Five things to watch for in the Week 4 Sunday matchup when the Green Bay Packers (1-2) face the Chicago Bears (2-1) at Soldier Field:
1. Aaron Rodgers . . . in every way
Throughout the majority of the past few seasons, Aaron Rodgers' presence in a game has been somewhat overlooked -- or perhaps even taken for granted. A great performance became the standard that he set for himself. When he threw for three touchdowns, 300-plus yards and finished with a passer rating of over 100.0, it was sometimes dismissed as, "Well, that's what Rodgers does." It was the expectation.
The way that Rodgers' 2014 season started, there will be a heavy focus on the way he plays in Chicago. He already has two games this season with fewer than 200 passing yards. That's something he'd only done twice (in games that he started and finished) in the three seasons after winning Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers' yards per pass attempt average is by far the lowest of his career. His completion percentage is also at a career-low.
Add in Rodgers' postgame comments in Detroit about "adjustments" not being made offensively, then throw in his "R-E-L-A-X" suggestion to Packers fans and the possibility that Green Bay could fall to a 1-3 record. There will be a lot on Rodgers' right shoulder.
2. Pass-catchers, playmakers needed
It's been Jordy Nelson and not much else in Green Bay's receiving game. Though Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy wouldn't admit there was a problem with receivers not named Nelson getting open, that has been an obvious limitation to the offense.
Nelson accounts for more than 50 percent of Green Bay's receiving yards. He has nearly triple the amount of receiving yards as the Packers' No. 2-ranked receiver, Randall Cobb. If the Bears have a similar strategy in defending Nelson that the Detroit Lions did in Week 3 (with near-constant safety help over the top), there'll be only so much that he can contribute. It'll take Cobb, Davante Adams, Eddie Lacy out of the backfield and a couple tight ends to get open in what will likely be a lot of one-on-one situations for them.
Jarrett Boykin is listed as questionable with a knee and groin injury. Boykin has had a disappointing season with just two catches for 17 yards. If he is unable to play, Adams will be the obvious No. 3 wide receiver (though he might be either way). That would also give Jeff Janis a shot to be active on gameday, and he would offer Green Bay's passing offense a speedy option to throw to if given any snaps.
Keep an eye on Bears rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller. The first-round pick leads the entire league with three interceptions, and, according to the ratings at ProFootballFocus, has been Chicago's best defensive player. It will be interesting to see how he's used against the Packers' wide receivers.
3. Eddie Lacy's opportunity to "play better" vs. 26th-ranked Bears run defense
McCarthy didn't hide his feelings about the way Eddie Lacy has performed so far this season: "Eddie needs to play better." With 113 rushing yards on 36 carries and no touchdowns, Lacy's follow-up to his Rookie of the Year campaign has gotten off to a rocky start.
There are many factors that have led to Lacy not producing at a high level. One reason, though it's not an excuse, is that the Packers have played the NFL's best collection of run defenses. The New York Jets are ranked No. 1, the Lions are No. 2 and the Seattle Seahawks are No. 4. Those teams will likely be difficult for every running back to gain a lot of ground on.
Chicago, however, is a team that has been allowing plenty of running room. The Bears are ranked No. 26 in run defense. Playing in Chicago is obviously hostile territory for Green Bay, but if ever there was an opponent that would give Lacy a chance to get his season going in the right direction, the Bears are that team.
4. Facing a high-powered, pass-first offense
To describe Chicago as primarily a passing team this season would be quite an understatement. The Bears have thrown the ball 121 times and run it on just 56 plays. That's more than 68 percent of the time.
Considering the personnel, it makes sense why Chicago would want to be pass-happy. The weapons surrounding Jay Cutler is what any NFL coach would dream of.
In complete contrast to what Rodgers and the Packers have been doing, Cutler has spread the ball around evenly to four different targets. Brandon Marshall and Martellus Bennett have each had 26 targets, Alshon Jeffery has had the ball thrown his way 25 times and running back Matt Forte has had 24 pass-catching opportunities. That's remarkable to have four players be so equally involved in the passing game, and it shows just how difficult this challenge will be for Green Bay.
Marshall is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. However, it should be noted that the last time Marshall was questionable going into a game (Week 2 in San Francisco), he played and had three touchdown receptions.
5. Julius Peppers' return to Chicago
This game apparently means nothing more to Julius Peppers than any other regular-season game. He called it "a business trip" and said that "Chicago wasn't home" despite playing the past four seasons with the Bears.
Regardless of Peppers' personal feelings, this is the first chance for Chicago to get a first-hand look at the future Pro Football Hall of Famer it chose to release this past offseason. It's also the first opportunity to see Peppers and Jared Allen on the same field since joining their new teams, and to see if the Bears made the right call by preferring Allen. That is, of course, assuming Allen plays (he's questionable with an illness).
The last time that Peppers was on Soldier Field, he was nearing a sack on Aaron Rodgers before John Kuhn became the "unsung hero" with the block that set up the division-winning touchdown pass to Randall Cobb. Peppers, seemingly only partially joking, said he thought Kuhn cost him his job with Chicago and that he might not have been with Green Bay this season had he made that sack on Rodgers.
With all the different topics surrounding him, Peppers will be a player to highlight in this game.
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