The Green Bay Packers will be Dallas Cowboys fans this week as Titletown needs a little extra assistance in securing the sixth seed in the NFL Playoffs. In their last game of the season, the Packers will face the Chicago Bears in an important game that partially determines how strong Green Bay’s opponent will be on Wild Card Weekend. In a must-win game for Jordan Love, can the Packers’ defense get on the right page heading into the playoffs?
Packers Defense Against Bears Important In Achieving Ideal Playoff Scenario
After another failed attempt at a last-minute comeback against the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers’ fate falls into the hands of the Washington Commanders in Week 18. With both teams at 11-5 following the Commanders’ overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons, a win over the Bears this week does not guarantee a preferable Wild Card matchup. If the Commanders defeat the Cowboys, the Packers will fall to the seventh seed and face the Philadelphia Eagles on the road for a rematch of Week 1. Titletown must win if they are to instead play against the Los Angeles Rams, but will need help from their former head coach, Mike McCarthy, and his team in doing so.
Cowboys Winning Against Commanders
In their last matchup, Dallas upset Jayden Daniels and the Commanders 34-26 in Week 12 as the Cowboys special teams returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Cooper Rush threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in their win on the road and now get to play Washington at home for a chance to send them to Philadelphia.
Packers Defense Against Bears
The Packers dodged a bullet in their last meeting with the Bears after Karl Brooks blocked the potential game-winning field goal. Green Bay will need to bring more fire and execute at all facets of the game for an optimal Wild Card matchup to be possible. That starts with the Packers defense.
Packers Secondary
The Bears, who are 32nd in the NFL in total yards, accumulated 391 total yards from scrimmage against the Packers, which would amount to the fourth-best in the league if they averaged that every game. The secondary has to hunker down against a developing offense that has seen wideout Keenan Allen seeing more targets and making a larger impact on the game.
Packers Defense Up Front
After a one-sack performance against the now 14-2 Minnesota Vikings, the defensive line of the Packers has to help out the secondary by making rookie quarterback Caleb Williams uncomfortable. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has to put Williams in positions that bring out the best opportunities for the Packers offense to capitalize on advantageous field position.
Bringing out Cover 3 shell concepts helped Green Bay to achieve a shutout against the Saints as it confused the offense schematically and allowed for optimal pressure on quarterback Spencer Rattler. If the defense is able to do this to the Bears, Williams will be forced to make plays himself with less time to throw than he is accustomed to.
Main Image: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The post Packers Ideal Playoff Scenario Dependent On Packers Defense Against Bears appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.