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Bears Match Up Well With Packers' Receivers
Written by Brett Solesky   
Thursday, 10 September 2009 16:33
Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman just took to the practice field this week together for the first time in pads.  The so-called starters the Bears have at CB for the opening game against the vaunted Packer offense have been out with injuries through most of training camp and the pre-season.  Only Bowman played in a pre-season game at all to start things off. 

On the opposite side of things the Packers boast two receivers who are coming of 1,000 yards receiving in 2008.  Both Greg Jennings and Donald Driver hit the mark and look ready to equal or surpass that mark based on what was seen in the pre-season.  Aaron Rodgers led the league in pre-season touchdowns with six and threw three in the first half against the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. 

So based on all of this you'd think that the Bears have little to no chance at stopping the Packers' passing attack in the Sunday night opener.  The Bears might as well be prepared for a shoot out and with their own receiving problems should try to focus on a ball control attack using heavy doses of Matt Forte with some play action pass sprinkled in. 

This however all seems to be scary and cause for concern and the reason to shift focus on to the Packers in what should be another run away victory.  But then you look at the history of both Driver and Jennings against the Bears and you realize, perhaps the Bears don't have much to fear.  Only one time between Driver and Jennings has either of them put up over 100 yards receiving in a game.  Neither one has caught more than one touchdown pass and they have never combined for a  touchdown pass each in a game against the Bears. 

Driver in fact has only two career touchdowns against the Bears one coming in the garbage game of 2006 and one coming before the Lovie Smith era when the Bears' defense began to perform at the level it did under Smith's direction.  Jennings was moderately successful against the Bears in 2008 with a touchdown in each of the games last year, but he was held to only 38 yards and a touchdown in the overtime loss last year. 

So what is there to expect in 2009 that will be different than previous seasons?  Neither one has been a game-breaker against the Bears or the sole reason the Bears have lost.  In fact the Bears typically win in games in which the Packers receivers do well, or what would be considered well.  Even with Brett Favre at the helm the Packers have struggled against the Bears when facing the Lovie Smith led Bears and last year was more of the same. 

While the talk may be of what can the Bears do to stop the Packers' receivers, the Bears' defense has matched up rather favorably against the Packers.  Can the Bears continue to duplicate this level of success against Driver and Jennings?  There is no reason to think the Bears can't slow the Packers' passing attack.  With an improved pass rush and Lovie Smith calling the plays the Bears figure to be able to stand their ground against Green Bay and keep the game closer than a lot of talking heads will give the Bears credit for.
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