The Chicago Bears came up short in the first meeting with the Green Bay Packers, 28-21. However, Caleb Williams had an incredible second half, putting up 18 points and making plays that hadn’t been seen against that defense all year. He was one pass away from sending it to overtime. One must also not forget that he beat the Packers in Green Bay last year and almost did it in the other meeting at Soldier Field. For all the confidence Packers fans project, they were nervous going into the rematch this week.
Now they’re panicking.
The NFL world was rocked on Sunday when Micah Parsons, Green Bay’s glorious trade acquisition, tore his ACL in the loss to the Denver Broncos. He had been their unquestioned best pass rusher all season and was essential to closing out close games. With him done for the season, reality is setting in for Packers fans. Their defense struggled to contain Williams with Parsons on the field. Without him, their pass rush is in the hands of Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness, who haven’t been overly effective in recent weeks.
They’re right to fear Caleb Williams under those conditions.
The Bears quarterback has thrown 325 passes from a clean pocket this year. He has completed 66.2% of them for 2,519 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. That works out to a 100.5 passer rating. Parsons is out. So is Devonte Wyatt, Green Bay’s best interior pass rusher. Combined, they accounted for 38% of the Packers’ total pressures this season. There is no replacing that. The only hope they have is that Gary, Van Ness, and others can somehow step up their games. Typically, that doesn’t happen.
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If Caleb Williams plays at the same level he did in that second half of the first meeting, the Packers are in big trouble. Chicago already knows it can run the ball effectively against them. The one issue was passing. Everybody knew how dangerous Parsons was. With him out of the picture, that fear is gone. Green Bay is still well-coached and has talent elsewhere. Yet their X-factor is gone. The consequences of that are often felt immediately, and in the most important games.
