September
Packers vs. Bears Preview: 5 Things to Watch
The Green Bay Packers (2-0) and Chicago Bears (1-1) face off in Week 3 of the NFL season.
The basics
When: 3:15 CDT, Sunday, September 25, 2011
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
TV: FOX, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman with the call, Pam Oliver on the sidelines
Radio: 620 AM WTMJ (Milwaukee); Packers Radio Network
Series: Bears lead, 92-84-6. Packers won last regular season game, 10-3, in January 2010 at Lambeau Field. Bears hold 20-19 record at Solider Field.
Five things to watch
1. Containing Forte
In six career games against the Packers, Bears running back Matt Forte has only averaged a little over 20 touches per game. The Bears will need to go over that number on Sunday to win. Forte is the focal point of the Bears offense, but too many times the Bears have went away from him. Mike Martz isn’t making that same mistake to start this season. After asking for a new contract before the season, Forte has looked like one of the more complete backs in the game through two weeks. He’s averaging 4.5 yards on 26 attempts, but Forte is doing his real damage as a receiver, where he’s caught a team-high 15 passes for 204 yards. If the first two weeks are any indication, the Packers might have trouble containing him in that role. Of the 851 yards the Packers have allowed to opposing quarterbacks, running backs are responsible for 235 of those. With the kind of film the Packers’ defense have put out early this season, you’d have to think Martz spent this week looking for ways to get Forte the ball in space.
