OUR PREDICTIONS
TOM SILVERSTEIN
The Bears’ defense will be a lot better in December than it is Sunday, but their continued improvement under coordinator Vic Fangio will be evident. The problem for them is that the Packers’ offensive line is healthy and Aaron Rodgers is tough to stop at home and so there will be pressure on the Bears’ offense to score. That might be too much to ask. Packers 27, Bears 20 RYAN WOOD
The Packers are catching Khalil Mack at the right time, his first game after missing the entire offseason. And while the Bears have one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, the Packers have David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. Remember, one year ago when the Bears traveled to Lambeau Field, the Packers’ starting left and right tackles were Lane Taylor and Justin McCray. The Packers managed to win that game 35-14 because, you know, Aaron Rodgers. So long as Rodgers vs. Mitch Trubisky is lopsided — and it certainly still is — this series will be also. Packers 31, Bears 17
PETE DOUGHERTY
The Packers are lucky to get Chicago early. The Bears enter this opener with a new coach (Matt Nagy) breaking in a young quarterback (Mitch Trubisky). Their defense will be good, but among their three most talented players, Khalil Mack just started practicing this week, Leonard Floyd will be playing with a cast on his hand and first-round pick Roquan Smith held out for most of camp. Meanwhile, the Packers are about as healthy as they could ever hope to be. Packers 24, Bears 17
JIM OWCZARSKI
There will be quite a bit of “new” on display Sunday night, from the Chicago Bears’ offense to the Green Bay Packers’ defense to Khalil Mack and Jimmy Graham — so I’m going to lean on what’s proven: Aaron Rodgers. The Packers are 15-4 against the Bears and 59-15 at Lambeau when Rodgers starts, and his overall command of the offense should get Green Bay enough points against a stout defense. Packers 24, Bears 13 STU COURTNEY
Look for the Bears to keep Khalil Mack on a “pitch count,” using him only on select passrushing downs, to lessen the chance of injury given his lack of a training camp. The Bears are a work in progress under first-year coach Matt Nagy, and like most NFL teams, they limited their starters’ snaps during the preseason, so they will need some time to mesh. The Dec. 16 rematch in Chicago should be a much stiffer test for Green Bay. Packers 27, Bears 16