Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: GB 24, CHI 27 (Line: GB by 1)

Update: Brandon Marshall never practiced and is listed as questionable because of his ankle. He is tentatively expected to play but check his game time status at 1 PM Sunday to be sure he is ready to play.

Big game in Chicago this week. The 1-2 Packers are 0-2 on the road and are getting close to desperation if it doesn’t turn around soon. The 2-1 Bears have won their last two but oddly not their only other home game.

The visitor won both times these teams met in 2013. The Bears won 27-20 in Green Bay and the Packers won 33-28 in Chicago.

The Packers offense has not looked this inept in maybe the last ten years. The rushing offense that was so good in 2013 has disappeared behind poor blocking and in particular the TE Richard Rodgers has been called out. Not only is the running poor, but Aaron Rodgers entire passing game has shrunk to where it only includes two players – Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.

QUARTERBACK : Curious. Aaron Rodgers turned in a standard 346 yards and three scores when the Jets visited. But in two road games against the Seahawks and Lions, he only scored once in each and was held to fewer than 200 passing yards. Both sported decent defenses to be sure but Rodgers no longer runs the ball and struggles to be average when away from home.

Rodgers passed for 318 yards and two scores in Chicago last year.

RUNNING BACK : Perhaps the biggest surprise so far is that Eddie Lacy had done little to remind anyone of the punishing runner who would usually score a touchdown every week. Lacy has not scored this year and his best effort so far was when he gained 43 yards on 13 carries. He is averaging just under 40 rushing yards per game. The only touchdown scored on the ground by the Packers was back in the opener when John Kuhn scored on his only run. Lacey has faced some very formidable defenses though and is bound to improve as the schedule eases.

Lacy gained 66 yards on 21 carries with one score in Chicago last season while James Starks gained 88 yards on just 11 runs. The Packers ran for 190 yards in the home meeting.

WIDE RECEIVER : Jordy Nelson had his way with the weak secondary of the Jets but was limited to 83 yards and no scores in Seattle and then 59 yards in Detroit. Randall Cobb scored three times in the first two weeks but never gained more than 58 yards in any game. Jarrett Boykin drops more passes than he catches and is in danger of losing out to Davante Adams who doesn’t matter anyway.

Nelson caught ten passes for 161 in Chicago last time while Cobb only caught two passes for 55 yards – both were touchdowns.

TIGHT END : No fantasy value.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Bears have played surprisingly good defense and limited all opponents to only one passing score. No one has rushed for more than 63 yards on them though Frank Gore scored on them and Chris Ivory totaled 97 yards. These are divisional foes and the Bears defense seems to be playing over their head and they already lost Charles Tillman. Rodgers, Lacy, Nelson and Cobb still should start every week and should show up here. If this is just another mediocre showing by the Packers then their problems run deep.

The Bears return home hoping to notch their first win in Chicago after that loss in the season opener to the Bills. Not unlike the Packers, the rushing game here is not meeting expectations as well but the pass is winning games. This is the first divisional game so it matters more and then two very tough road games are to follow. The Bears schedule is far tougher on the first half than the second so any winnable game has to be grabbed up through the bye.

QUARTERBACK : Jay Cutler threw at least two scores in every game so far but his yardage has varied greatly for 176 up to 349. He’s made great use of the tight end spot while his wideouts are banged up and thrown no interceptions for two weeks. This week he should get more from the rushing offense and that will help since he was sacked four times in New York.

Cutler passed for 262 yards and two scores against the visiting Packers last year.

RUNNING BACK : Matt Forte still has not scored a touchdown this year and his last two games only totaled 36 and 76 yards respectively. But he ran for 82 yards and added eight catches for 87 yards in the season opener and only home game so far. His workload has been lower this year but he’s faced some daunting defensive lines along the way.

Forte ran for 110 yards, caught four passes for 47 yards and scored three times against the visiting Packers last season.

WIDE RECEIVER : Brandon Marshall was held to only one catch for six yards in New York but had a touchdown called back on an unrelated penalty. Marshall re-injured his ankle during the loss and missed time getting retaped in the locker room. He is expected to play this week though his ankle may get some rest in practice. Alshon Jeffery went off for 105 yards on eight catches versus the Jets for a season best but he still has not scored. No other wideouts matter here. Santonio Holmes only catches two short passes per week.

Jeffery (3-80) and Marshall (6-74, TD) both had good efforts versus the Packers last year. Both scored in the meeting in Green Bay.

TIGHT END : Maybe this is where Martellus Bennett’s streak stops. He’s caught at least one touchdown in all three games and two just last week. His yardage has been moderate but his role as a red zone target has exceeded either wideout. Unfortunately he faces the best ranked defense against tight ends this week.

Bennett never had more than 46 yards and never scored versus the Packers last year.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: Clay Matthews left the game with a groin injury and any limitation to him will help the Bears. The Packers have only given up three passing scores but those were two for Russell Wilson and one for Geno Smith. Somehow the Packers denied Matt Stafford any scores in that loss. Forte has a good shot at finally getting that touchdown wit the Packers already surrendering four to the position and well over 100 rush yards in all road games. Aside from Calvin Johnson (6-82), the Packers have not faced any decent receivers so far. Consider Cutler, Forte, Marshall and Jeffery as sure starts. Bennett goes against a defense that has only allowed seven catches for 66 yards in total for all tight ends and no touchdowns. That makes him less appealing but he is on a hot streak.

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