WEEK 3 PACKERS VS BEARS PREVIEW!

PACKERS @ BEARS ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!

So I have to admit that having spent 2 years living as an embedded reporter behind enemy lines in Minneapolis, I've come to enjoy the Packers/Vikings rivalry much more than that classic black and blue feud with the Chicago Bears. You can probably credit that mostly to the fact that Minnesota has fielded a stronger team than Chicago for the better part of the last decade. This year is different. The Vikings are off to a surprisingly sluggish 0-2 start under Favre, and the Bears are suddenly competetive at 2-0. If you told me at the end of last season that the diabetic interception machine known as Jay Cutler would be off to such a strong start in 2010, I may have spit my PBR all over your face. More on Cutler later. This coming Monday marks the ten thousandth meeting between these two clubs in a rivalry dating back to the Mesozoic era. In all seriousness, this is the oldest standing rivalry between two of the most aged franchises in the NFL. It's a beautiful thing. And oh, what treat this game is going to be!

I have not had the pleasure of watching either of the 2 Bears games this season but I did get a chance to review extensive highlights as well as statistics. To be frank, I just don't buy Chicago yet. Beating the lions is no accomplishment, and the Bears came within 1 play of blowing it and becoming only the 5th team to lose to the Lions in 38 games. Seriously. A win on a technicality is still a win, sure, but it's certainly not anything to beat your chest over. Chicago's second win came against the Dallas Cowboys, who are playing up to absolutely nobody's expectations. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips is so fired it's not even funny. His 'Boys have looked listless and unmotivated, and appear to be wasting a lot of potential. All in all, the Bears are 2-0 against two teams who are both 0-2 and going nowhere fast.

Jay Cutler is off to an excellent start to his season, boasting 5 TD's, 1 INT, and a 121.2 overall passer rating. It's worth noting that those numbers are against two defenses who will likely end the season rated in the bottom third of the league. Matt Forte is coming off a disappointing season last year, and has really stepped up his game. So far, he's got 188 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns. One problem though... He's a running back. On the ground Forte has just 79 yards rushing and 0 TD's in two games. He's also coughed up the ball twice, resulting in 1 turnover. Chicago's inability to run is going to condense the field for Cutler and create the same risk for turnovers he faced last year against the Pack. Sure, the Bears have more tape on defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme now, but Capers has also had time to plug in new plays and more complex packages. Not to mention the players are far more comfortable in the scheme now than 1 year ago.

One could make a similar argument against Green Bay. The loss of RB Ryan Grant may condense the field and limit options for QB Aaron Rodgers, but Green Bay's offensive artillery is simply much stronger than Chicago's . Bears' RB Matt Forte accounts for so many passing yards primarily because Chicago's first and second wide-outs are Johnny Knox and Devin Hester. Not a shabby group, but certainly inferior to Green Bay's Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. Look for Jennings and Driver to stretch the field and create openings for TE Jermichael Finnley, who will represent the same matchup problems he does every week. He's too fast for linebackers, and far too big for safeties and corners.

The Bears defensive stock is rising. The return of Brian Urlacher, as well as the addition of Julius Peppers, seems to have sparked new life into a defense that looked lost last year. They're playing as a team, and creating opportunities. The Bears will look to test Green Bay's rookie lineman Bryan Bulaga, who may get the start if tackle Chad Clifton is still down with a knee strain. If that is the case, look for Julius Peppers to be moved opposite Bulaga. That particular matchup notwithstanding, the Packers still bring an elite offense the likes of which Chicago has yet to face this year.

I don't see this being a blowout, but as the Packers pull away with the lead in the second half, Bears fans may want to reconsider those Texas travel plans. The Bears faithful are pretty puffed-up this year, but I sense a lot of hot air. It may be a pretty deflated atmosphere in Soldier Field after Monday night's loss to the Packers.

PACKERS 30 BEARS 21

The phrase "diabetic interception machine" appears courtesy of "Bob and Brian" of Milwaukee's 102.9 the Hog, as well as Nick Woods. Funny stuff, guys.