Well, well, well. Lookee here. It seems the two upstart teams from the NFC North actually do have some star power. The EasternSeaboardprogrammingnetwork had it all wrong, didn't they?
The Packers, with a coach whose playcalling is questionable, all the injuries, the bust AJ Hawk, somehow, someway made it to the NFC Championship game. They lost their starting RB and Stud TE yet still beat the Medias #1 pick last week. Who else did they beat? How about playoff team after playoff team? Little Green Bay, in the clumsy NFC North. My, how far you've come.
The Bears, with an aging defensive scheme and old players to boot, somehow made it to the NFC Championship game. Mike Brown is gone. Tommie Harris is a shell of his former self and Urlacher is old and coming off an injury. Winners of the NFC North. Cutler may have been sacked nearly 60 times but he kept getting up. He stayed positive and his team and its fans supported him. Forte stayed healthy and Devin found his way again. Bears beat the Packers once this year. They beat the Jets and they beat Pittsburgh last time they played them.
The most storied rivalry in the NFL comes down to this. Two teams. Two cities. Two burning desires to be the worlds best. It is with great honor that I break down the game:
Bears O VS. Packers D
Cutler has struggled vs. the Packers. The Bears did play the Packers tough in week 17 but everything they showed was vanilla. Martz and CO will be more than ready for Capers and his band of overachievers. How? Not because of Jay Cutler, although he has the potential to get hot and win the game. The answer is very simple-Matt Forte. Packers cannot stop him and he's healthy and hot. Olin knows this is his last shot and will shut down BJ. The only way the Bears can win this game is if Matt Forte can eclipse 150 total yards. Look for Martz to put the game on Fortes shoulders with a wide dose of screens to he and Olsen. Then, look for Knox and Devin to get deep. If Tramon the rookie can keep playing at this unexpected high level the Packers will have a chance.
Packers O vs. Bears D
Rodgers is the next Montana. You'd believe that if you listened to the media. G.B. is favored despite being the road team and everyone on every coast are waiting in line to say "I told you so" about Rodgers and his Packers. Not so fast. Somehow, some way, Lovie's cover two gives Rodgers problems. It's not the pass rush, but the Bears are in his head to a certain extent. Tillman, much like Kruetz is aging and breaking down, and has stripped the Packers down more than a hooker on NYE. Lovie wants to beat the Packers as much as the fanbase and he will work with Rod M. to develop another gameplan. Sheer will and hustle will keep the Packers from exploding the scoreboard. If the Bears can contain the big play against G.B.'s tough and talented WR's, the game will have to play out on the ground and that is where G.B. will struggle. The Bears will not allow over 80 yards on the ground. With Rodgers passing nearly every play in the fourth quarter in the elements, at Solider field, look for the oportunistic Bears to cash in.
Special Teams
Week 17s outstanding performance aside, the Packers Special Teams "coach" should be fired. Just one more game, Packer fan, one more game. This area is unquestionably a strength for the Bears. Devin Hester is a beast and lives for the big game. Same goes for Robbie.
Final prediction and score
As much as I want my Bears to win, I want the Packers to lose. I want their players crying in the endzone when that gun goes off. I want them bloody, bruised and sulking all the way back to Green Bay. The overhyped Packers and their fans wish they could play the underdog role, but they cannot. Everyone is picking them and already crowning them. Hopefully Rodgers' cute (i.e., gay) little championship belt celebration will bite him in his dumbass. I've never seen a more obnoxious celebration. Out of a QB nonetheless. After a first down. Pathetic.
Packers 10
Bears 16
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