Four keys to a Bears victory
Football is the ultimate team game, but it's the individual matchups within the game that often determine the outcome.
The result of any of the four matchups listed below could be the one that makes the difference in what is expected to be the latest in a series of closely contested games that could hinge on one big play.
Bears OT J'Marcus Webb vs. Packers LB Clay Matthews
Webb has come a long way since he was forced into the starting lineup in Week 5, in part because of the injury to then-OLT Chris Williams that forced then-ORT Frank Omiyale to switch to the left side.
As a seventh-round pick, expectations were low for the rookie from West Texas A&M.
“In Week 1, he was an afterthought,” offensive line coach Mike Tice said. “I thought at some point in the season he was going to contribute, at some level, whether that would be the seventh guy suiting up (on game day) or something. Because of Chris Williams getting hurt, there was a hole there, so the plan was expedited a little bit. He's come very far obviously. Look at the game last week, and probably the last six or seven games.
“He's played solid football for us. He's going to have a play here and there, like all tackles, where they look lousy. But he's learning, he's playing faster, he's big, he's athletic, he can run; he's got all the things that you look for in a good NFL tackle.”
Matthews led the Packers and was second in the NFC with 13 sacks.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will have to make some plays with his arm, but he knows Matthews will be coming after him.
“He does a great job off the initial contact of spinning and making things happen,” Cutler said.
“If you hold the ball, if you double-clutch it for a second, he's going to get there. There is no really stopping him; he's got a high motor. J'Marcus has done fairly well against him, but we need him to have a huge game this week.”
Bears KR Devin Hester vs. Packers special teams
The Packers finished the season tied for 24th in punt-return average allowed and 13th in kickoff-return average allowed. Hester finished the season as the NFL's all-time leader in punt/kickoff return touchdowns with 14, including 3 punt-return touchdowns this season.
His 17.1-yard average this season was the highest in NFL history for a player with 30 or more attempts.
Many teams have kicked short or away from Hester, but even that works in the Bears' favor.
“There's a lot of hidden yardage there,” quarterback Jay Cutler said. “Even when they kick it out of bounds or kick it away from him, you're changing field position, you're making it harder on their defense.”
The Bears' biggest advantage in this game is on special teams, and they need to win that phase.
“We definitely need to be the way we've been (all season) with our returns,” coach Lovie Smith said.
“We've won games that way, and it could come down to that for us. We need to get some production out of it.”
Bears LBs Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs vs. Packers RB James Starks
The Bears' dynamic duo finished 1-2 on the team and had a combined 267 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles and 4 recovered fumbles.
They led the way against the Packers in two regular-season games, holding their running backs to just 82 yards on 29 carries, a 2.8-yard average.
The 6-foot-2, 218-pound Starks had 5 carries for 20 yards in Week 17 vs. the Bears. In two postseason games, the sixth-round rookie from Buffalo has 189 yards on 48 carries, a 3.9-yard average.
If the Bears hope to contain red-hot quarterback Aaron Rodgers, they must eliminate Starks and the Packers' ground game from the equation so they can focus their undivided attention on stopping the passing game.
“He's a big running back,” Urlacher said. “We'll do our best to try to hold him to minimal yards.”
Urlacher's best has been pretty good this season. He was voted to his seventh Pro Bowl and Briggs made if for the sixth straight season. Urlacher also became the leading tackler in franchise history, a record he believes Briggs will eventually claim.
At 32, Urlacher showed he's still playing at an elite level.
“He's got a knack for the big play, he just has a way about him,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “He's unparalleled in terms of his leadership and his knowledge of our system, and those (other) guys look to him for that leadership. He's got it all; it's the full package. That is what separates him from others.”
Bears DEs Julius Peppers, Israel Idonije vs. Packers OT Bryan Bulaga
Normally Peppers would line up against Packers OLT Chad Clifton, but Peppers will flip-flop sometimes seeking out a mismatch against the rookie on the right side from Crystal Lake and Marian Central Catholic in Woodstock.
The 6-foot-5, 314-pound Bulaga, though, isn't playing like most rookies. The first-round pick (No. 23 overall) has started 14 straight games, including two in the postseason.
But Sunday's game is exactly why Peppers left the Panthers for the Bears. Well, that and $90 million.
Seriously, though, this is the venue Peppers wanted.
“I envisioned having a shot at winning championships when I came here,” Peppers said, “and so far everything's been going according to plan. Hopefully we can finish the deal. I think they got me for more than playing against Green Bay, but this is one of the big games — not only for myself, but the leaders on this team. (We) have to step up and play well in games like this.”
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