OFFICIAL Game Day Thread: Bears @ Packers

[falco]

My god...can anyone believe Favre is playing for the Vikes? Not so hard to believe after the last year, I guess. This year is on pace to be the most exciting year of NFL football of all time.

QFT

Oh crap, I know I'm doing something wrong when I get a QFT from Mobb...

[MOBB DEEP]

I don't even have the Bears in division contention.

Dont sleep Bretsky: Cutler is the truth...

[Rastak]

Scouts inc Packers-Bears breakdown

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Bears-Packers matchup.


1. Chicago needs to show balance on offense: With the acquisition of talented QB Jay Cutler, the Bears' offense needs to establish itself as a balanced attack. Cutler can make all the throws as well as improvise effectively when plays break down. Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner can expand the playbook.

2. Expect the Bears to spread the ball around: Look for a good dose of Matt Forte in the running game, but also expect the Bears to toss the ball around to their perimeter targets as well as their talented tight ends.

3. Expect the Bears to be aggressive with their defensive game plan: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had an impressive preseason, so we should look for Bears coach Lovie Smith to pressure him with a variety of blitzes and stunts. Look for corner and safety blitzes as well as some zone pressure packages up front to get the ball out of Rodgers' hand quickly.

4. Expect designed plays for Devin Hester: Hester is arguably the most explosive playmaker on Chicago's roster. The Bears will try to get him the ball in a variety of ways. Hester's route-running has improved dramatically, and Cutler can get him the ball much better than the Bears' previous signal-callers. Hester will likely be called on to run the ball on reverses. He'll also be used on bubble screens to get him in space versus the Packers' defense.

5. Matchup to watch -- Cutler vs. the Packers' secondary: Cutler has all the tools and weapons to put up big numbers versus the Packers. Green Bay has a talented secondary with two 12-year veterans defending on the perimeter as well as very capable safeties in the middle. This should be a great battle of wills as the Bears are not likely to be conservative in their play calling while new Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers will be ready with a few wrinkles of his own.

6. Look for Green Bay to run early: As talented as Rodgers is, we should look for Packers coach Mike McCarthy to establish the Packers' ground game early in the contest. McCarthy doesn't want to be one-dimensional with the pass. We will likely to see a good mixture of Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn in this matchup.

7. Look for an aggressive approach from the Packers' defense: Capers was brought in to bring a more aggressive style to Green Bay's new 3-4 scheme: The Packers have talented linebackers, and the 3-4 scheme lends itself to more stunts, twists and zone-blitz pressure.

8. Expect second-team tight end Jermichael Finley to have a big role: The Packers seem to have found another potent target in Finley. He had an excellent preseason, showing the ability to stretch the field as well as refined route-running, and will be a tough matchup for the Bears' linebackers.

9. Look for big plays from the Packers' defense: The new-look Green Bay defense was more active than any other defense in the preseason. The Bears won't be conservative, which plays into the Packers' favor.

10. Matchup to watch -- Packers WR Greg Jennings vs. Bears CB Nathan Vasher: The Packers will likely try to exploit the Bears' secondary with Jennings, Green Bay's most explosive receiver. Vasher will likely to draw the assignment of covering Jennings. Even though Jennings didn't see much action in the preseason, McCarthy will call his number a lot in this contest.

Prediction Chicago 24 Green bay 23

[falco]

I'm going to go on the record as saying that all this love the pack is getting is seeming very ominous to me...

[MOBB DEEP]

My god...can anyone believe Favre is playing for the Vikes? Not so hard to believe after the last year, I guess. This year is on pace to be the most exciting year of NFL football of all time.

QFT

Oh crap, I know I'm doing something wrong when I get a QFT from Mobb...

LOL

[MOBB DEEP]

I'm going to go on the record as saying that all this love the pack is getting is seeming very ominous to me...

Yeah, thats what pbmax and myself have been sayn this week...

I mean ppl are LOVING the pack....

[Fritz]

The Bears still suck (repeat, repeat, repeat)


I'll be enjoying the game at home with the kids - it'll be my son's first game (2mo old) so I'm not sure what to cover: history of football, history of the NFL, history of the Packers, football basics, season preview.

He'll be posting on forums in no time.

GO PACK!

First, I hope you've already bought him his first football - and no damn nerf/sponge/mini versions, please. If he's going to be a real man he needs a real football.

Secondly, I think if you approach this as a holy event, a ritual, all the other stuff - how the hell the game is played, for example - will follow in its own sweet time.

[Freak Out]

Lets get it on!

[Dabaddestbear]

I am so ready for kick off of the games today!

I will be watching the Vikings game first today. it is a MUST to watch your rivals play when your team is not playing. Gives me an extra team (whoever is playing my teams rival) to cheer for while my team isn't playing...lol.

So today my favorite teams to root for are as follows:
1. Chicago Bears
2. Cleveland Browns (although I put my money on the vikings to win today )
3. New Orleans Saints

Go Bears!!!

[MOBB DEEP]

It will be a high scoring game....

[Partial]

Whoo hoo go Pack!

[GBRulz]

This should be a nice test; the Bears almost always bring their best game and highest intensity to Lambeau.
.

I hope they bring the same game they brought to town last year

[Dabaddestbear]

This should be a nice test; the Bears almost always bring their best game and highest intensity to Lambeau.
.

I hope they bring the same game they brought to town last year

Different QB, different defensive scheme, but same players that is used to being int he play offs!
Play Ball!

[denverYooper]

This should be a nice test; the Bears almost always bring their best game and highest intensity to Lambeau.
.

I hope they bring the same game they brought to town last year

Different QB, different defensive scheme, but same players that is used to being int he play offs!
Play Ball!

Except that QB, he's never been to the playoffs.

[Dabaddestbear]

This should be a nice test; the Bears almost always bring their best game and highest intensity to Lambeau.
.

I hope they bring the same game they brought to town last year

Different QB, different defensive scheme, but same players that is used to being int he play offs!
Play Ball!

Except that QB, he's never been to the playoffs.

A Packer fan of all people should be the last to use that as a rebuttal, for neither has Rodgers. Heck Rodgers havent even had a .500 season...lol.

But enough of that. Lets talk about what the players may do today, who cares about yesteryear!