It’s official that the Green Bay Packers won’t have Micah Parsons for the rest of this year, but maybe they will get Christian Watson back this week. And here are bold predictions for the massive Week 16 clash against the Bears.
These teams will kick off at 8:20 p.m. (ET) on Saturday with the NFC North title likely on the line. The Packers enter with a record of 9-4-1 while the Bears are 10-4.
Both teams are also still in the hunt for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC.
Jordan Love will throw for under 250 yards with 2 scores
One thing that will hold Love back a little bit is the pressure of feeling like he’ll have to do more because of the absence on the defensive side of the ball of Parsons. That will likely lead to some mistakes, which could turn into incompletions or interceptions.
The Bears are already on high alert, knowing they have to slow Love down to have a shot at the win, according to Sports Illustrated.
“We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot,” slot cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson said. “We’ve got to be locked into details and really just give all this (work) a chance. Really, just go out there and execute on defense.
“I think they did a phenomenal job in Green Bay the first time we played them of throwing different looks at us, giving us different types of concepts. So this game should really be just matched up best on best this weekend. No surprises anymore.”
The Bears could be less aggressive, which would prevent Love from having as many big-play opportunities.
“It’s tough because they draw them up in different ways,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson said. “I think, really, just making it an emphasis, I would say, kind of picking your battles. Maybe not being, I would say, as aggressive or certain things like that. Kind of just changing the way.
“But I mean, really, for us it’s we gotta go out there and fight and compete. If not, we’re gonna go out there and play scared and things like that.”
Packers WR Jayden Reed will hit two 20-plus-yard plays
Even if Watson plays, look for the Packers to find Reed in the intermediate area a few times during the game. He may not have a huge game, according to Pro Football Network, but big plays should give him a decent floor from a fantasy football perspective.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em WR Picks for Week 16 Include Ladd McConkey, Jayden Reed, George Pickens, and Justin Jefferson
“It is incredibly risky to put any Packers wide receiver in fantasy lineups,” Jason Kay wrote. “You just never know what to expect.
“Since returning from IR, Jayden Reedhas had two solid games of 9.3 and 10.5 fantasy points. He’s never going to be an every-down player, but there’s clear intent to get him the ball. With the perennially injured Christian Watson back on the shelf, Jordan Love needs playmakers. [Reed] is easily the best one he’s got outside of Josh Jacobs.”
Packers’ defense will give up at least 24 points
It’s going to take some end zone ball for the Packers to earn the win. They can’t count on their defense without Parsons. And they know it will be tough, according to Packers.com.
New formula, same goals for Packers’ resurgent defense
“You’re taking a really good player off the field,” said head coach Matt LaFleur on Tuesday. “It’s not foreign to us, I would say, in regards to the scheme. You’re always trying to throw wrinkles in each and every week as well, some unscouted looks, and I think [DC Jeff Hafley] has a great mind and is able to formulate all that stuff and make it simple for our players where they can go out and execute.”
The Packers will carry an understanding that it will be different but workable.
“Everybody just playing fast,” said edge Rashan Gary when asked about how the unit moves on. “Everybody still having that swagger, confidence, and just understanding Micah made us better as a group. But understand that we’re still the same players and still got the same group.”
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