The Chicago Bears will have their biggest matchup to date this season taking on the Green Bay Packers in the NFL’s most-storied rivalry.
The Bears and Packers have enjoyed plenty of success this season and, even after coming off a road win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago are underdogs by nearly a touchdown entering Sunday and appear to need to make yet another statement to the books and the NFL world.
Both teams had significant changes to their rosters coming into this season, with Green Bay making the big splash in acquiring superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons has paid off well for Green Bay in his first season, already totaling 12.5 sacks entering Week 14, while the Bears threw several resources to upgrade their offensive and defensive lines, as well as the addition of head coach Ben Johnson.
All things are shaping up to be an incredible chess match between the two teams, and here are four key matchups to watch for at Lambeau Field.
Bears OL coach Dan Roushar vs. Packers EDGE Micah Parsons
It would be a big discredit to each offensive lineman for the Bears to try and list them as a matchup against Micah Parsons, which would also be a disservice to him. Parsons is at his best when he is being moved all over the field on defense, which means more than any one player, it’s going to be up to Chicago’s offensive line coach Dan Roushar to have the best possible scheme to shut him down. It’s going to take the entire unit to slow down Parsons, and he comes into this game totaling 6 sacks over his last three games.
Bears WR Luther Burden III vs. Packers CB Keisean Nixon
Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is out of this game due to a foot injury which should mean a bigger role for rookie Luther Burden III, who has shown flashes of his potential throughout the season. Keisean Nixon is one of the most versatile playmaking cornerbacks on Green Bay’s defense and both players will be very fun to watch go up against one another. There’s a chance that Nixon is also mostly covering DJ Moore, but if he gets put up against Burden, the rookie will need to win the matchup in what should be his biggest opportunity of the season.
Bears CB Nahshon Wright vs. Packers WR Jayden Reed
When discussing playmaking cornerbacks, there is no denying the play of Bears corner Nahshon Wright who has had a career year in his first year with Chicago. Green Bay will get one of their biggest wide receiver playmakers in Jayden Reed back, and Wright could very well draw the assignment against him. Christian Watson had been the biggest threat for Green Bay since they lost tight end Tucker Kraft, and now their passing game gets more dangerous with the return of Reed. Wright has not been taken advantage of much this season, and if he can slow down Reed, it should significantly help the success of their passing defense.
Bears front seven vs. Packers RB Josh Jacobs
No matter the play of Green Bay’s passing game, their most consistent offensive threat has been running back Josh Jacobs. On the season, Jacobs has rushed for 731 yards and 11 touchdowns, which is tied for third place in the NFL. Green Bay’s touchdown rate success is in big part due to the play of Jacobs, and in what is expected to be a very frigid and cold game, Green Bay could heavily rely on their star running back. Although Chicago contained him to 120 yards in their two meetings last year, Jacobs was able to find the end zone once in both meetings, so he’s always a big scoring threat no matter what.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 4 key matchups to watch as Bears battle Packers in Week 14
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
