Green Bay Packers get ready to play the Chicago Bears on Sunday evening. For the first time all season, Green Bay is playing in front of fans for the first time all season. Lambeau Field has been a goofy place for Green Bay this season. The last two games have been mired with bad weather that doesn’t particularly suit Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ attack. The good news is that it will be cold, but the weather should be great for the offense. The time is now for Green Bay to get hot for the final push of the National Football League season. Here are some questions I have headed into this one.

1. Which Packers offense will show up – First half Colts or second half Colts? Green Bay played as good as a first half against Indianapolis. They were doing everything they wanted in the passing game then a bit of the run too. In the second half, Indy’s defense shut that down quicker than Jon Taffer with bar serving raw chicken.This makes things interesting against a good Chicago defense. Packers need to stick with their quick, intermediate passing game that helped build a lead in the first half.

2. Can the Packers step on their throat early? – I didn’t have a podcast to round out the week because life gets tough with work, Thanskgiving, etc. But what I would have said is Green Bay needs to deliver a punch early. The Bears can look like Nate Robinson if the Packers come to play early. Don’t even give Chicago a chance tonight. The only way that happens if the Packers come out early, fast, and ready to score.

3. Will the Bears have Akiem Hicks? – There are a lot of potential injuries to wonder about on both sides, but none bigger than Akiem Hicks. The big fella is battling a hamstring injury, and it doesn’t look like he will play. Hicks is the heart and soul of this Bears team and the reason the run defense is so good for Chicago. If Hicks doesn’t go, don’t be surprised if Aaron Jones has a huge game.

4. What does Mitch Trubisky have to lose? – If there is one thing that scares me, it’s that Mitch Trubrisky is playing with zero pressure. We know he is talented. Trubiksy was a top pick for a reason. Despite what you think of him, he can still sling it and be a factor. Green Bay must keep a form of contain tonight. Don’t let him get to the outside and pick up extra yards with his feet.

5. Will we see the less soft zone tonight? – If there is a buzzword in Packers land, it is ‘soft zone.’ Everyone is talking about it, and now the hope is that the Packers put an end to it. There is no reason you need zone against this quarterback. Maybe a rover or spy to keep Trubisky in the pocket versus out running, but other than that, it is not needed. Green Bay has to be better in this category from the coaching staff to the players.

Prediction
I like the Packers in this one a lot. I said to Mitch earlier this week on Tapping The Keg podcast that I believe Green Bay is going to dump truck one of their next three opponents. Who that will be? I don’t know. But if Hicks isn’t playing, I can’t see this being a close game. Packers roll in this one. Green Bay 34 Chicago 17.

Charlie.