Just like when Astronaut Steve Austin crashed during a test flight, my NFL picks season must be rebuilt. I have the technology. I have the capability to make the world’s first perfect picks week, both straight up and against the spread. Will I do it? No, but it’s good to have goals. We start the week off with our Thursday Night Football presentation featuring the Green Bay Packers (2-1) hosting the Chicago Bears (1-2).
The game will be simulcast on your local CBS station and the NFL Network at 8:25 p.m. EST. I’ll be live blogging it right here at Get More Sports.
The Game: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (-7)
The History
This is one of the NFL’s oldest rivalries, going all the way back to 1921. It’s the 195th game between the two franchises and the series currently is all tied up, 94-94-6.
In spite of the historic nature of the match up, the Bears and Packers are rarely good at the same time. It’s a series of streaks, with Chicago’s longest making it to eight games from September, 1985 to November, 1988 during the Mike Ditka era.
Green Bay put together a 10 game consecutive win streak from November, 1992 to December, 1998 during the Brett Favre and Mike Holmgren era.
Since Aaron Rodgers took over at quarterback for the Packers, he’s beaten Chicago 15 out of 19 games, including one 21-14 playoff victory on January 23, 2011.
That was only the second time the Bears and Packers met in the postseason. The first was a 33-14 Chicago victory on December, 14, 1941. Chicago won 33-14.
CHICAGO BEARS (1-2)
As stunning as the Bears’ upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers was last Sunday, it should serve as a reminder at exactly how difficult it is for any team to go 0-16 in the NFL. The Steelers were (and should still be) on plenty of postseason predictoin lists and most would concede they began the year as Super Bowl contenders. Chicago not only won the game, but they held Pittsburgh to just three points in the final quarter of play and put them away with a touchdown in the overtime period on their first possession.
In case you didn’t watch the game or check the box score, this wasn’t some transcendent performance from quarterback Mike Glennon. Nope, he was just as shitty as he always is. Instead, the Bears got 220 yards rushing with Jordan Howard carrying the ball 23 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Tarik Cohen added 78 yards on 12 carries.
Defensively, the Bears sacked Ben Roethlisberger three times and forced two fumbles.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-1)
The Packers had their hands full with a suddenly spunky Cincinnati Bengals team last Sunday. Rodgers threw just the second pick six at home in his career, but still somehow managed to bounce back with a 313 yard and three touchdown game. I guess they’ll keep him.
What didn’t get going against the Bengals was the run game. Starting running back Ty Montgomery gained just 35 yards on 12 carries and cost me (and probably a lot of you) some daily fantasy money. Second year wideout Geronimo Allison did have a break out performance, catching six passes for 122 yards.
The defense sacked Andy Dalton three times and overwhelmed the Cincy offensive line for 9.5 tackles for a loss. That was all without Mike Daniels too.
As horrible as Mike McCarthy’s playcalling and play design is, the Pack has to get a running game going this week just to give Rodgers a break. If Montgomery can’t get it done, don’t be surprised to see Jamaal Williams tossed into the mix more. He carried the ball just one time against the Bengals.
The Pick
Week Three is going to fool a lot of people when it comes to picking this weekend’s games and I’m fighting hard not to be one of them. Rodgers is more than dominant against the Bears, he’s downright deadly. Last week’s Thursday nighter will probably be one of the best games of the year. Don’t expect a repeat this week. Packers 27, Bears 20
Last week
Straight up: 7-9
Against the spread: 6-10
Season
Straight up: 28-19
Against the spread: 22-25
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