The regular season is finally upon us, and there is not a better way to kick it off then to jump right into the season's first episode of “Bear Week”.  The Bears head into week 1’s prime time Sunday Night matchup with a roaring confidence after landing arguably the NFL’s best defensive player, Khalil Mack in a blockbuster trade with the Raiders last week.  The Bears have not been shy when discussing how Mack’s acquisition will elevate them to one of the NFL’s top 5 defenses.

Players, coaches, and NFL pundits alike have certainly provided the Packers with bulletin board material for the first installment of Bear week.  NBC certainly has cashed in on the headline billing of Mack vs. Rodgers to promote Sunday Night’s main event week 1 matchup, however, a Packers win or loss will depend on many more crucial matchups than just these two headline players.

Here are just a FEW of the very key matchups that will determine whether the Packers will triumph over the Bears on Sunday Night:

1. The Packers Offensive Line vs. The Bears Front Seven- (Bakhtiari and Bulaga vs. Mack):

In order for the Packers to win on Sunday Night, they must disprove Akiem Hicks’s statements about their offensive line and avoid any Aaron Rodgers vs. Khalil Mack one on one matchups at all costs.  Rodgers certainly has quite a unique and uncanny ability to scramble and move the pocket with his feet turning sure sacks into positive plays, but in order to keep him on the field for all 16 games, the Packers offensive line must consistently protect him, in order to keep him away from one on one matchups with elite pass rushers like Mack.  

Left Tackle, David Bakhtiari will draw one of his fiercest matchups to date in Khalil Mack.  He will need to continue his dominant play in pass blocking efficiency (88.9 according to PFF) as well as his 96.7% blocking success rate to avoid any pressures and hurries to Rodgers blind side.  On the right side of the line, Brian Bulaga must prove that he is fully recovered from his torn ACL which took place in the first week of November last season.

Bulaga is now ten months removed from his surgery and faces his final test in the road to recovery.  In order to regain his place as a top right tackle in this league, Bulaga must prove that his strength, agility, and athleticism have returned and that he is ready to compete against the likes of Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, and the rest of the Chicago Bears front seven.  

If I was Vic Fangio, I would move my edge rushers back and forth from the left and right side so that Bulaga and Bakhtiari would have to see multiple different skill sets and I would make sure that I would test Brian Bulaga’s strength and athleticism against Khalil Mack as much as I could.  

2. The Packers Front Seven vs. The Bears Offensive Line- (Can Clay Matthews and Nick Perry generate consistent pressures):

Sunday will be the unveiling of Mike Pettine’s “non-vanilla” defense.  Fans, scouts, and NFL pundits alike are awaiting Pettine’s game plan with bated breath as they wonder whether the Packers newly hired defensive coordinator can breathe life back into a defense that was lifeless just one season ago.  Opposing scouts will be interested to see whether the Packers dominate front line of Kenny Clark, Mike Daniels, Muhammed Wilkerson, Dean Lowry, and Montravious Adams will be able to help create penetration and pass rushing lanes for Clay Matthews and Nick Perry or whether it will be more of the same ineffective pass rushes from years past.    

Getting started off on the right foot in 2018 will be key for Matthews and Perry to have bounce-back seasons and I look for the Packers main trio of tackles (Clark, Daniels, and Wilkerson) to bulldoze their way through the Bears offensive line and create lanes for Perry and Matthews to create consistent pressures and have plenty of sack opportunities.  

3. How the Packers Young Secondary Performs in their First Real NFL Test-(Joshua Jackson and Jaire Alexander’s Baptism by Fire):

After a fantastic preseason, the expectations have soared for Joshua Jackson and Jaire Alexander.  Both showed why the Packers invested a tremendous amount of draft capital on them by their stellar individual and collective performances in the Packers secondary thus far.  They showed superior one on one coverage skills and an ability to make plays on the ball through both interceptions and pass defenses.

Many expect head coach Matt Nagy and his staff to try and test the coverage discipline of Jackson and Alexander with double moves to see if they will prematurely jump any routes which could lead to big plays down the field for Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Trey Burton.  Jackson and Alexander will have the opportunity to prove to everyone that their preseason play is a true indication of the caliber of players that they are by staying disciplined on their one on one route coverage, by staying with the Bears receivers, and by making plays on the ball in key situations that will get the Packers defense off of the field.  

I expect the Bears to take shots down the field early and often, using play action and double moves to try and bate the young members of the Packers secondary.  I could see the Bears making a big play down the field early on, but, I suspect that Jackson and Alexander will settle in quickly and have productive games for the Packers.  

4. Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Graham vs. The Bears Redzone Defense:

The Packers have been waiting all preseason for the opportunity to show off their aerial red zone attack highlighted by the new connection of Aaron Rodgers to Jimmy Graham.  We all witnessed a very brief glimpse of what the Packers could be in store for when the dynamic duo hooked up for an 8-yard touchdown against an overmatched Steelers secondary.  Jimmy Graham’s size, positioning, and athleticism will provide the Packers with a distinct advantage and will increase their red zone efficiency and touchdown percentage.

Graham’s combination of size, speed, strength, and athleticism will make it difficult for any of the Bears cornerbacks, safeties, or linebackers to prevent him winning any one on one matchups against them. I expect Rodgers to go to Jimmy Graham every chance that he can on Sunday Night, in Graham's Packers debut.  Look for the Packers to line up in formations and run routes that will present matchup nightmares for the Bears linebackers and secondary.

I suspect that Jimmy Graham make the difference in this game through the impact that he will make inside of the red zone.  I am looking for Jimmy Graham to catch 5-7 passes for 70-80 yards and have 2 touchdowns which will ultimately prove to be the difference maker in a highly competitive opening Sunday Night football matchup.  

5. Predictions and Stars:

1. Aaron Rodgers 30/37 285 yards 3 touchdowns.

2. Jimmy Graham 7 catches for 80 yards 2 touchdowns.

3. Clay Matthews 2 sacks and a forced fumble.

4. Special Teams shines and wins the field position battle.

5. David Bakhtiari keeps Aaron Rodgers blindside protected.

Final Score: Bears 20 Packers 24