5 Matchups to watch for the Chicago Bears against the Green Bay Packers
By Evan Bruner
No. 4: Jaquan Brisker/Tremaine Edmunds vs. Aaron Jones
As much as Aaron Rodgers tormented the Bears over the years, he wasn’t the only culprit. Last season, Aaron Jones dismantled the Bears defense on Sunday Night Football, churning out 170 yards from scrimmage.
Unfortunately, Chicago’s run defense isn’t substantially better on paper than it was a year ago. The defensive line remains a liability, and the signing of Ngakoue, while crucial for the pass rush, offers little support to the run game. This means that if Chicago wants to hold Jones in check, they’ll have to do so with players from the second level.
Tremaine Edmunds was the team’s biggest free agency signing, and his athleticism gives him sideline-to-sideline range. He’s made his money in coverage, but he’s going to have to be more of a contributor between the tackles in Chicago.
Jaquan Brisker was one of the team's best run-defenders a year ago, and he will need to be yet again in 2023. The big concern with Brisker is finishing the play. He missed 17 tackles a year ago, and missed tackles in open field is something that the Bears can absolutely not afford.
Who Jones is matched up with is likely to change throughout the game, but Edmunds and Brisker will need to be big in the run game, or the Bears could be in for another rough day.