Nearly 240 days ago on January 23rd, the Green Bay Packers took to Soldier Field one game out from the Super Bowl, and became the NFC Champions in a 21-14 victory over the Jay Cutler-less, Chicago Bears.
On Sunday, both teams meet again for the 183rd time – this time around though, the Packers have some jewelry on their left hand, and bragging rights over their southern neighbors to go with it.
Here’s what we learned last time the Packers and Bears met in the NFC Championship Game:
5. The Bears Defense Had Trouble Containing James Starks
James Starks rushed for 79-yards and one score last time they met, and as much as the Bears defense warrants some kind of credit for their second half stand that kept the Packers offense scoreless, the Bears defense fell to pieces defending the run.
On nine separate occasions, the Packers picked up a first down by running the ball. Lovie Smith corrected the problem at halftime, but Starks enjoyed the doughnut size holes Chicago’s defense left him. Aaron Rodgers also got in on the act rushing for a touchdown himself – and Green Bay’s versatility on the ground game in the past two weeks indicates the same story may unfold on Sunday.
4. Tim Masthay + Devin Hester = Advantage Packers
It’s not often that the Packers special teams’ game is rated highly of – but Tim Masthay’s coffin corner punting is perhaps the underrated aspect of Green Bay’s Super Bowl success. In the postseason, the Bears found out the hard way when Devin Hester was left lifeless, and the Packers once weak special teams’ coverage blanketed the Bears return game on every attempt.
Chalk it up to Masthay’s foot or a slice of luck, but it’s not like the Packers played a game of sideline safety when it came to punting in the Hester direction either. On four separate occasions Hester was awarded a shot, but produced only 40-yards on the day.
No return game plus a wobbly offense this Sunday plays straight into the Packers’ hands.
3. The Bears Suffered From a Packers Hangover
There is more talk about what the Bears did wrong in January than there is about self-esteem.
Away from the X’s and O’s, the Bears Week 17 loss against the Packers a week before the playoffs changed the entire outlook of the NFC Championship Game for better or worse. On paper, Chicago was the top dog in the North, but confidence wise, the Packers had a 10-3 victory to point at and laugh.
Unfortunately for the Bears, nothing has changed – yet.
But if Brian Urlacher decides to claim that the Packers aren’t the best team in the division again, maybe it will work this time.
2. Brian Urlacher Is By Far Aaron Rodgers’ Biggest Concern
The Bears did a good job of keeping Aaron Rodgers in check. A helmet to helmet hit from Julius Peppers in the second half looked vicious, but it was the attitude changer the Bears defense needed with the Packers run game causing panic.
Unlike a week before against the Atlanta Falcons, Rodgers was never allowed to let loose on the Bears secondary like he wanted to. Besides struggling to find the redzone – a problem that was present against Carolina a week ago — Rodgers threw two interceptions in Chicago, and Brian Urlacher’s pressure was the number one cause.
The leadership of Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman will be crucial on Sunday if the Bears defense is to maintain some sort of structure after a blowout loss against the Saints last week. Plugging up the running lanes and stopping Starks is one thing, but limiting Rodgers from reaching 300+ yards is another.
1. The Soldier Field Turf Sucks
The Soldier Field turf sucked back in January, and it still does. After Brian Urlacher publicly criticized the Chicago Park District back in August, this Sunday’s game may surprisingly come down to which team chooses the more suitable cleats — rather than which offense can break out of the gates faster, or something more analytical.
In Week 1 the Saints struggled at Lambeau Field to maintain their footing, and the Packers took full advantage. Greg Jennings’ one on one match up with cornerback Patrick Robinson was exploited by Aaron Rodgers – but luckily the Bears cornerbacks have plenty of experience with Mike McCarthy’s play calling.
Rain or shine, the turf at Soldier Field could still change a few things on Sunday for the Packers defense that is now minus safety Nick Collins.
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But this is good ole Packers/Bears football, forget about the records or stats, Lovie Smith said his #1 goal was beat the Green Bay Packers, last year he got the first one in a sloppily played game by McCarthy’s team that looked lost and undisciplined with fumbles, 18 penalties,etc..Packers beat’em in last game of season and the NFL title, make no mistake if any team’s got a target on Packers this is the team. Problem is Lovie and Bears don’t have the offense Packers have, that big difference alone is enough to win this game and the division.