Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 12 vs. Bears
By Jesse Fry
1. David Bakhtiari and the offensive line
Fresh off a brand new big-money contract, David Bakhtiari will have one of his toughest matchups on the year against Khalil Mack.
Chicago’s all-world linebacker is an absolute game-wrecker and would love to feast on Aaron Rodgers.
Bakhtiari played well against the Colts, not allowing a sack, but the Colts do not have a player the caliber of Mack. Mack vs. Bakhtiari is a heavyweight title fight in every sense. The Bears’ best pass rusher versus the Packers’ best lineman.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano will like to move Mack around to find a favorable matchup so the burden won’t fall on Bakhtiari alone. Billy Turner will see his fair share of Mack as well as the interior linemen.
The Bears also have one of the best defensive tackles in the game, Akiem Hicks, who will also be a handful for the offense if he plays. Hicks is questionable with a hamstring injury.
Chicago’s defense fields one of the best front sevens in the NFL with inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan roaming the middle and Robert Quinn on the other side of Mack.
Green Bay’s offense will need to be on top of their game against this Bears group if they want to come away with a win.
We will need to see more of the first half performance against the Colts, and less of the second half, against the Bears.