Packers: Five bold predictions vs. Bears in Week 15

5. Tyler Ervin has a big return

Before last week, the Packers’ return game had been nothing short of an embarrassment. The team was on pace for an all-time NFL low in return yards. But Tyler Ervin‘s arrival has changed that. Ervin repeatedly set a new season-long for the Packers in punt return yards (although the bar was low). He looked far more comfortable in the position than we’ve seen from anyone else all season.

Ervin returned four punts for 51 yards against the Washington Redskins, which works out at an average of 12.8 yards per return. Prior to the game, the Packers would’ve been delighted with that. His work on punt returns ensured the Packers remained in control of the battle for field position throughout the first half.

His impressive start will continue against the Bears, a team that has been solid, not great against punt returns this season. According to The Football Database, the Bears are allowing seven yards per punt return in 2019. But Chicago has also allowed a punt return of 40 yards, which is the ninth-longest in the NFL this season.

The Bears are also giving up almost 24 yards per kickoff return and have allowed a long of 52 yards on a kickoff return in 2019.

Ervin impressed last week, and he’ll have a big return to set the Packers up in great field position this week.