Stars won’t come out for Packers-Bears game
By GERY WOELFEL
The last time the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears met was last season in the playoffs.
The Bears pulled off a stunning comeback and defeated the Packers 31-27.
In that game, the Bears played with virtually a full deck. They were a relatively healthy team.
No so for Green Bay
The Packers were ravaged by injuries. Major injuries. They didn’t have two of their best offensive players – tight end Tucker Kraft and offensive tackle – Zach Tom, who has since changed his name to Zach Bako-Bewele.
The Packers were also without edge rusher Micah Parson, their best player, and Devonte Wyatt, their best defensive lineman.
Those are four outstanding players and, when a team is without four of its premier players, the odds are overwhelming they’re not going to fare well. A blowout is ikely to happen.
And, as if the absences of Parsons, Kraft, Wyatt and Bako-Bewele weren’t a daunting obstacle for the Packers to overcome, their then kicker Brandon McManus had a day from hell. He missed two makeable field goals and an extra point that deprived the Packers of seven more points.
Yet, the Packers somehow, some way, took the Bears to the wire. To make the game that close was an admirable feat.
Which brings us to Sunday’s game. This one will be at Green Bay, and this time, the injury factor will once again rear its ugly head for BOTH teams.
The Bears will be without their young, dynamic quarterback Caleb Wilson and their punishing running back Kyle Monangai, who carried the ball 30 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns against the Jets last Sunday.
The Bears will also be missing safety Coby Bryant (knee, on injured reserved). Cornerback Kyle Gordon (calf) could also miss the game.
The Bears are hurtin’.
But the Packers are hurtin’ even more.
Parson remains sidelined. Edgerrin Cooper, who had been the Packers finest defensive player this season, is done for the season after blowing out his Achilles tendon last Sunday.
The Packers will also be without Bako-Bewele, who is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon, and starting receiver Jayden Reed, who is out for the season with a neck injury.
And, in case anyone forgot, running back Josh Jacobs Is still on the NFL’s Exempt list. Jacobs is one of the top six running backs in the NFL
Yes, emotions for today’s Packers-Bears game will be off the charts – as it normally is when these bitter rivals clash. The teams and coaches (Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson) flat-out don’t like each other.
But with so much star power watching instead of playing this game, we won’t get to witness the true version of the Bear or Packers. And that, to say the least, is unfortunate.
WHAT THE ODDSMAKES ARE SAYING: Bears are favored by 1.5 points.
WHAT GW IS SAYING: Packers 27, Bears 20.
