Lance Allan: Sports Glance with Lance
Packers-Bears Prediction Time
This One's For the NFC Championship
When the Packers have the ball: Handle the ball. In the first Packers-Bears game, the Packers had 2 turnovers to the Bears one. They lost by 3 points. In the second game, the turnovers were even at 2. The Packers won by 7. It's very likely it's that simple again this weekend.
When the Bears have the ball: The Packers lead the NFL, including the postseason, with 55 sacks. Bears QB Jay Cutler has been sacked a league leading 56 times. The Bears line is getting old and creaky, so even if they key on Clay Matthews, pressure from B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkins, and a host of blitzers would tilt things in the Packers favor.
And just like turnovers, Devin Hester tilts the playing field. In game one, he ran back a punt for a TD...the Bears won. In game two, Tim Masthay punted 8 times...but did an incredible job allowing Hester to return just two, placing four punts inside the 20. Winds and footing on the bad track at Soldier Field, another big factor...so pregame warmups will be key to see what type of shoes and cleats to wear.
Prediction: Packers 20, Bears 17. The Packers have score 3 TD's in 2 games this year against the Bears. I don't see that changing, but if they can keep a handle on the ball...they should win another close game in this year's series.
Emails at lallan@todaystmj4.com
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