Five Packers to watch vs. Bears in Week 15 matchup

4. Bryan Bulaga

Don’t let Khalil Mack‘s numbers fool you, he is still very much the game-wrecker he’s always been. The problem hasn’t been Mack, it’s been more the lack of players around him. Akiem Hicks has been hurt and Leonard Floyd hasn’t been the player he was last year.

This has allowed teams to focus solely on stopping Mack. Double teams, triple teams, a running back or tight end chipping, Mack has seen it all. The Packers don’t do that as much. They prefer to leave their tackles on an island and let them win their matchups.

They did that to good success in the first meeting and it shouldn’t surprise if they do it again in this one. Bryan Bulaga has been banged up, not being able to finish two games this season with various ailments, but when in the lineup he has played well.

He now gets the ultra-talented Mack for a rematch. It’s very possible the outcome of the game could depend on who gets the better of this matchup. In Week 1 last year, Mack was destroying Bulaga as the Bears hurt Rodgers and dominated the first half.

Once he ran out of gas in the second half, the Packers were able to put together a win. The second game of that year, Mack did what he wanted to and when he wanted to do it with his conditioning better. Opening week 2019, the Packers were able to control Mack and win the game. You see what I’m getting at here. Bulaga wins against Mack, the Packers stand a good shot of winning the game.