The Green Bay Packers have had one of the best defenses in the NFL all season, driven by their excellent pass rush. Expectations were that the trend would continue on Sunday as they host the rival Chicago Bears. All they'd have to do is slow down Ben Johnson's vaunted running game enough to force Caleb Williams to throw. Such a method has been successful numerous times in the past against the Bears. However, that may prove problematic this time, as word continues to surface about injuries on defense.
Green Bay was already dealing with the bad news of losing Devonte Wyatt. The defensive tackle will miss the game with an ankle injury. He's their best interior pass rusher and won't be easily replaced. Then there is Lukas Van Ness, their big defensive lineman, who has played well this season before a foot injury hobbled him. That is two key defensive linemen out of the picture. Now it appears the Packers' secondary took a hit as safety Javon Bullard was downgraded with an ankle issue of his own.
Bullard is probably their best run-stopping defensive back.
The Chicago Bears now have a clearer path to victory.
Much of the Packers' interior defense could be out on Sunday. Wyatt won't be able to rush the quarterback, while Van Ness and Bullard will be absent in run defense. For a team like the Chicago Bears, that is brutal timing. They have arguably the best interior offensive line in the NFL right now, fresh off abusing the Philadelphia Eagles last week for 281 rushing yards. Green Bay has been solid against the run most of the year, but they have become a little softer in recent weeks. They went from allowing 78 yards per game through the first seven weeks to 125 in the past five.
Now you remove another key piece to their defense, and it raises concerns. Everybody knows the Bears will run the ball. It isn't just that they have strong blockers and good running backs, either. Johnson is one of the best schemers in the NFL. He knows how to create lanes better than most. Every Packers defender must be on top of their details. That becomes incredibly difficult when you start losing key starters. Maybe Green Bay handles the losses fine and takes care of business anyway.
If they don't, their season gets a little more precarious.
