The Chicago Bears took care of their business on Sunday. They knew they would have to beat the Cleveland Browns to give themselves a chance to retake the division lead next weekend in a rematch with the Green Bay Packers. It was a worry-free afternoon as the Bears crushed the Browns 31-3, moving to 10-4 and beginning preparations for next week. The only thing left to do was to see what happens with the Packers in their highly-touted matchup against the AFC-leading Denver Broncos.
Nobody could’ve imagined what hell awaited them. Things started out great. Green Bay came out hot, building a 23-14 lead and had the ball with the chance to add more. Then everything went sideways. It started when Jordan Love threw an interception to Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain. Wide receiver Christian Watson appeared to suffer a nasty shoulder injury on the play.
Watson is Green Bay’s most important receiver.
He proved it last week against Chicago. His speed changes the game. If he’s out for the year, that is a brutal blow. Yet it doesn’t even compare to what came next. Micah Parsons, the blockbuster trade acquisition from Dallas, has been terrorizing opponents all season. He was doing the same to Denver until an attempted change of direction saw his left knee buckle without any contact.
This changes everything for the Chicago Bears.
Most people anticipated Green Bay would have the division wrapped up within the next couple of weeks. They’ve been on a hot streak, their quarterback is in a rhythm, and the defense is one of the NFL’s best. Now it’s all unraveling. If Parsons tore his ACL, that rips the heart right out of the defense. Don’t forget they already lost defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt for the season. So that’s their best edge rusher and interior rusher both out. Watson could be out as well, robbing them of their biggest spark plug. That doesn’t even include Zach Tom, their best blocker, who left the game with an ankle injury.
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The team that beat the Chicago Bears last week won’t be the same one that walks into Soldier Field next Sunday night. A win is never guaranteed against the Packers, but make no mistake, it will be a huge opportunity. Not having to worry about Parsons will allow the Bears to focus their blocking efforts elsewhere. They put up 21 on Green Bay and came an INT away from making it 28. They know they can move the ball on the Packers. A chance to claim the division at the expense of their hated rivals has never been closer.
