http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/packers.html
Weather is going to be crappy, glad I'm not going. From the JS:
When: 7:40 p.m. Monday. Where: Lambeau Field. TV: ESPN, Ch. 12. Radio: AM-620.
Series: Bears lead, 92-88-6. Line: Packers by 11. Weather: 48, with 18 mph S wind. Surface: DD GrassMaster.
Coaches: Green Bay's Mike McCarthy (85-44, .659) vs. Chicago's Marc Trestman (4-3, .571).
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
ON THE OUTSIDE: The Bears ranked 31st in sack percentage entering the weekend after ranking 11th a year ago. The starting defensive end, Julius Peppers and Shea McClellin, have combined for 1½ of the team's nine sacks. "Peppers is a shell of what he was," an executive in personnel said. "When (Rod) Marinelli had him it was like he was excited to play again. I don't see the excitement. Just kind of off-again, on-again. Not motivated. This is what he looked like his last year in Carolina. Right now he's lost a step because he's not motivated. ... McClellin stinks. Just not a football player. A lot of people say he should be in a 3-4. Let me tell you something. If the guy can rush the passer, the guy can rush the passer. He can't rush the passer. I don't care what scheme it is. He's always a tad short. He doesn't bring anything to the table. He might be a high-motor guy. He gets to the pile. Doesn't make any plays."
NEW-LOOK OFFENSE: The Bears rank second in points; they haven't finished a season ranked higher than tied for 14th since 2006, when they tied for second. Coach Marc Trestman and Aaron Kromer, his coordinator and line coach, have put together a more explosive and efficient attack that Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy compared to New Orleans' scheme. "Their big change was to fix the offense," one scout said. "The quarterback gets rid of the ball. They've made a concerted effort to eliminate the sacks, and sacks are way down. Offensive line protection is a lot better with Kromer in there. They did some good things getting that left tackle (Jermon Bushrod) in there. He's a big upgrade on (J'Marcus) Webb. You have a guy that knows Kromer's system, so he's a big help to the rest of that line. The tight end (Martellus Bennett) has been a good addition. They really spread the ball around. It's not like you (can) just take out Brandon Marshall. You've got some big, tall weapons in the red zone and you've also got the possession guy (Earl Bennett). I like their scheme. When you get an offensive-minded guy he kind of knows these things." Trestman is the first Bears' coach with an offensive background since Mike Ditka following defensive coaches Lovie Smith, Dick Jauron and Dave Wannstedt.
THE BACK END: The Bears returned all four starters in the secondary but lost nickel back Kelvin Hayden in August for the season with a hamstring injury. "Tim Jennings is the only guy on defense that's playing as good as he did in the past under Lovie," one scout said. "He makes plays. Gets his hands on the ball. (Charles) Tillman's been hurt. The safeties don't tackle well or get over the top. They get caught out of position. I never thought Major Wright was a great player. What's wrong with him? It's what's wrong with most secondaries when you don't have a pass rush. They're just getting exposed. Wright was supposed to be a cover guy. At one point he would lay the wood. Little stiff. (Chris) Conte is fine where there's a pass rush. When there's no pass rush he can't play."
ROOKIE RIGHT SIDE: The Bears really struggled at right tackle from 2009-'12 when the starters were Chris Williams, Webb, Lance Louis and Gabe Carimi. Right guard had been a major problem, too. Since GM Phil Emery drafted RG Kyle Long and RT Jordan Mills, they've solidified the right side. "Long does some really good things," one scout said. "Big body. Athletic. Tough. Whenever somebody is fighting at the end of the pile it's going to be him. ... Mills seems to be holding up. He's nothing special." Here's how another scout sees the two players: "Long tries to play real physical and aggressive. I think he's more of a wannabe tough guy than an actual physical mauler. But he is a good athlete and can stay on his feet. Mills is big and long. He has average to marginal feet. He wants you to try and bull into him so he can kind of grab and tie you up. If you give him speed up the field he'll struggle. If you don't have one and you have to have a guy, he's not bad. At the end of the day I think you want better."
BIG MEN: Towering wide receivers Marshall and Alshon Jeffery give the Bears one of their best wide-receiver tandems in years. Two scouts said Marshall clearly was No. 1. "Jeffery has been the benefactor of some coverages shifted away from," one scout said. "He's made leaps and bounds this year from last year. He's making those catches and learning to play big. But if you're picking players I'm taking Marshall. Marshall has been hampered a little bit coming back from his (hip) injury. Just the way he plays is not the same. Still a good player but not quite the same guy. He doesn't have easy catches. He has to adjust to the ball and make difficult, acrobatic catches. Both do a good job blocking. They're big, long guys who make it difficult for cornerbacks who are trying to get to the ball, but they're not physical, knock-you-around guys like Hines Ward."
Bob McGinn
VIEWS OF THE GAME
BOB McGINN
Packers beat reporter
The Packers have won six in a row over the Bears, but their average margin of victory is just 9.8 points. Look for the Bears, off a bye, to make a supreme effort. It just doesn't add up for them on defense.
TOM SILVERSTEIN
Packers beat reporter
There are plenty of reasons the Packers should dominate this game, not the least of which is the absence of Jay Cutler and Lance Briggs. But the Bears are coming off a bye and they've scored a lot of points on the road this season. Could be close.
Packers 31, Bears 21.
TYLER DUNNE
Packers beat reporter
Since 2009, Jay Cutler has been downright awful against Green Bay. Dom Capers owns him. But, no, the Bears are not better off with Josh McCown. The Packers roll at home.
Packers 37, Bears 14.
LORI NICKEL
Packers beat reporter
The Bears allow 391 yards a game, so it's hard to envision them containing this Green Bay offense. The Packers' improved rushing defense could clamp down on Matt Forte, but consider this. The Packers average 30.3 points per game. The Bears? 30.4. Even with all of Chicago's issues, could this be a close game?
Packers 24, Bears 21.
MICHAEL HUNT
Columnist
The tired cliché that insists rivalry trumps reason for Bears-Packers? Not this time.
Packers 34, Bears 17.
JEFF MAILLET
Packer Plus editor
The Bears defense has shown the inability to stop the run or pass. They've given up 123 rushing yards or more in four games and 275 yards passing four times. And, they'll be starting two rookie linebackers.
Packers 42, Bears 14..
