GREEN BAY, Wisconsin: With a 4-8 record, the Green Bay Packers were effectively out of business in 2022. The same thing happened in 2023 following 2-5 and 3-6 starts, which were followed by humiliating back-to-back defeats by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants. The Packers hosted a win-and-in Week 18 matchup against the quickly rising Detroit Lions in 2022 after winning four straight games. They were defeated. The Packers will host a win-and-in game in Week 18 of 2023 against the Chicago Bears, who had won four of the previous five games, after winning two straight.
Will the past happen again? Here are three reasons the Bears may spoil Green Bay’s postseason plans. 1. The Packers vs. Halil Herbert and Justin Fields Detonating Due to a back ailment, Bears running back Khalil Herbert was doubtful after missing practice on Friday. It is anticipated that Herbert will play, though. The Bears gave Herbert, who averaged a strong 5.7 yards per rush in 2022, the running game keys and allowed David Montgomery to go with the rival Lions. This hasn’t been the season everyone was expecting. He has 350 running yards and 0 touchdowns through Week 15. But Herbert rushed 20 times for 112 yards and one score against the Cardinals and 18 times for 124 yards and one touchdown against the Eagles in back-to-back victories.
Defense coordinator Joe Barry remarked, “I’ve always thought that kid’s a heck of a back, even when Montgomery’s been there in years past.” “I have a great deal of respect for him as a runner.” Of course, there’s really not much to say about Green Bay’s issues in stopping the run. The Packers rank 26th in terms of yards allowed per carry (4.50) and 28th in terms of rushing yards allowed per game (131.6). But over the past three weeks, it has performed rather well. Barry’s defense has held the Buccaneers to 99 yards on 27 attempts (3.7 average), the Panthers to 96 yards on 25 tries (3.8 average), and the Vikings to 67 yards on 16 totes (4.2 average) after giving up 209 rushing yards and a 6.1 average against the Giants.
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There won’t be simply Herbert to worry about for the Packers. With a team-high 630 running yards, quarterback Justin Fields is ranked second at the position despite missing four games. (More about him in the “Big Matchup” feature on Sunday.) Physical runners Roschon Johnson (6-foot, 225 pounds) and veteran D’Onta Foreman (6-foot, 235 pounds) are Herbert’s backfield running partners. Additionally, their tight end Cole Kmet and receivers have combined for 26 receptions of the ball. Barry remarked, “They do a great job running the ball, whether it’s quarterback-design runs or conventional runs.” The way they’ve been able to get their receivers in fly sweeps and other situations is excellent, in my opinion. They put you through a perimeter challenge. They can do all of those actions in addition to lining up in smashball. They are secondary.
Why are the Packers winning two straight games? Of course, Aaron Jones’s play as running back is a good place to start. After battling ailments throughout the season, Jones is back to full health after a knee injury. He rushed 21 times for 127 yards (6.0 average) against Carolina and 20 times for 121 yards (6.1 average) against the Vikings. Matt Eberflus, the coach of the Bears, stated this week that Jones is the obvious conduit for their offense.
