The Chicago Bears must play almost a perfect game to beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. That is how slim the margins are. Justin Fields will be at the center of that. He’s the quarterback and has carried this team on his back for months. Most of that is thanks to his outstanding mobility as a runner. He’s transformed the Bears into the best rushing offense in the NFL. Green Bay has the second-worst rushing defense. It only makes sense for Chicago to exploit that vulnerability. Even so, there will come the point when he has to put the ball in the air.
The problem is that it didn’t go well the last time he played the Packers. They held him to 7-of-11 for 70 yards and an interception. It can’t go that way this time around. Not if he wants to win. The challenge is exploiting Green Bay’s tough coverage without his best wide receiver, Darnell Mooney. His season ended last week due to an ankle injury. When examining the previous game and the overall state of the Packers’ defense, it’s obvious what Fields must do.
He has to attack their safeties. Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage have been vulnerable in coverage this year. Opponents have targeted them 56 times, completing 31 passes for 348 yards and seven touchdowns. Fields didn’t target either one of them in the last meeting, partly due to having no time in the pocket and partly his own timidity.
Justin Fields has two weapons that can make this happen.
As the video above shows, Amos has trouble covering opposing tight ends. That means the Bears should find a way to get him matched up with Cole Kmet, especially in the red zone. The big tight end has played some good football in recent weeks. Savage especially hasn’t been able to keep opponents out of the end zone. The other is Chase Claypool. He has proven multiple times to be a legitimate down-the-field threat. He has enough speed to get deep, and his 6’4 size makes him a mismatch for almost any defensive back.
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The fact Green Bay doesn’t have pass rusher Rashan Gary makes this possibility even stronger. His absence should allow the Bears to focus more attention on Preston Smith and Kenny Clark. If they can be neutralized, then Justin Fields might have a chance to uncork a few deep shots. One or two completed long balls might change the complexion of the entire matchup. It might be asking a lot of this team, but it’s not like they have anything to lose by trying.
