Packers at Bears Game Predictions

Packer Central’s Bill Huber and Jacob Westendorf have differing viewpoints on the big Week 1 Packers-Bears showdown.

CHICAGO – The Green Bay Packers will kick off the 2023 NFL season at the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Bears defensive tackle Justin Jones is predicting pain for a team that has provided a couple decades worth of misery with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

“Green Bay, you want to beat them as many times as you can,” he told reporters this week. “Just for the sake of the city. For the city of Chicago, Illinois, in general. This rivalry here has been going on a long time, and we're about to be on the other side of that now.

“We’re going to be the ones to give the beatdown. We’re not getting beat by them anymore. It’s going to be us from now on, so that's kind of how I see it, and it starts Sunday.”

So, Jones sees the Bears earning a big rivalry victory. How about Packer Central’s writers?

Bill Huber

Aaron Rodgers went 24-5 against the Chicago Bears. Think about that. That includes eight consecutive wins overall and a rather unthinkable seven in a row at Soldier Field.

In my mind, today’s game has nothing to do with Jordan Love replacing Rodgers at quarterback. Rather, Christian Watson is out with a hamstring injury and Romeo Doubs will be limited with a hamstring injury. Those are Green Bay’s only proven receivers.

Losing Watson is huge. He’s the Packers’ game-breaking element in the passing game. Big plays win games. Who will provide the big plays? Doubs caught 42 passes as a rookie but none for longer than 26 yards. Receivers Jayden Reed and Malik Heath and tight end Luke Musgrave, who figure to be focal points of the passing game, are rookies.

Even great quarterbacks have a hard time winning games without quality receiver play. Just look at the Kansas City Chiefs, who lost on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. Patrick Mahomes is the reigning MVP and might go down as the greatest quarterback to ever live. But without Hall of Fame-bound tight end Travis Kelce, Kansas City’s offense couldn’t get moving.

Chicago’s new-and-improved defense should make things difficult for Packers running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, and the Bears’ explosive rushing attack will provide an enormous test for a defense that hasn’t stopped the run in years.

Bears 23, Packers 17

Jacob Westendorf

The NFL's oldest rivalry is renewed once again to open a season of change for the Green Bay Packers. For the first time since 1992, Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers will not be lining up under center, but rather Jordan Love.

He takes on a Bears team facing a big year with Justin Fields entering his third season. While all eyes will be on the quarterbacks, this is a game that will come down to the players around the quarterback.

Even with Christian Watson missing the game with an injury and Romeo Doubs being limited, the Packers are the better team on both lines of scrimmage.

Sprinkle in a few plays from Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave, and the Packers have a recipe to make the city of Chicago wonder if they’ll ever escape Green Bay’s reign of terror.

Packers 24, Bears 20

More Green Bay Packers News

It's #Packers at Bears this afternoon. Green Bay has won seven straight at Soldier Field.

Here's why the outcome will be different this time.https://t.co/5dYJSfUsFQ

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) September 10, 2023

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