The loud thud you heard emanating out of the NFC North last week was a result of the air being let out of the balloon of the high and mighty Green Bay Packers. A perfect season ruined, the focus now moves to the post-season for the defending Super Bowl champs as priority-one turns to shoring up a defense that has deteriorated 90 YPG from last year?s trophywinning squad. And the depleted Bears appear to be the perfect patsy. On the brink of playoff elimination and spiraling downward since the loss of QB Jay Cutler four games ago, Chicago suffered another devastating loss when star WR Johnny Knox broke his back last week. Add to that the arrest of WR Sam Hurd for drug traffiicking and suddenly things aren?t so ?Lovie? in the Windy City these days. As a result, the Bears will need to rely on a superior ground game averaging 137 RYPG the last eight contests against a super-soft Packers stop-unit allowing 131 RYPG over the same span.
Thus the question is whether a ?Bubble Burst? is in effect for the Packers today?
The answer, courtesy of our powerful database, is a resounding YES, considering that NFL 13-0 or greater teams off their fi rst loss of the season are 0-4 SU and ATS in follow-up games since 1980. Toss in the fact that defending Super Bowl champions are 2-5 ATS as favorites of 12 or more points off an initial loss, along with Chicago?s 6-0 ATS mark as dogs when playing with triple revenge-exact, and we?ve got the makings of a live wounded Bear sighting in Green Bay Christmas night.
PACK by 10
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GREEN BAY 38 - Chicago 17
The Packers' quest for perfection is now by the boards. Hard to fathom zero pts in the first half at KC, & just 2 TDs & 16 FDs for the entire game.
Rodgers just 4/1 the past 2 wks, but still at 4,360yds & 41/6 for the year. Packers at 35.7 ppg in their last 7 outings, but allowing 421 ypg in their last 5 contests.
Can the Bears take advantage?
Hardly, with no Cutler or Forte, & Hanie sacked 15 times the last 3 wks (3 INTs in loss to Seattle).
So 4 straight losses for the once 7-4 Bears. Chicago is 9-32 ATS on Dec road, & 1-13 ATS as a Dec RD vs foe off SU/ATS loss. Pack: 40-18 ppg edge as host TY
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The perfect season ended for the Packers to the most surprising of foes. The Chiefs had a great game plan last week and for once the Packers did not get the breaks with turnovers that they seem to get every single week. It is unclear what the playing time will be for key players for Green Bay as the Packers suffered a couple costly injuries last week particularly on the offensive line and this is a team that may have locked up the #1 seed in the
NFC by game time with a 49ers loss. The Bears have lost four in a row and while the first three losses post Jay Cutler came in tight games, last week
Chicago was blown out by Seattle at Soldier Field. Caleb Hanie has three touchdowns and nine interceptions in four starts as the Bears have to be
upset they did not pursue another option stronger. The injury to Matt Forte has been just as devastating. At 7-7 the playoff hopes are very slim but this is a game that the Bears should get up for and the defense played much
better than allowing 38 points last week indicates.
Green Bay has been a strong home favorite and a good performer in this series in recent years and
this should be a bounce back situation for the Packers. Green Bay needs to get some positive momentum back and putting a mistake prone QB against a defense with the most interceptions in the NFL should allow the Packers to get back in the win column even if the starters get pulled early. That factor may result in a deflated line for the favorite.
PACKERS BY 14
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Thus the question is whether a ?Bubble Burst? is in effect for the Packers today?
The answer, courtesy of our powerful database, is a resounding YES, considering that NFL 13-0 or greater teams off their fi rst loss of the season are 0-4 SU and ATS in follow-up games since 1980. Toss in the fact that defending Super Bowl champions are 2-5 ATS as favorites of 12 or more points off an initial loss, along with Chicago?s 6-0 ATS mark as dogs when playing with triple revenge-exact, and we?ve got the makings of a live wounded Bear sighting in Green Bay Christmas night.
PACK by 10
===============
GREEN BAY 38 - Chicago 17
The Packers' quest for perfection is now by the boards. Hard to fathom zero pts in the first half at KC, & just 2 TDs & 16 FDs for the entire game.
Rodgers just 4/1 the past 2 wks, but still at 4,360yds & 41/6 for the year. Packers at 35.7 ppg in their last 7 outings, but allowing 421 ypg in their last 5 contests.
Can the Bears take advantage?
Hardly, with no Cutler or Forte, & Hanie sacked 15 times the last 3 wks (3 INTs in loss to Seattle).
So 4 straight losses for the once 7-4 Bears. Chicago is 9-32 ATS on Dec road, & 1-13 ATS as a Dec RD vs foe off SU/ATS loss. Pack: 40-18 ppg edge as host TY
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The perfect season ended for the Packers to the most surprising of foes. The Chiefs had a great game plan last week and for once the Packers did not get the breaks with turnovers that they seem to get every single week. It is unclear what the playing time will be for key players for Green Bay as the Packers suffered a couple costly injuries last week particularly on the offensive line and this is a team that may have locked up the #1 seed in the
NFC by game time with a 49ers loss. The Bears have lost four in a row and while the first three losses post Jay Cutler came in tight games, last week
Chicago was blown out by Seattle at Soldier Field. Caleb Hanie has three touchdowns and nine interceptions in four starts as the Bears have to be
upset they did not pursue another option stronger. The injury to Matt Forte has been just as devastating. At 7-7 the playoff hopes are very slim but this is a game that the Bears should get up for and the defense played much
better than allowing 38 points last week indicates.
Green Bay has been a strong home favorite and a good performer in this series in recent years and
this should be a bounce back situation for the Packers. Green Bay needs to get some positive momentum back and putting a mistake prone QB against a defense with the most interceptions in the NFL should allow the Packers to get back in the win column even if the starters get pulled early. That factor may result in a deflated line for the favorite.
PACKERS BY 14
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