The Bears Need a Playmaker, Will This Wideout Answer the Call?
The Chicago Bears will take on the Green Bay Packers for the first time this season, Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. This historic rivalry battle has more weight this time around, with the winner deciding who stays in first place in the NFC North. Alongside being in first place this far into the season, the winner will more than likely secure some spot in the playoffs in what has been a tight race in the NFC conference. The Bears got the best of the Green and Yellow earlier in January of this year, in a 24-22 victory, snapping an 11-game losing streak against their rival. Unfortunately for Chicago, they received some bad news on the injury report that may affect the offense’s typical game plan.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze will be out with a foot injury, missing his first game this season. Odunze has been dealing with a stress fracture in his foot over the past couple of games, leading the Bears' training staff to take precautions and allow it to heal before it becomes more serious. Odunze has been a large part of this rejuvenated Bears offense under head coach Ben Johnson. He has 661 receiving yards and six touchdowns so far this season, already likely to surpass his performance from his rookie season. The Packers have one of the best defenses in the league, meaning losing Odunze is a massive blow for Chicago, which has relied on him in multiple games this season. Fortunately for the Bears, not only will they still have wide receiver D.J. Moore, but also rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Burden has 328 receiving yards and a touchdown so far in his debut season. Now that Odunze will be out, Burden has a great opportunity to take a big leap in his career and prove to the city of Chicago that he will be a long-time player for the organization. Bears tight end Colston Loveland has shone so far in his rookie season, being Chicago’s first draft pick, and later followed by Burden in the second round. There’s no better time for the former Mizzou tiger to have a breakout game, in a matchup against their rival with massive playoff implications. Burden and the Bears will look to take down the Packers for the second time, which would be the first time they’ve done so since 2007.
