Inbox: It's going to be more difficult

[Cheesehead]

Mario from Kettleman City, CA


Word on the street is that AJ Dillon is the official President of Thighland. Felicitations to him!


Please see yourself out.


Jeff from Eveleth, MN


The Inbox seems to really be living this Titans game up. Rightfully so, fans should enjoy it. But do the players do the same or do they just return to business the next day? I hope they move on to the next challenge because we have a Bears team that is going to give us everything they have and then some. Go Pack Go.


That's what leadership is for, and with this team it starts with LaFleur. He was talking Sunday night after the game about moving on to the Bears Monday. The players got the game plan for Chicago handed to them (or electronically transferred to their tablets for discussion in meetings) this morning when they arrived after their day off. From that point on, the true pros know the previous game doesn't really exist anymore.


Darren from Alice Springs, Australia


Is it Chicago's re-emergence of the running game that has propelled them to over 30 points the last four games or something else which Green Bay's defense will need to focus on stopping?


It's made the difference in their season. In David Montgomery's last five games, including the first matchup with the Packers, he has 103, 72, 113, 146 and 95 rushing yards, with six rushing TDs. In his first nine games (before missing one due to injury), he topped 65 yards just twice, with one rushing TD. Rocket science this is not.


Joe from Swansea, IL


Looks like weather (sunny, 34 degrees) won't be a factor at Soldier Field. What are the keys to a Packer victory? Pressure on Trubisky? Winning the trenches? Which running game is more productive? 12-17 lightning strikes? Is there a hidden element we're missing?


Defensively, key on Montgomery and keep Trubisky in the pocket. As Phil from Madison noted, set the edges like they did against Henry. That was the best the Packers had done all year, and it'll work against both the RB and a scrambling QB. Offensively, stay balanced and protect the ball. The hidden element is the return game. The Packers held the Bears, particularly Patterson, in check the first time. They have to do that again.


Tom from Green Lake, WI


Good morning! It's now been about a month ago since we last played the Bears. During that time, they have had some success to get where they are with a chance of a playoff spot. Where has their improvement been most notable, and how will our game plan change (if at all) since the last time we played against them?


Other than what's already been mentioned, the biggest difference in this game will be Akiem Hicks' presence in the middle of Chicago's defensive line. He missed the first meeting due to injury and the Packers exploited his absence right from the jump. I don't see Aaron Jones ripping off runs between the tackles of 14, 9 and 8 yards within his first four carries, like he did in Week 12, if Hicks is in there. It's going to be more difficult, and take a commitment, to get the running game going this time.


Will from Bristol, UK


Hey Insiders! Did you see Trubisky's red-zone interception versus the Jags? Real ugly. Montgomery and that Bears pass defense worry me more. A game to stop the run, build up an early lead and put the ball in Trubisky's hands I think. Then watch our offense grind that clock down with the run game. Your thoughts?


Sounds like a plan.


Wes from South St. Paul, MN


Mike and Wes, while the Bears don't have the running game the Titans have I would bet they will have Trubisky try the same move that Tannehill ran for the TD. Did the focus on Henry forgo the "spy"? Trubisky may be a bit faster that Tannehill.


Oh, they'll definitely try that. It wasn't about having a spy. Darnell Savage was the box safety on the play, to Tannehill's right, and he crashed hard on the fake to Henry, giving the QB the wide-open running lane he vacated. An easy first down turned into a long TD because Adrian Amos, the deep safety, also bit on the Henry fake, perhaps in part because Savage's plunge into the line convinced him Henry had the ball. That's what players and coaches call easily correctable.