NFL kickoff,The Packers vs. The Bears : a Preview

 

image source: www.thebeacontap.com

In the recent years, the Thursday night NFL kick-off matches become more or less common. In the opening match this year instead of featuring the Bowl champion, NFL decided to inaugurate the season with the centennial rivalry, in which the Bears will be hosting the Packers. As the two rivals usually meet each other twice in every season, remained in the same conference since pre and post-merger of NFL-AFL.

NFL ‘s inauguration choice is not merely due to display and glimpse at one the ancient rivalry dual, but between these two very successful Thursday night opponents, they got a total of 22 NFL titles. Green Bay Packers leading with the most, 13 NFL titles, 9 of which are pre-merger( between NFL-AFL) NFL titles and 4 Super-Bowl titles. The Bears aren’t far behind, they claimed a total of 9, 8 of which are pre-merger championships and 1 Super-Bowl title.

Both the opponents are placed in the same division NFC North. The Bears had relatively better 2018 season, they made to the playoffs, but they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles at the NFC’s Wild Card Playoff match. The also won the divisional title after almost 8 years. The Packers finished their season dismally, with a record of 6-9-1 and finally sacking of their 13 season’s head coach Mike McCarthy.The team did have some injury issues, but 1-5 at a stretch in the November –December, compelled the team to part their ways from their long-running coach.

Packers are fielding their teams under the guidance of their new head coach, former offensive coordinator, Matt LaFleur. So naturally, it is expected better of the coach-QB tandem of the Packers. On the other hand, the Bears were 2018’s ranked first in defense, in terms of points allowed and takeaways. Bears Khalil Mack (13.5 TFL, 12.5 sacks), Akiem Hicks(7.5 Sacks & 14.5 TFL), Kyle Fuller, Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith, Eddie Jackson, and others are back again for this year to defend any onslaught by the offense. This does not mean the Bears impenetrable and Rodgers is not expected to win less than 38% of his starts.

image source: www.wagertalk.com

 

In all their 198 meetings, the Packers are leading 97–95–6.  But in their last visit on 15^th December 2018, Packers after struggling very hard lost 17-24 to the host, Bears. In that match Bears sacked Packers’ quarterback 5 times, less than 60% passes were completed. Though Packers lost that match 17-24, in their opening and the previous encounter in the season Packers managed to defeat the Bears 24–23.

For the last ten years in the season kickoff matches, the hosts won most of the times, such as, in the last 16 years only two times the visiting teams won. Moreover, the Bears won 7-1 as the host vs. Packers lost 1-7 as the visiting, so the odds are tilted heaving towards the Bears. But, an outcome isn’t a pattern and whomever is committed, dedicated and plays the balls well comes out as the victorious.