Mark Schlereth, three-time Super Bowl Champion, joined Rich Eisen and the cast of the Rich Eisen Show in his usual NFL analysis spot.
Schlereth's comments on the NFC North and the Green Bay Packers will leave Chicago Bears fans in a huff, but they should remember that Schlereth's words carry weight.
"“But the Micah Parsons thing is devastating, without question. I still think even with that injury, I still think the Packers are slightly better than both Chicago and Detroit.”"Mark Schlereth
Where the Conversation Changes
With Micah Parsons out for the season due to a crushing ACL tear, the Bears are in a much better spot than they were the first time facing Green Bay. During Parsons's short time in Green Bay this season, he's become a fundamental piece of their defense. He's arguably become the face of the defensive side of the Packers.
One of the chief reasons the Bears fell short of the Packers was Parsons himself, and his remarkable ability to apply pressure to the QB and pocket. The 2025 Bears identity comes at the hands of their offense, and Green Bay's performance against them was excellent. Removing Parsons from that equation will result in a vastly different game and outcome.
"“The Christian Watson news was big for them. Him not being, you know, it doesn't look like he's gonna miss time. That's huge. Because he's the one lift the top of coverage guy.”"Mark Schlereth
Christian Watson has not been ruled out of the Week 16 rematch between Chicago and Green Bay. Chicago is certainly monitoring this situation closely, as it plays a significant role in the Bears' game plan for the upcoming battle. Schlereth is absolutely not wrong about the magnitude when he insinuates Watson will be on the field come Sunday.
In the Bears' incredibly heartbreaking Week 14 loss to Green Bay, Watson had an extremely efficient outing, logging two touchdowns and 89 yards on a perfect reception day. They threw him the ball only four times, and he caught it every single time. Watson is a consistent and highly reliable target for the Packers' offense, and it's obvious why the Packers trust him.
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With the threat of Micah Parsons off the table, the Bears gain a much-needed advantage. With the Packers in the wounded state they're in now, adding another game missed by Watson could have destructive consequences. If Watson is ruled out, the Bears will find themselves in a well-balanced position to win this game and the NFC North at large.