National Football League

Bears running game is of major concern

Published Sep. 21, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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It's the Packers and the Bears on FOX this Sunday. Choose your cliché. It applies. In theory, it doesn't get much better than this. When these teams get together, you throw everything out the window.

Remember when Lovie Smith won the press conference as the new coach of the Bears when he talked about beating Green Bay? It's that important. It's the oldest rivalry in NFL history, with the Bears leading the epic series 91-83-6. These teams loathe each other. The fans hate each other. The Bears players and fans still want credit for winning the division last year. They still consider themselves the favorites for the NFC North this season, even though Green Bay beat the Bears in Chicago on Championship Sunday en route to winning the Super Bowl.

Whatever.

Welcome to 2011. I know the game is in Chicago. I know the Bears beat the Packers 20-17 in Chicago last year when Robbie Gould kicked the game-winning field goal with four seconds left. That's nice. The Packers are clearly the better team. The Packers are the more well-coached team. Green Bay should roll.

The Bears have an old problem on their hands once again. Mike Martz ran the football just 10 times with Matt Forte last Sunday in a lopsided, gruesome looking loss to the Saints as we predicted during our Rivalry Rant last week. Lovie Smith, in some way shape or form, said at his news conference on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, that Chicago needs to run the ball more, that Chicago needs a much healthier run-pass ratio.

So here's the question, Lovie. Why aren't you demanding that Martz run the ball? Why aren't you reminding him in his headset on game day? The wins and losses go on your record, not Martz's. Lovie needs to take control.

Matt Forte deserves the ball. On Wednesday, he told Comcast Sports Net Chicago, "Obviously, someone doesn't believe I'm an elite running back." He could be talking about Martz. He could be talking about Jerry Angelo. Either way, it is a mess.

And the lack of balance is killing Jay Cutler, who has been sacked a startling 11 times the first two weeks of the season. Do you think Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers is going to bring the heat on Sunday? Do you think the outstanding B.J. Raji is going to dominate? Count my vote as "yes" for both. And when you bring the pressure, Charles Woodson, the one man turnover creator, will take over this game for the Packers defense.

I have too much respect for Brian Urlacher and the Bears defense to believe Aaron Rodgers will pour on the points. I expect Julius Peppers to create some problems for the Green Bay offensive line. But Rodgers is in too much of a zone right now, with 620 yards, five touchdowns and not a single pick on the season. And Mike McCarthy is such a better play caller than Martz. There is no doubt in my mind the Packers will win the ultra-important turnover battle.

Put me down for Green Bay 24 and the Bears 16. Book it, Peter Schrager.