[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I know this may sound odd coming from a lifelong Packer fan, but I have been trying and trying to find a way to see how the Packers lose this weekend so I am not completely destroyed should it happen. The truth is...I cant. Nothing indicates that they should drop this game even though its a tough task to say the least. I have gone over just about every aspect I can think of to find an edge for the Bears that would have them coming out on top. Anything I am missing?

Quarterbacks: Obviously the focus of most media this week, I am not even convinced it comes down to this. If it does however, there is no question that Rodgers has a large edge over the enigmatic Cutler. Even in their loss earlier this year at Soldier field, Rodgers dissected the Bears secondary for 316 yards and a TD and ran for another. He was intercepted once as well. In the second game his stats were 229 yds passing with a TD and an INT.

So over the 2 games Rodgers line is 545 yds, 2 TD's, 2 INT's, 41 yds rushing and another TD in 2 games an average QB rating of 91.1. Cutler's line reads 409 yds 1 TD, 3 INT's, 45 yds rushing and no Td's and a QB rating of 63.0

Big edge, Packers.

Rushing. This one is a bit harder to quantify IMO. No question that Matt Forte is the best RB on either team. In the 2 games the teams faced each other this year Forte rushed for 120 yds on 26 carries. Both Jackson and Kuhn rushed for 31 yds in the 2 games for GB. Overall the Bears gained 187 yds rushing and the Packers 123. Now with James Starks sudden emergence at years end, that gap may be even closer. As far as receiving out of the backfield the Bears totalled 74 yds while the Pack gained 85 yds.

Slight edge, Bears

Receivers & TE's. This one isnt even close. For the Bears it was Davis with 63 yds, Olsen 93 yds, Hester 32 yds, Knox 94 yds, Bennett 21 yds and Clark with 12 yds. An Average of 157 yds oer game. For GB it was Jennings with 115 yds, Driver 102 yds, Nelson 59 yds, Jones 63 yds, Quarless with 5 yds, Lee with 1 yd and Finley with 115 yds. 230 yds a game average. Losing Finley obviously hurts when looking forward but the other TE's have taken up some of the slack of late and that gap is not as big even though Olsen is the best of that bunch, the Packers have the top 2 wide outs.

Big edge, Packers.

O-Line. Hard to quantify this position. The Packers are much better at pass protection and keeping Rodgers upright, while the Bears are a much better run blocking team. Here is how the NFL says the teams are doing in the playoffs. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/_/seasontype/2

Call it a push.

Defense. Without getting into position by position stuff, I will just take everything as a whole between the 2 games against one another. Chicago gave up 663 (332 avg) yards and 35 1st downs, 27 pts but had 4 takeaways. GB gave up 503 yds (276 avg) 31 1st downs, 16 pts and had 3 takeaways.

Slight edge, GB

Special teams. This one isnt close either. Hester, Manning, Maynard and Gould are as good as it gets as a group when looking at those 4 positions.

Huge edge Bears.

Intangibles...the way the Packers have been rolling on offense and defense for most of the last month, I would like to give them the big edge here. That is somewhat negated however by the Bears being at home, though that seemingly has no effect on GB as of late. Chicago is 6-3 at home on the year while the Packers are 5-5 on the road. Both clubs are 4-2 in their last 6 games.

Slight advantage Packers.
　
　
Add it all together and i just dont see any other outcome than a Packer victory. Of course, and I once again go to the words of the indefatigible Chris Berman, "that's why they play the game".

GB 23 - Chicago 17.

The Head Official is the same guy from the 18 penalty game. So that could be a reason for the Pack to lose.