3 X-Factors in Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears Matchup
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers X-Factor No. 3: Keeping Justin Fields in the pocket
The Chicago Bears announced earlier in the week that Justin Fields would be back under center after missing the last two games with a rib injury. With Fields back in the mix, his mobility adds another element that this Green Bay Packers defense will have to worry about.
Considering that Fields is coming off a rib injury, I’m not sure how many designed run plays — such as read-options — that we will see for Fields. But ultimately, if he’s under pressure, he’s going to have to escape the pocket.
The responsibility of keeping Fields in the pocket will largely fall on Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, and the other edge rushers. Against Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, and Russell Wilson, the Green Bay defense held the trio to a combined 601 passing yards with only one touchdown and four interceptions.
While, of course, there are several factors that led to their success, one was that the Packers were able to keep those three in the pocket, for the most part. If Green Bay can find similar success against Fields, it will allow Clark and the other interior defenders to create pressure against a Bears interior offensive line that has had its share of ups and downs.
On the flip side, if the Packers lose contain, Fields will be able to pick up yards and perhaps extend drives with his legs — something we’ve seen quarterbacks Jared Goff and Taylor Heinicke do on a few occasions — and it will force the secondary to have to cover for 5-plus seconds, which can become challenging.
"“He’s such a dynamic athlete,” LaFleur said of Fields via SI. “He can make plays in the pocket. We’re going to have to do a great job with our rush lanes in terms of not letting him get out of the pocket. And they can implement the zone read, so that’s another layer to the offense. I just think that he’s a really good young quarterback that should have a bright future in this league.”"