Outstanding offensive line play helps Packers to easy win over Bears

 

Unlike in a few of their previous games, the Packers played with a bit more “passion” against historical rival the Bears this week, although it must be said that the Bears have not exactly been playing well for the past month or so, having started out 5-1 before losing four straight entering this game. The Bears principle weakness for the past few years has been their quarterback play. The Bears traded up for Mitchell Trubisky, and that hasn’t exactly panned out; he has turned out to be an Andy Dalton type--serviceable, but in no way the kind of quarterback you feel confidence in when the game is on the line. Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, took advantage of the running game that performed as Matt LaFleur’s “system” expected it to, and tossed four touchdown passes without having to expend too much energy.

Except for a couple of garbage scores in the fourth quarter, the 41-25 Packer victory was as much a much-needed shot in the arm as it was more evidence that the competition in the division was greatly exaggerated. The Bears looked just plain horrible for three quarters. Trubisky threw two interceptions and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown--although Za’Darius Smith should have been called for a facemask penalty that probably caused the fumble (two Packer defenders actually grabbed Trubisky’s facemask on the play). On the other hand, the Bears played so badly both offensively and defensively for the majority of the game, such bad luck was deserved.

The Packers offensive line played outstanding football, allowing no sacks or hits on Rodgers, and opening up enough holes for the best outing by the running game in awhile. Both Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams were efficient, as the Packers wracked-up 14 first downs off of 39 running plays. The Bears defensive front seem to allow every running play to get past the line of scrimmage without much effort, and although we can’t expect that kind of awful play from every team, at least it is a “confidence” builder in future games, hopefully.

Next week it is another “home” game against an Eagles team that has simply not played like the same team that beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The next three games are more than winnable, before playing “at” the Titans, who happened to beat the team the Packers lost to last week.