Joniak: Keys To The Game
Offense: Serve and Protect
Steady improvement each week by the Bears much maligned offensive line has allowed the offense to take shape and complement the defense. Every team blitzed the Bears, and so will the Packers Defensive coordinator Dom Capers will design a complex pressure package in hopes of creating a communication breakdown or assignment error. Protecting Jay Cutler is not the sole responsibility of the Bears offensive line, but also the running backs, and tight ends. Everybody must be assignment sure. Cutler was blitzed on 175 pass attempts in the regular season, 10th most in the league. He completed 60% of his passes, threw 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He was sacked a league high 24 times and his quarterback rating was a respectable 83.3. The most dangerous blitzer on the Packers is Charles Woodson. He is destructive blitzing off the slot from his nickel position, one of the best in the league sneaking up the middle. Blitz beaters like Matt Forte, Chester Taylor, Greg Olsen, and all of the receivers will have to be ready at all times on their "hot" routes to burn the Packers. Other offensive keys include a powerful grinding running game to bleed the clock, no turnovers, and red zone touchdown efficiency.
Defense: Pressure Rodgers and re-route his receivers
When the Bears defense is clicking on all cylinders it is getting pressure on the quarterback without the need to blitz. It is stopping the run, turning an offense into a one-dimensional attack, it is taking the ball away, ripping and stripping and attacking the ball when it's in the air. Defenders are gap sound winning every snap, and tackling. Against Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and his multiple personnel groupings, the Bears have to check box on that list. Blitzing Rodgers is no picnic. He is difficult to bring down, 3rd in rushing yards among quarterbacks. He makes big plays in the passing game…4th in the NFL with 54 20+yard pass plays…and he had the best QB rating facing the blitz…completing 67% of his 167 pass attempts with 11 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 8 sacks and a rating of 104.5. Rodgers knows where his receivers will be, and how the Bears defense will play them. He is arguably the best play-action passer in the NFL. It is important to break up the rhythm of the passing game by beating up and re-routing the Packer receivers.
Special Teams: Pile up the hidden yardage
Hidden yardage computes to first downs and points and is an underrated factor in winning games. On special teams the Bears are significantly better than the Packers who ranked 29th in the NFL this season, the Bears 4th. The Bears were a +261 yards in punt return differential, and +93 on kickoff returns. The Bears were +85 on interception return yardage differential, and +22 in penalty yardage differential…what hurt the Bears was sack yardage differential (-150). Packers were +102 in sack yardage differential, +170 on interception return differential. -16 on interception return differential, a whopping -409 on kick return yardage differential, and +141 on penalty yardage differential.
Intangibles: What happens after a turnover?
Turnovers often mean the difference in the playoffs. Preached incessantly by Bears head coach Lovie Smith to take the ball away, the Bears defense goes into every game looking to make it happen. The Bears offense turned it over 28 times in the regular season, and the defense allowed only 29 points, which was 5th best in the NFL... Remarkably only the Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs did not allow a passing touchdown after a turnover and on only three occasions did the Bears allow a rushing touchdown. They forced11 punts, four turnovers, and three missed field goals. That's outstanding. Packers did the same, allowing only two passing touchdowns and 32 points on 19 turnovers. Offensively, the Packers scored 83 points, 5th in the NFL off 27 takeaways, including 11 touchdowns…but the Bears managed only 62 points off 32 takeaways, 4 touchdowns and a league high 12 field goals attempted, and 11 made.
