Chicago Bears: Starting fast is vital for 2018 success
By David Mamola
Starting fast — both in games and the win/loss column — is vital for the Chicago Bears in the 2018 NFL season in terms of their success.
It is not an easy start to the 2018 NFL season for the Chicago Bears, having to go on the road to Green Bay to play the Packers on national television. The Packers have had the Bears’ number for seemingly the past decade. Aaron Rodgers is 15-4 all-time versus the Bears, including some silly numbers of over 4,500 yards, 42 touchdowns and a superb quarterback rating of 107.2.
In order for the good vibes that Matt Nagy has brought to keep going, starting the season off on a good note is vital. The last thing the Bears need is to get embarrassed by the Packers—again. After trading for Khalil Mack, the Bears and their fans are feeling good; however, a lousy start Week 1 will have those feelings come crashing down.
The Bears need to start fast on Sunday. They cannot fall behind and expect a miracle comeback. Growing pains are likely to come with this offense, as Mitchell Trubisky and the starters played limited snaps in the preseason.
Trubisky himself is preparing to start just his 13th game in his young NFL career. Spotting the Packers an early lead could spell doom, as it’s unlikely the Bears inexperienced offense could mount a comeback in Lambeau Field.
Nagy has been given a really tough test in his first few weeks of coaching the Bears. The Bears not only are on national television Week 1, but also in Week 2 on Monday Night Football. There’s really no time for the Bears to “quietly” work out some of the kinks; they’re being thrown in the deep end of the pool right away and seeing if they will sink or swim.
If the Bears can beat Green Bay on opening weekend, all of the positive momentum will continue. However, if they lose (and lose badly), the “Hype Train” could come to a screeching halt. Here’s hoping that the Bears keep the good times rolling and usher-in the official start of the Matt Nagy-era with a victory over their biggest rival!