Sunday Night Football Picks – Packers Aiming To Make A Statement
The first edition of Sunday night football will pit a couple of NFC North neighbors in what is a more important contest than most people want to admit.
For the Green Bay Packers, they’ve played third fiddle to the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears this offseason as both of those teams have made headlines with their quarterback acquisitions. The Packers, though, didn’t need to make wholesale changes, they just needed to do some growing.
Time: 8:25 ET
Venue: Lambeau Field
Bears vs. Packers SNF Lines
MoneyLine: Bears +165 / Packers -190
Spread: Packers 3.5
Over/Under: 46
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The Packers were the youngest team in the NFL last year and they will be a year wiser in 2009. With an offense that includes Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver and James Jones, they could have one of the best attacks in the NFC. Meanwhile, their defense has had a change in philosophy and if they are at all better from last year, this could be a sleeper in the NFC.
For the Packers, they need to win this game to prove they belong among the frontrunners in the NFC North. For the Bears, they aren’t expected to win, but a triumph would be a nice bonus in Jay Cutler’s official debut.
Bears offense vs Packers defense
The Bears offense is fairly vanilla when you consider their receiving threats. The Packers have top-flight corners in Charles Woodson and Al Harris and they should easily win the battle on the outside against Devin Hester and Earl Bennett. That means that the Bears will have to do their dirt either on the ground or with their tight ends.
The Packers defense has looked much improved throughout the preseason but this will be a test for them. Switching to the 3-4 typically includes some growing pains but the Packers have looked as if the transition might be very smooth. With the advantage in the secondary, look for the Packers to put all of their efforts on shutting down Matt Forte.
Packers offense vs Bears defense
The Packers offense is young, fast and versatile. The Bears offense is aging, slow but still very competent.
It will be an interesting matchup that will obviously decide this game but it’s hard to see the Packers dynamic offense being slowed down by anyone this year.
Rodgers has a good offensive line in front of him and he has tons of receiving weapons. Aside from Jennings, Jones and Driver, the Packers also have Jordy Nelson and surprising tight end Jermichael Finley. The Bears are thin in their secondary, which means they won’t have the corners to match up.
At home, the Packers will score – there is no doubt about that.
Outlook & Free Pick
The Packers offense has been fluid in the preseason and that will carry over into the regular season. This is a very important game for them not only to show that they belong in the hunt for the NFC North title but to show that they are going to simply lay down and be the third best team in the division.
Their offense is too much for the Bears defense to handle while the Packers defense should get a boost from the home crowd and do enough to slow the Bears down. Take the Packers to cover the spread and win the game.
Our NFL Free Pick: Packers -3.5
Dave Golokhov has written for BETUS Sportsbook, Sportsfanmagazine.com, FOX, Askmen.com, Sports-central.org, and the FOXSports.com Funhouse.
