The opening match of the 100th season in the National Football League sees the oldest rivalry in the competition taking its next battle as the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers in a huge NFL North clash.
The Bears won the division last season and can take an early step into reclaiming the title this time round with a win here. The Packers begin a season with a different head coach to Mike McCarthy for the first time in a dozen years and they have the chance to lay a marker down here.
Chicago Bears
After a 12-4 season last term, the Chicago Bears will be expected to push on and challenge for the Super Bowl this season. That brings with it a pressure and an expectation which will need to be managed especially with Mitch Trubisky still getting established in the league. He has ridden the back of a solid defence last year and while that side of the ball remains strong, Super Bowl winners need to deliver on both sides of the ball so at some point he’ll need to step up.
It could be that this match is won by the Bears defence though. Big things are expected of Khalil Mack once again this season and he will surely be going after Aaron Rodgers with sides almost unable to run the ball against the Bears these days. If Trubisky and Tariq Cohen can get the offense moving the Bears are going to have every chance here.
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Green Bay Packers
It will be interesting to see what we get from the Green Bay Packers this season. We know what we’ll get from their quarterback Aaron Rodgers however slowly but surely he is beginning to run out of top level options to pass to. Devante Adams will be the main man with Randall Cobb now in Dallas but Rodgers will need some of the younger receivers to stand up and be counted, especially here where running the ball may not be an option.
One area where there has been improvement is in the Green Bay backfield but they might well be tested here too because it remains to be seen what they have got in terms of a pass rush now that Clay Matthews has left for Los Angeles. If they can defend well then we know they have the quality at quarterback to beat anyone so it will be intriguing to see what they offer on defence.
Betting
Both defences are expected to play decent ball this season and with question marks over both offenses it would make sense to play the under in this match. The point line looks pretty high at 46.5 even allowing for the fact that Aaron Rodgers can perform miracles at any moment. It might need him to do that if this line is to be covered though because you’ve got to think Chicago will look to establish their run game.
Bears have rookie running back David Montgomery who will look to make hay here while the home defence is about as elite as well see. Rodgers to Adams will be a feature of the match but if the Bears snuff that line out it is hard to see where Green Bay go to. I’m not normally a player of the under on the opening night but the line does look a touch high to me here.
Tips
WON – Back Under 46.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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