Packers’ offense must lead the way vs. Bears in Week 13

After last week, it’s fair to have given up hope for the Green Bay Packers‘ defense.

Having allowed 363 rushing yards and three touchdowns versus the Philadelphia Eagles, including 157 yards to quarterback Jalen Hurts, it’s understandable to be concerned about a matchup with the NFL’s top-ranked rushing offense.

The Packers had no answer for Hurts last week, and they will likely struggle to stop Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields on the ground on Sunday.

Fields rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9, then another 147 yards and two scores versus the Detroit Lions seven days later.

The Packers likely won’t win this game on defense. It will have to come on offense.

But there’s good news. To put it simply, Chicago’s defense is struggling.

The Bears traded away their two best defensive players, Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith, before last month’s deadline, and the results have been predictable.

Chicago has allowed 34.6 points per game over the past five weeks.

The Dallas Cowboys put up 49 points on the Bears. Chicago’s best defensive performance in the past five games was allowing 27 points to the Atlanta Falcons. The other four teams put up at least 31 against them.

Meanwhile, the Packers’ offense has found some success, at last, in recent weeks.

Across the entire season, Green Bay is averaging just 19.6 points per game. But over the past three weeks, it’s 27 points per game.

Aaron Rodgers might not be at 100 percent, but he should still find success against this Bears defense.

He’ll receive help from the Packers’ excellent ground game. Meanwhile, Christian Watson has caught six touchdowns over the past three weeks and Romeo Doubs could also return for this game.

If the Packers win this game, it will be because of their offense, not the defense. But they get a favorable matchup against a struggling Bears defense.