The Green Bay Packers are opening the 2023 season at Lambeau Field against one of their NFC North rivals, the Chicago Bears. It is a big game for both teams, as you don’t ever want to lose to a division foe. On top of that, both franchises are looking to take steps forward this season and getting a win in Week 1 would go a long way toward accomplishing that.
Last season, the Packers swept the Bears, winning both matchups. That occurred despite Green Bay’s inability to slow down the run as Chicago gained 335 yards on the ground in two games.
Defensive lineman Kenny Clark has issued a warning for the Bears about what is to come as they have plans to slow down their running game. However, these aren’t the same Bears from 2022; they are going to be more dangerous through the air.
The Packers will have some new challenges to overcome, namely wide receiver D.J. Moore. Chicago acquired him as part of the trade package from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Moore provides quarterback Justin Fields with a bonafide No. 1 option in the passing game to lean on. Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas, who was a teammate of Moore’s, knows that he and the secondary will have their hands full trying to slow him down.
“He’s a dynamic threat,” Douglas said. “I played with him in Carolina and he was always good. He can get 1,000, 1,200-receiving yards every year, so just another guy that has a blanket like if things get tough, you could just get him the ball.”
Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool round out the starting wide receiver group. Former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan will combine with Cole Kmet to give Fields the strongest group of pass catchers he has had as a pro.
Given how dominant their running game is, the Bears are going to present some issues to opponents this season slowing them down. The Packers will be the first to see how Chicago’s new-look offense clicks with more of a focus on the passing game.
