This is the biggest Bears-Packers game in the history of the rivalry with a trip to Super Bowl XLV on the line. I'm expecting the game could break the record for the most watched NFC Championship game.
The record of 68.7 million people watched "The Catch" that featured San Francisco's Dwight Clark's acrobatic catch of a Joe Montana pass that gave the 49ers a 28-27 win over the Cowboys in 1982.
There isn't much history between the Bears and Packers in the playoffs. The only other time the two teams played in the playoffs was Dec. 14, 1941, which was a week after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Bears won 33-14 for the Western Section championship.
This weekend's game is deserving of all the hype. If history is going to repeat itself, here is a blueprint of how the Bears will beat the Packers 20-17 Sunday:
1. The biggest reason Da Bears have turned their season around and will beat the Packers is defensive end Julius Peppers. Peppers should receive consideration as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. He is a playmaker that demands double teams. Peppers wrecked havoc on the Packers the first time they played with Green Bay linemen getting jumpy and setting a record with 18 penalties. The Bears' defense thrives on turnovers and Peppers is the key to the pass rush.
2. The Bears have a superior special teams unit that can single handily win a game. The Bears have the most electrifying punt returner in Devin Hester, who has an NFL record 14 punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns and that doesn't include the one against the Colts in the Super Bowl in 2006. Packers punter Tim Masthay did a great job of keeping his punts away from Hester and pinning the Bears deep in their own territory in week 17. The Bears special teams are an extension of their offense. The Bears have the best starting field position in the NFL.
3. Jay Cutler. In some big games, he's feast or famine. There are times Cutler makes Bears fans squirm with some of the decisions he makes. He has thrown the most interceptions in the red zone the last three years. However, he is the playmaking, risk-taking quarterback similar to the one Green Bay fans fell in love with not too long ago - when Brett Favre was winning Super Bowls. The best traits Cutler possesses besides his big arm are his mobility and short-term memory.
4. The Packers are a one-dimensional offense. The Packers have the worst running game of the remaining playoff teams ranking 24th (100.4 yards per game). The Bears have the No. 2 rushing defense. If the Bears put a pass rush on Aaron Rodgers and he throws some uncharacteristic interceptions or fumbles, the Packers don't have the running game to lean on.
5. The Bears took a huge risk and played all their starters in week 17 with nothing to gain as far as their No. 2 postseason seed. The Bears lost 10-3, but they gained valuable information on the Packers' blitz schemes spearheaded by cornerback Charles Woodson. I expect Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz to adjust some of the hot reads attacking the blitz and Cutler should have more success.
6. The Bears' offense has made a transformation since Week 7. The Bears are a more balanced team that will win the game by pounding the ball with running back Matt Forte. The Bears are one of the only teams who have run the ball more than they have passed the second half of the season. Forte rushed for 91 yards in the week 17 game and the Bears abandoned the run in a game the Packers had to win and they squeaked out a 10-3 win. The best way for the Bears to keep Rodgers and Co. off the field is to run the ball and dominate the time of possession.
7. It's the 25th anniversary of the Super Bowl Shuffle. What better way to commemorate the Bears blasting the Patriots 46-10 to win Super Bowl XX. The Bears need to recreate a new version of the Super Bowl Shuffle for a new generation of fans. This time they will wait until they beat the Packers and win the Super Bowl to record it.
The record of 68.7 million people watched "The Catch" that featured San Francisco's Dwight Clark's acrobatic catch of a Joe Montana pass that gave the 49ers a 28-27 win over the Cowboys in 1982.
There isn't much history between the Bears and Packers in the playoffs. The only other time the two teams played in the playoffs was Dec. 14, 1941, which was a week after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Bears won 33-14 for the Western Section championship.
This weekend's game is deserving of all the hype. If history is going to repeat itself, here is a blueprint of how the Bears will beat the Packers 20-17 Sunday:
1. The biggest reason Da Bears have turned their season around and will beat the Packers is defensive end Julius Peppers. Peppers should receive consideration as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. He is a playmaker that demands double teams. Peppers wrecked havoc on the Packers the first time they played with Green Bay linemen getting jumpy and setting a record with 18 penalties. The Bears' defense thrives on turnovers and Peppers is the key to the pass rush.
2. The Bears have a superior special teams unit that can single handily win a game. The Bears have the most electrifying punt returner in Devin Hester, who has an NFL record 14 punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns and that doesn't include the one against the Colts in the Super Bowl in 2006. Packers punter Tim Masthay did a great job of keeping his punts away from Hester and pinning the Bears deep in their own territory in week 17. The Bears special teams are an extension of their offense. The Bears have the best starting field position in the NFL.
3. Jay Cutler. In some big games, he's feast or famine. There are times Cutler makes Bears fans squirm with some of the decisions he makes. He has thrown the most interceptions in the red zone the last three years. However, he is the playmaking, risk-taking quarterback similar to the one Green Bay fans fell in love with not too long ago - when Brett Favre was winning Super Bowls. The best traits Cutler possesses besides his big arm are his mobility and short-term memory.
4. The Packers are a one-dimensional offense. The Packers have the worst running game of the remaining playoff teams ranking 24th (100.4 yards per game). The Bears have the No. 2 rushing defense. If the Bears put a pass rush on Aaron Rodgers and he throws some uncharacteristic interceptions or fumbles, the Packers don't have the running game to lean on.
5. The Bears took a huge risk and played all their starters in week 17 with nothing to gain as far as their No. 2 postseason seed. The Bears lost 10-3, but they gained valuable information on the Packers' blitz schemes spearheaded by cornerback Charles Woodson. I expect Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz to adjust some of the hot reads attacking the blitz and Cutler should have more success.
6. The Bears' offense has made a transformation since Week 7. The Bears are a more balanced team that will win the game by pounding the ball with running back Matt Forte. The Bears are one of the only teams who have run the ball more than they have passed the second half of the season. Forte rushed for 91 yards in the week 17 game and the Bears abandoned the run in a game the Packers had to win and they squeaked out a 10-3 win. The best way for the Bears to keep Rodgers and Co. off the field is to run the ball and dominate the time of possession.
7. It's the 25th anniversary of the Super Bowl Shuffle. What better way to commemorate the Bears blasting the Patriots 46-10 to win Super Bowl XX. The Bears need to recreate a new version of the Super Bowl Shuffle for a new generation of fans. This time they will wait until they beat the Packers and win the Super Bowl to record it.
