Three Key Matchups for Packers-Bears Showdown

The long wait is over.

The NFL was able to whet America's appetite for the 2023 NFL season with the Detroit Lions shocking the Kansas City Chiefs on opening night.

All eyes shift toward Sunday, when the Green Bay Packers will take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

In a rivalry where so many things have changed over the years, the winds of change blew strong this offseason.

The Packers are breaking in a new starting quarterback. All of their primary pass catchers will be second-year players or younger.

The Bears are breaking in two new starters on their offensive line. They replaced nearly half of their starting defense.

What hasn't changed? The excitement level. There is nothing quite like the first game of the NFL season.

The Packers will begin a new era with Jordan Love replacing Aaron Rodgers. If the Packers win, there will be a collective groan across the NFC North.

If they lose, the other three teams in the NFC North will smell blood in the water with the sense of relief Aaron Rodgers' reign of terror is over.

For the Packers to escape Chicago at 1-0, here are the three matchups they need to win.

Green Bay's Interior DL vs. Chicago's Interior OL

The Packers have talked about it all offseason. They've promised changes. They promised things were going to be different.

They've said all the right things in terms of playing better run defense.

Use whatever metric you'd like - the Packers are near the bottom of any statistical category against opposing run games since Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur took over as the general manager and head coach.

There's no rest for the weary as the Packers are taking on a team with as good of a running game in the NFL.

Chicago's new No. 1 running back, Khalil Herbert, averaged 5.7 yards per carry a season ago. Justin Fields rushed for the second-most yards by a quarterback in NFL history last season. When the teams met at Soldier Field in December, Fields showed off his athleticism, by beating Keisean Nixon and running for a 55-yard touchdown.

Kenny Clark, who has been vocal all offseason about the changes that are coming, knows stopping the Bears' run game has to be their top priority.

“We got a different plan,” said Clark about slowing down the Chicago run game. “You’ll see on Sunday as far as the plan. As far as the techniques and everything, how we playing defense, we’re just being more aggressive. Going to move a little bit. You got guys like myself, TJ (Slaton), and D-Wy (Devonte Wyatt) that can play stout and get off of blocks. That’s all we got to do. Get off blocks at the end of the day. Stop the run and plug gaps.”

Instead of grabbing a veteran, Gutekunst opted to give bigger roles to Slaton and Wyatt. Those two are replacing Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry.

They'll be facing a reconfigured interior offensive line for the Bears.

Cody Whitehair is replacing the injured Teven Jenkins at left guard. Former Packers utilityman Lucas Patrick is starting at center next to free-agent signee Nate Davis at right guard.

One of the ways to keep Fields in the pocket is to push in the middle of their defense.

The Bears' two biggest strengths are their run game and Fields moving around.

The Packers winning this matchup would limit both of those things and go a long way toward a 1-0 start.

Young Pass Catchers vs. Chicago Secondary

Is Romeo Doubs going to play? What about Christian Watson?

Only the former has practiced this week. Before Thursday's practice, Doubs had missed the last week and a half, including the preseason finale.

Hamstrings are tricky, and that's what both of the Packers' top receivers are dealing with.

That's before the game even starts.

Once the game does start, the Packers' pass catchers are historically young.

They could be even younger. If Watson and Doubs are unable to play, the Packers' wide receivers will have a total of one year of NFL experience and five catches.

How are they able to match up against a Chicago secondary that boasts safety Eddie Jackson and cornerback Jaylon Johnson?

Sure, the run game is worth leaning on. Yes, Aaron Jones can be a factor in the passing game.

At some point, however, they'll need a natural pass catcher to make a play.

Who is the go-to guy when they need a big play?

Jordan Love vs. Himself

No pressure, Jordan Love, but you're only replacing a guy who won the league's MVP four times, won a Super Bowl and rewrote the franchise's record book.

Oh, and the team you're playing against? He owned them.

The Packers were 24-5 against the Bears during Aaron Rodgers' career in Green Bay.

Now, Love enters the scene.

Love battled some early-game jitters during the preseason. His ball placement was occasionally spotty before he would settle in.

Now, he has to play an entire game. Nobody would blame Love for being nervous. Nobody would blame Love for trying to do too much to prove he's the next guy in the lineage of great Packers quarterbacks.

It's those urges, however, that he needs to suppress.

If Love presses too much, he could put the ball in harm's way. One of the easiest paths to losing in the NFL is turning the ball over.

That's something Love has struggled with in his limited playing time. He cleaned that up this preseason, when he had zero interceptions or fumbles.

Love's command of the offense and relaxed style of play has been impressive. If you didn't know the situation, you'd assume Love was an established starter based on his preseason play alone.

Regular-season football is a different story. The windows get tighter. So can players.

Love has to maintain the play style he had throughout the preseason, even when mistakes hit.

Some of that onus will be on LaFleur to get Love comfortable.

"I think anytime that you can string together a few completions, that typically builds the confidence up a little bit." LaFleur said after Thursday's practice. "I think that's important to try and get him in the flow of the game."

More Green Bay Packers News

#Packers WR Romeo Doubs discussed his injured hamstring and return to practice today.https://t.co/g9wBYefZLH
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) September 7, 2023

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