Chicago Bears: What You Need to Know Heading into Week 9
Published by Matt Eurich on October 28, 2013
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Following a loss in Week 7 to the Washington Redskins and a bye in Week 8, the Chicago Bears will look to bounce back against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.
The Bears enter Week 9 with a record of 4-3 after starting off the season 3-0, while the Green Bay Packers are coming off of a 44-31 win against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday night to improve to 5-2 on the season.
The Bears will turn to Josh McCown to lead the offense Monday night after an injury to Jay Cutler. While the Bears are busy game-planning for the Bears, here are some things you need to know heading into Week 9.
Bears Lead All-Time Series against the Packers, 92-88-6
The Bears and Packers have the longest-running rivalry in the NFL dating back to 1921. The teams have combined to win 22 league championships and have a combined 48 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Packers have gotten the best of the Bears as of late, winning eight of the past 10 meetings, including their win over Chicago in the NFC Championship Game in 2011.
McCown‘s Start on Monday Night Football Will Be Just His Second Start against the Packers
McCown has started 33 games throughout the course of his 11-year career but has only started one game against the Packers during that time.
His lone start against the Packers came back in 2011 on Christmas night. McCown had a 19-of-28 performance for 242 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the team’s 35-21 loss. While his numbers were not spectacular, he brought a spark to a team that had been reeling since the loss of Cutler to a broken thumb.
Monday’s start will be the first for McCown since the final game of the 2011 season against the Minnesota Vikings. He played well in Week 7 filling in for Cutler, going 14-of-20 for 204 yards and one touchdown.
Aaron Rodgers Has Been Steady against the Bears
In 11 career games against the Bears, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 2,730 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Rodgers has thrown just two interceptions against the Bears once and has only failed to throw a touchdown against them twice in his career.
The Bears and their Cover 2 have done a nice job in the past of keeping Rodgers at bay, but with an injury-depleted defense that has been struggling to slow anyone down this season, he could be in line for a strong showing Monday night.
Both Teams Have Been Plagued with Injuries
The Bears have been without Henry Melton, Nate Collins and D.J. Williams due to season-ending injuries. After injuries suffered against the Washington Redskins, Chicago will be without Cutler (four weeks) and Lance Briggs (six to eight weeks) for at least the next month, via the Chicago Tribune.
According to ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, Randall Cobb was placed on the injured reserve/designated to return list following their win over the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago.
Clay Matthews (thumb) and Jermichael Finley (neck) are likely both out against the Bears on Monday as well after Matthews has missed time with a broken thumb. He isn’t expected to return until November 10, via ESPN.com, while Finely’s return is up in the air following a bruised spine last week against the Cleveland Browns, via ESPN.com.
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