The 2023 NFL season is here, and the stage is set for the Green Bay Packers to face off against NFC North competition, the Chicago Bears, in a historic rivalry game.
As we anticipate the renewal of this storied NFL rivalry, we’re about to get a bit daring with some incredibly bold predictions. We’re not talking your everyday bold; we’re going bold-bold. So fasten your seatbelts because we’re diving into predictions for the offense, defense, we-fense, and wrapping it all up with a game prediction. It’s going to be quite the ride!
Here are five extremely bold predictions for the Week 1 rivalry matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
Anders Carlson is Perfect on Kicks
Talking about rides, it’s been a roller coaster for Anders Carlson throughout training camp and preseason. He’s been all over the place, shanking basic kicks on one rep and bombing 55-yarders through the uprights on the next.
He finished the preseason on a high, and I predict he’ll carry that into Soldiers Field on Sunday. Carlson has shown up in big moments so far, and this could be the start of something special. Patience is a virtue, but Carlson will provide Green Bay with immediate results in Week 1.
Jayden Reed has 100 Receiving Yards for Packers
The Packers received a huge blow when Christian Watson was ruled out for the game on Friday with a hamstring injury. Green Bay’s offense was much better with him on the field last year, thanks to his explosive playmaking ability with the rock in his hands and the room he gives other receivers to operate underneath.
In his absence, it will be
Romeo Doubs
Jayden Reed who steps up and becomes Love’s go-to receiver. Doubs seems like the obvious choice, but the Bears’ defense will zero in on him and force Love to look elsewhere. That’s where Reed comes in. He’s gotten open all preseason and will continue to do so against an underwhelming Chicago secondary. Look for the rookie to make his mark early and often from the slot.
Jordan Love Won’t Get Sacked
Speaking of Love, the pass protection he received was tremendous throughout the preseason. He wasn’t sacked at all and the offensive line did a great job of giving him a clean pocket, allowing him to go through his progressions and find the open man.
That will carry over against the Bears, where Chicago had one of the worst pass-rushes in all of football last season and ranked 31st in sack percentage. The “return” of David Bakhtiari will also help Love. He didn’t play at all in the preseason during the aforementioned great protection, and his insertion into the lineup will give the Packers another dominant force up front. Add in Love’s ability to escape pressure, making for a clean day during his first start.
Packers Will Sack Justin Fields 5 Times
In their two games last year, Green Bay sacked Fields just three times. For comparison, the Detroit Lions took him down ten times in two games, and there were four games in which he was sacked at least five times.
The Packers hope to carry that tradition into the start of 2023 with a renewed confidence in their pass rush. Rashan Gary will be on a snap count, but he can do damage when out there. Green Bay also has a plethora of other weapons they’re hoping to unleash into the backfield, including Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, Kenny Clark, and Devonte Wyatt.
Green Bay needs to make Fields uncomfortable back there and it starts with constant pressure. He’s one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the NFL, but he’s careless with the rock in his hands. The more times they can get to him, the higher the likelihood they’ll be able to force a turnover.
Packers Win 24-14
The Bears have talked a lot of trash leading up to this game. Like a lot, a lot. They’ve said they hate Green Bay, talked about how poor their fans are, and even went as far as to say they’re excited to be the ones handing out beatdowns now.
That last point is a bit premature, as Chicago is 0-6 against Green Bay since Matt LaFleur took over. Yes, there is a lot of turnover in Titletown this year, but the Bears are coming off the worst record in the NFL in 2022.
The Packers will finally show up in Week 1, an emphasis for LaFleur and the team all preseason, and remind the NFC North not to sleep on them.