NFL Predictions Week 3: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears NFC North Rivalry Preview

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Sunday, 9/25/11, 4:15 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -4
Current Betting Line: Green Bay -4
Opening Total: 45
Current Total: 45.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher knows how good Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is.

Green Bay will be meeting the Chicago Bears for the third time in the past nine months, which includes a 21-14 win in the NFC Championship Game as 3.5-point road favorites. The Packers have won 14 of the last 19 games at Solider Field and head coach Mike McCarthy is 7-2 in September road games. The team comes in with a perfect 2-0 record, picking up wins over the New Orleans Saints (42-34) and Carolina Panthers (30-23), but has actually been out-gained in each contest. Green Bay is the only team in the NFL to register four 2-0 starts in the past five seasons. Over the last two-plus seasons, the team is 13-8 ATS on the road.

The Packers are being led once again by the offensive prowess of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has registered a 104.3 passer rating since the start of last season, which is second only to New England’s Tom Brady. He has completed 70.8 percent of his passes for 620 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in the opening two weeks. On the other side of the ball, the team has struggled tremendously against the pass, allowing opponents to throw for over 400 yards in both contests.

Chicago is definitely looking for a little more balance this week after calling 52 pass plays and just 11 runs versus New Orleans last week. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has heard head coach Lovie Smith loud and clear during practice this week. “If you’re looking for blame, blame me,” commented Martz in practice. “It’s just one of those things that happens.” The Bears will need to call more running plays to soften the Packers’ pressure, as signal-caller Jay Cutler has been sacked 11 times already this season. The offensive line allowed an NFL-high 56 a year ago. Chicago is 10-11 ATS as an underdog the past two-plus seasons.

The Bears defense is focused on stopping Rodgers, who is the first quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter. “He’s got everything,” commented Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher. “He knows that coverage you are in. He knows when to run the ball.” Ironically enough, the team has had success against Green Bay’s offense recently, allowing 17, 10 and 14 points in three games last season. On the injury front, Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler is hoping that wide receivers Earl Bennett and Roy Williams will be inside the huddle Sunday, as both are questionable at this point.