Packers at Bears 9/5/19 - NFL Picks & Predictions

The 2019 NFL Season will kick off with a matchup between the Greeb Bay Packers and Chicago Bears from Soldier Field. Green Bay is coming off a disappointing six-win season and fired head coach Mike McCarthy as a result. Matt Lafluer was named the 15th head coach in Green Bay history and the organization hopes that he can do wonders with All-Pro QB Aaron Rodgers. RB Aaron Jones has rushed for 5.5 yards per carry in each of his first two seasons and must be utilized more by the new coaching staff.

For the Packers to challenge for an NFC North Division title, they will have to improve on a defense that surrendered 25 points per game last season. New GM Brian Gutenkunst identified pass rush as a priority, signing OLBs Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith to strike fear into opposing quarterbacks. Clay Matthews is no longer with Green Bay, but Kyler Fackrel (10.5 sacks) returns.

The defending NFC North Champion Chicago Bears won 12 games last year and have plenty of reason for optimism under second year head coach Matt Nagy. The biggest room for growth is at the QB position, where third-year pro has shown flashes of brilliance but has yet to master the mental aspect of the game. Chicago traded RB Jordan Howard and replaced him with a potential workhorse back in David Montgomery out of Iowa State. Explosive RB Tarik Cohen is a perfect change of pace player and the duo will run behind one of the best offensive lines in football.

Like their Super Bowl teams of the past, the Chicago Bears are built around an outstanding defense. Last season, the Bears ranked third in total defense and led the league in scoring defense at 17.7 points per game allowed. DE Khalil Mack recorded 12.5 sacks in 14 games and is one of the most dominant defensive players in the game.