Packers should fend off Bears

Maybe all the displays of unity at NFL games last weekend also overshadowed an awful week for predictions. We sure hope so.

And that came with a rare win in a Thursday night game, Rams over 49ers. Hopefully, we can get it right with this week’s opener, Bears at Packers, then follow it up with some more winners.

Green Bay struggled to beat lowly Cincinnati in overtime last Sunday, hours after Chicago stunned Pittsburgh, also in OT. Working extra time heading into a short week isn’t exactly an ideal way to prep for a Thursday nighter.

The Packers were undermanned, particularly on the offensive line, against the Bengals and had to stage a big rally to win. The Bears used their impressive running game to overcome the Steelers.

With so little rest between outings, the disparity in talent can tend to get skewed a bit. Green Bay appears to be a Super Bowl contender when healthy. Chicago has the look of an also-ran in a tough division. Still, this is BearsPackers, one of the more emotion-packed series in pro sports.

The Packers are seven-point favourites over their long-time rival Bears. PACKERS, 21-16 L.A. RAMS (plus 7 1/2 ) at DALLAS Rams seem to be putting together nice offence. We already know Dallas has one of those. COWBOYS, 30-19 TENNESSEE (minus 2)

at HOUSTON It’s early, but Texans loss would be very damaging in division. TEXANS, 20-17 NEW ORLEANS (minus 3)

vs. MIAMI (at London) Rebound time for Dolphins after that New Jersey fiasco. DOLPHINS, 23-21 PITTSBURGH (minus 2 1⁄2 )

at BALTIMORE Best rivalry in football, nasty and physical, but clean. STEELERS, 20-13 OAKLAND (plus 2 12⁄ ) at DENVER Both teams come off offensive stinkers. RAIDERS, 26-21 CAROLINA (plus 8) at NEW ENGLAND Both teams come off defensive stinkers. PATRIOTS, 36-23 JACKSONVILLE (minus 3 1/2 )

at N.Y. JETS Road favourites destroyed us last week. We barely learned a lesson. JAGUARS, 19-17 BUFFALO (plus 7 1/2 ) at ATLANTA Falcons have escaped twice on road, but routed Green Bay at home. FALCONS, 22-16 N.Y. GIANTS (plus 5)

at TAMPA BAY Just a feeling Giants aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. GIANTS, 17-13 PHILADELPHIA (pick-em)

at L.A. CHARGERS Just a feeling Chargers aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. CHARGERS, 27-23 CINCINNATI (minus 3)

at CLEVELAND Just a feeling Bengals aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. BENGALS, 21-20 SAN FRANCISCO (plus 7)

at ARIZONA Just a feeling ... oh, never mind. CARDINALS, 20-16 INDIANAPOLIS (plus 13)

at SEATTLE Until Andrew Luck is behind centre, staying away from Colts doing anything special. SEAHAWKS, 22-6 DETROIT (no line) at MINNESOTA Really like what we have seen from Lions thus far. LIONS, 24-20

MONDAY NIGHT WASHINGTON (plus 7)

at KANSAS CITY Redskins might be better than we thought, can prove a lot here. CHIEFS, 24-23

——— 2017 RECORD: Last week: Against spread (5-9-1). Straight up (8-8) Season Totals: Against spread (18-27-1). Straight up: (29-18)