Heading into a pivotal matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears that could decide the fate of the NFC North, the Bears have been hit with a brutal stroke of injury luck. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, two of their top receivers, are set to miss Saturday's game due to injury.
That leaves second-year QB Caleb Williams with limited options in the passing game, right when he needs them the most. Sounds like great news for Green Bay, right?
Not so fast. The injuries could force the Bears to lean into one of their biggest strengths, potentially exposing a glaring weakness in the Packers' defense.
Bears' injury report could quietly spell trouble for Packers' defense
The Bears' rise this season has been headlined by the success of Williams, and understandably so. After a rough rookie season, the quarterback has improved his efficiency enough to command a capable offense. But he hasn't been the unit's engine. The Bears have ridden an elite rushing attack this year, led by the dynamic duo of D'Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai. In fact, they currently rank second in the NFL in rushing yards per game.
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Without two of his top receivers available, head coach Ben Johnson may choose to rely on the running game even more against the Packers. Swift (who is listed as questionable for Saturday's game) and Monangai combined for 27 carries and 120 rushing yards in the Packers' win over the Bears earlier this season. This weekend, those numbers could be significantly higher.
That could set the Packers up to be exposed. Their run defense has quietly become one of their biggest weaknesses in recent weeks. While they held the Denver Broncos to a limited output on the ground in Week 15, they were shaky against the run in their previous two games.
Now, with Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt both out for the rest of the season, the issue could quickly move from minor weakness to fatal flaw. Safety Evan Williams, an excellent run defender, is also a doubt for Week 16. Now, players like Kingsley Enegbare and Colby Wooden will be forced to step up.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley may load up the box against the Bears on Saturday in an attempt to force Johnson to rely on his depleted receiver group. But if the Bears are allowed to take advantage of the Packers' weakened run defense, they might give the rest of the league the blueprint for taking Green Bay down.