CHICAGO (at G.B.): The offense is clicking, averaging 445 total yards despite having to start three different quarterbacks. Here's a seemingly tough matchup, but we'll see. Green Bay held the Jets and Bucs to 2 TDs and 14-17 points apiece, but allowed 4 and 35-39 to the Vikings and Falcons. They just lost linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (Achilles) for the season. Chicago scored 21, 22 and 31 points while winning two of three meetings a year ago. Betting lines have the Bears probably scoring 24-25 points.
The Bears have won their three games with three different quarterbacks, which probably hasn't happened very often. It will again be Tyson Bagent, with Caleb Williams (hamstring) at least another week away; Ben Johnson announced as much on Monday. Bagent averaged 22 rushing yards when starting four games in the past, so it was surprising he ran the ball only once (with 3 kneels) last week. But he threw for 268 on 25 of 34 passing, so doesn't look like the offense will be scaled back too much with the backup in the lineup. Green Bay holding a pair of other backups to an average of 150 passing yards doesn't seem meaningful; their two other opponents averaged 252, and the Packers have allowed 6 passing scores despite a modes slate of opponents. Bagent also fits that profile, but he's got some weapons at his disposal and he'll probably run more than he did last week. Williams threw multiple touchdowns in all three meetings a year ago (though Bagent doing that seems a little less likely).
Johnson's boys are running the heck out of it, averaging 201 yards on the ground, with 9 TDs and a pair overturned by replay last week. It's a D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai tandem, but some guesswork is required with the division of labor. Swift had been featured the first three games, with Monangai having exactly 10 carries in each and needing a 61-yard breakaway in a blowout to deliver one good game. But Swift has been battling a knee injury, got held out of the end zone (on review) twice against the Jets and lost a fumble, and Monangai got more work after that, finishing with 30 carries for 146 yards and 2 TDs. He also picked up a thumb injury late in the game; for now the assumption is that it's minor, but that will need to be confirmed when the team returns to practice. Seems like it will probably be a one-two punch this week; Swift will get more work as a receiver (a 10-5 edge) and probably both will get goal-line work, although injuries and last week's results might alter the thinking on that. (Roschon Johnson is next man up if one of these backs can't go.) Green Bay has allowed an average of 139 yards and 7 TDs on the ground thus far; some of that is quarterbacks, but not a matchup to shy away from. Losing Edgerrin Cooper makes things look even worse.
Chicago has a lot of involved receivers right now. Luther Burden hasn't knocked it out of the park but is averaging a team-high 5 receptions and 60 total yards per game. Rome Odunze is at 3.5 and 58, and was best (6 for 94) with Bagent last week. Kalif Raymond came back to earth in that one (2 for 6) but still leads the team with 21 receptions. Raymond has always figured to be the No. 3 but will rise up with 5-catch games in certain matchups, if the others are seeing better coverage. Then No. 3 Olamide Zaccheaus scored in two of three meetings a year ago, hinting at another decent situation for Raymond, though note that Odunze missed two and Burden one due to injury. Justin Jefferson and Drake London lit this defense up and Garrett Wilson scored, so there should definitely be some production.
Colston Loveland was invisible early but has caught 10 for 88 on 13 targets the last two weeks. He scored in one of the regular-season meetings a year ago, and Green Bay had little answer for him in the playoffs (8 for 137). Tight ends have caught 2 TDs in four games against the Packers.
Cairo Santos kicked 2-3 field goals in all three meetings a year ago; 8 total. He's been busy the last two weeks, with 5 field goals and 5 extra points (8 extra points and just 2 field goals when Caleb was healthy). Just 4 field goals against Green Bay this season, however (compared to 11 point afters).
The Bears Defense has 10 sacks and 6 takeaways; 11th or better in both. Jordan Love is playing behind an injury-ravaged line, factoring into worse than usual (for him) sack and turnover numbers. He's taken just 8 sacks, but has thrown 3 picks and fumbled 4 times, though just one lost. The return teams seem average (Raymond has a 24-yard punt return, but nothing else of note thus far).
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