opponents early only helps if they can win the games. So how will the Bears do this season? We take a look at the first four games and make predictions on if they will win or lose and what the score will be.
Week 1 vs Green Bay Packers
The Bears get to host their hated rival in a game where the Packers will be looking for revenge. The Bears won the last time these two teams met and clinched the division. It was a great way for the Bears to clinch the division but you can bet the Packers want it back.
Aaron Rodgers looks to be healthy and he has been a thorn in the side of the Bears his entire career. He hasn’t played in any preseason games after the debacle in Winnepeg and its field. But he has been playing at such a high level for so long the fact that he hasn’t played shouldn’t matter. The big question will be how do he and new head coach Matt LaFleur get along. That will be key in how well the Packers do this year.
Rodgers still has a bunch of weapons led by Devonta Adams, but the Bears defense did a good job of shutting them down last year except for the about a quarter of the game to open last season. How Khalil Mack and company slow down the Packers offense will be key in this game. They must get Green Bay off the field and not let Rodgers control the tempo. They need to keep him from extending plays, that is when he is most dangerous.
On the other side of the ball, it will be interesting to see how David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen are used in the backfield together. Mitchell Trubisky needs them to run the ball well to take the pressure off of him and the passing game.
The Bears hope that Trubisky will be able to win some games for them this year, but this game will come down to the defense stopping Aaron Rodgers and company. The good news for the Bears ist hat this game is at home as they have struggled to win in Green Bay. It is a big advantage getting this game at home to try and get off on the right foot and I think they will.
Rodgers will be good but without playing in LaFleur’s new offense yet will slow him some. Mack helps put pressure on Rodgers and forces him into a few uncharacteristic mistakes. The Bears score just enough to win game one and start off 1-0