***TNF IN THE SWAMP - CHI @ GB***
***CHICAGO BEARS @ GREEN BAY PACKERS***
An old school matchup in the Black and Blue Division AKA the NFC North takes place on the Prime Time stage tonight as the Bears head into Green Bay to take on the Packers. The Black and Blue Division has never been a more appropriate name and the Bears and Packers are both decimated with injuries at the moment. Some would say that this evens the playing field a bit, but I don't think that is the case here. On one side of the ball you have a Bears team who didn't necessarily have high expectations coming into this season and any expectations were almost immediately thrown out of the window when it feels like their entire defense went on the IR at the start line. They have been playing with backup QB Brian Hoyer who has been solid since starting for an injured Jay Cutler, so much that he has taken the starting job from Cutler for the time being. Hoyer has produced in the passing game but the Bears as a whole are struggling in the redzone where it matters. Last week we saw the Bears defend their homefield against the Jaguars but struggled in the redzone where it matters and settled for FGs, which eventually blew up in their face as the defense was unable to stop the Jags from scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter and inevitably losing the game outright 17-16. That was a confidence crushing loss for the Bears as they now have lost their last two games in the waining moments and tonight I believe could be the brutal hat trick as I expect the Packers to show no mercy and take out their own frustrations on them. Once again the talks of "what's wrong with Aaron Rodgers?" have begun and the subject has dominated sports media for the past couple of weeks and only gotten stronger. Especially this week after losing to the Cowboys at home last Sunday, I have noticed that the Rodgers talk has spiked at a possible all time high. I don't know about you, but I feel as though I have seen this movie before. In the infamous words of Aaron himself during a similar situation last season, "R-E-L-A-X." Against a beat up secondary and defense in general tonight without the threat of a pass rush, I believe Rodgers will silence his critics with a vintage A-Rodge type passing performance. I think this guy has to be licking his chops on the short week to get out there and dominate and frankly, there is nothing the Bears can do about it. The Pack will be without both their top RBs in Lacy and Starks and have acquired Kansas City backup RB Kniles Davis who I think will eventually be a great fit for GB. However, given the fact that the guy has been with the team for all of two days I don't expect a lot from him or the running game tonight but again, I don't think they will need it. Rodgers should be able to throw on this defense at will. On the other side of the rock, Hoyer will also be facing a beat up secondary as GB has had big injuries back there as well this season. Green Bay is without their top CBs but the only difference here is the Packers actually have a solid defense and can get after the QB. I expect LBs Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers to lead the way and get after Hoyer tonight. Also, Rookie LB Kyler Fackrell has been a pleasant surprise for the Packers and that is part of the reason GB has been solid against the run, at least until last weekend. GB had been dubbed one of the best run stuffing defenses in the NFL before the Dallas Cowboys came into town and ran all over them and grated the cheese. I thought that title of a stout run defense was a bit of a mirage as I mentioned in my Cowboys writeup in last Sunday's Muck 5. Make no mistake about it, the Cowboys are for real and have the best run game in the NFL. They are an actual rushing offense and before facing them, the Pack hadn't had to try and stop a pure run game like Dallas has and Rookie RB Ezekial Elliot torched them behind the best offensive line in the league just as the Swamp anticipated. GB also helped out the 'Boys hugely with some costly turnovers and this is something that they can be mindful of and fix, plus the Bears aren't a threat to really create any. Tonight the Pack will face another Rookie RB Jordan Howard who has really taken the bull by the horns and ran with it (heheh) since getting the opportunity with injuries to the RBs in front of him. This kid is a house and can be a three down back with the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. That all being said, I don't think he has the quickness to exploit the Packers defense like Elliot did nor does Chicago have the same offensive line as Dallas although it is a solid one, but like the rest of the Bears units, it is banged up with injuries. Green Bay should be able to bottle him up and limit his production, forcing Hoyer to beat them with his arm. Basically here, I think Chicago will be able to have some success on offense but won't be able to be efficient enough to keep up with the surge coming from Rodgers and the Packers passing game that I expect to take place tonight. Green Bay's defense should be looking to bounce back here and it is time for Matthews, Peppers, & DE Mike Daniels to cause some turnovers and I think they will rattle Hoyer tonight. Feeding off the energy from the home crowd, on Prime Time, and on a short week, as we have seen sometimes there is no better medicine than this after coming off a loss that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. This is the perfect "get-right game" for the Pack as they typically own the Bears. Yes, Rodgers has been off but last week I chalk up to the fact that Brett Favre was in the house. It feels as though whenever they honor Favre which seems like once a year, the Pack loses outright! I believe last year they honored him at halftime in a game against the Bears on what I want to say was a rainy Thanksgiving night, and the Bears upset the Cheese as healthy dawgs, similar to tonight. Favre Voodoo is strong, but he won't be there tonight, Rodgers had his glass of scotch while watching film as he said he would, and I believe will be ready tonight. He will have all day against this nonexistent pass rush and WRs Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have been ghosts for the most part this season, & tonight is the perfect spot to get it going. The Cheeses will show up tonight and put together a complete game showing Packers Nation that all is well in Wiscy and to once again R-E-L-A-X. PACKERS-7.5
