Another week of the NFL season kicks off on Thursday with one of the historic rivalries in the league with the NFC North rivals Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears meet at Lambeau Field. These two have never got along and matches between the two are always tougher than other games in the season and we’re expecting nothing different here.
Both sides go into the match with their own issues. Many are claiming Green Bay’s powerful offense is finished given their slow start to the season while Chicago Bears head into rival territory 1-5 for the season and clearly in desperate need of a win.
Green Bay Packers
It is one of sports bigger current mysteries to work out what is wrong with the Green Bay offense. Whatever it is it is fair to say the home fans are starting to get a little restless. Some say it is play calling, some say Aaron Rodgers is on the downgrade and some lay it on the receivers. Whatever it is they need a complete performance soon for their own confidence if nothing else.
The other reason the offense needs to play well is because the defence is bashed up. The secondary has all kinds of injuries and worryingly Dallas exposed their front last week by gashing it from start to finish. These are worrying times for the Packers it has to be said.
Chicago Bears
It must be very frustrating being a Bears fan at the minute. Your franchise is one of the most successful in history but here is another season over before it has begun. Number one quarterback Jay Cutler is out injured and the defence has been exposed more than Donald Trump over the last six weeks and that has taken some doing!
The main problem they have right now is converting field position into touchdowns. They are the seventh best offense in the league in yardage but too many trips to the red zone end up with just three points and that is putting pressure on a defence which can’t cope. The outcome of that is a 1-5 record but Brian Hoyer has played much better than that since replacing Cutler so there is some positives to take.
Betting
This definitely isn’t a match outcome that I want to bet on. You would think the Packers will feast on this weak Chicago defence but you are putting faith in them getting it together on offense in order for that to happen and with them struggling to establish the run that is no guarantee. On the flip side I couldn’t trust Chicago to come up with the points needed either so I’ll let the result play out however it does and head to the player markets here.
The market in question is the receiving yards of Alshon Jeffrey. The line is 81.5 which looks a little low to me. Chicago might be struggling to get into the end zone but they move the ball well enough and with Jeffrey having expressed his frustration after the defeat to Jacksonville on Sunday I’m expecting him to be bang up for showing his teammates the way. He has three games of 90 yards or more this season and against an injury ravaged Packers secondary I’m fully expecting another here.
Tips
Back A.Jeffrey – Over 81.5 receiving yards for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Paddy Power
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