Big-game breakdown: Bears vs. Packers in season opener

Quarterbacks Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers will receive most of the individual attention in Sunday night's 178th Bears-Packers game, but matchups will determine the winner.

Some appear lopsided, while others are too close to call. Here's a look at four of the more important matchups that will be analyzed and evaluated by a national-TV audience and in person by approximately 80,000 fans at Green Bay's Lambeau Field. Many of them will be wearing designer headgear resembling a wedge of cheese. Those are the Packers fans.

Bears wide receivers vs. Packers cornerbacks

This would appear to be what is commonly referred to as a "classic mismatch."

In the Bears' 20-17 overtime victory over the Packers last year at Soldier Field, the Chicago wide receivers had a total of 3 catches for 28 yards, including 2 catches for 12 yards by Devin Hester.

As a rookie last year, Earl Bennett didn't catch any passes against the Packers, or against any other NFL team. In the 37-3 loss to the Packers last season at Lambeau Field, Hester had 1 catch for 7 yards.

Packers cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson both went to the Pro Bowl last season, Woodson for the fifth time and Harris for the second year in a row. Both are in their 12th season in the NFL.

Woodson had 7 interceptions last season, and has 19 in the past three years. Woodson and Harris are also considered one of the most physical CB tandems in the NFL, and it's usually Harris assigned to the opponents' No. 1 receiver.

In the past, the Packers' corners played in-your-face, bump-and-run coverage, which can give young receivers, especially less physical ones, fits.

Asked if his receivers will face a tougher secondary this year, Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said: "I hope not because these guys are awfully good. I don't see any weaknesses there. Their two corners are obviously outstanding, and both safeties are experienced, fast, physical and very instinctive."

The Packers' corners are playing less bump-and-run coverage this year in the defense's new 3-4 scheme, but considering how well it has worked against the Bears in the past, they'll see plenty of it today.

If the Bears' wide receivers needed any extra motivation during the week, they could have re-played the off-season radio comments of Packers wide receiver Donald Driver.

"I think Chicago did a great job, and Lovie Smith went out there and got Jay Cutler to lead this team," Driver began. "But one thing they don't have is, they don't have the receiver group. They have the running back, they have the offensive line, and they have a great defense.

"But you're going to need receivers to make plays down the field, and they don't have that right now."

Advantage: Packers

Bears tight ends vs. Packers safeties

Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark combined for 9 catches, 86 yards and 1 TD when the Bears won 20-17 in overtime at Soldier Field last year, and Olsen had 4 catches for 45 yards in the loss at Lambeau.

Expect the Bears to go in that direction tonight, even though Packers strong safety Atari Bigby, and especially free safety Nick Collins, won't be easy to pick on.

Collins went to his first Pro Bowl after intercepting 7 passes last season, which he returned for an NFL-best 295 yards and 3 touchdowns.

But Olsen appears ready for a breakout season, and Cutler will look to him often as a primary target and as a safety valve. Clark has more than 40 catches in each of the past three seasons.

"A big part of what we do is with our two tight ends," Turner said. "So no matter who we're playing, getting them the ball is something we've got to work to do."

Advantage: Even

Bears defensive line vs. Packers offensive line

Packers right tackle Allen Barbre will be starting his first NFL game, and right guard Josh Sitton will be starting his second. Bears left end Adewale Ogunleye and tackle Tommie Harris, however, will have a big edge in experience and talent.

Ogunleye, who is in his ninth season, and Harris tied for second on the team last year with 5 sacks apiece, and they are anxious to get after Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"The right side of their line is young," Ogunleye said of the Pack. "It's the first year they're going to be starting together. But if the quarterback is good at awareness, he makes the line better, and Rodgers is one of those quarterbacks. (Our) defensive line has got to make life miserable for him, hopefully get him running, scrambling and throwing off his back foot.

"But if he's setting in the pocket and taking his time, patting the ball, then we're going to be in trouble."

The Bears were 29th in the NFL in sack percentage last season but are expecting significant improvement this year under coach Rod Marinelli. Green Bay was 18th in sacks allowed.

Advantage: Bears

Packers LB Kampman vs. Bears OT Williams

Williams will be making his first NFL start after missing a large potion of his rookie season following back surgery during last year's training camp. Kampman led the Packers with 91/2 sacks last season as a defensive end, but he has been converted to linebacker in the Packers' new 3-4 scheme.

The bottom line is Kampman is still their most dangerous pass rusher and has 36 sacks over the past three seasons, third most in the NFL behind the Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware (451/2) and the Vikings' Jared Allen (371/2).

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Williams said he has been watching film of the 6-4, 260-pound Kampman but not obsessing over just one player.

"We study the whole defense," Williams said. "He plays on the (Bears') right side, so I've studied his moves. But we're studying their schemes and the type of pressures they're running and just doing our work, same way as every week."

Advantage: Packers

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