NFL Predictions Week 3: Chicago Bears Will Pull off Upset over Green Bay Packers

The Chicago Bears will be the last team standing in their battle with the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field next Sunday. Green Bay is without a doubt the more talented football team—maybe the most talented in the NFL. However, in competitive sports, the best team doesn’t always win and the Bears will pull off the upset over their bitter rival.

In football, there’s a consensus that home-field advantage is worth three points. Chicago will need far more than three points, though, to keep pace with the Packers' methodical offensive attack. 

In order to knock off Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler is going to have to put up monster numbers and the former Denver Broncos quarterback is capable of doing so. So far this season, Cutler has thrown for 556 yards and three touchdowns to one interception. 

The Packers secondary looks elite on paper, but it has been anything but this year. Against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, Drew Brees blew-up, throwing for 419 yards and three touchdowns. It wasn’t just one rough game, though. The very next week, rookie Carolina Panthers passer Cam Newton threw for 432 yards and a score.

Green Bay did manage to force Newton into throwing three interceptions, but allowing an inexperienced QB to throw for that many yards is inexcusable. If Cutler doesn’t throw for at least 350 yards, it would be a surprise.

As solid as the Packers running game has been, with over 200 yards on the ground between James Starks and Ryan Grant combined, Matt Forte has been even better. The Bears back has recorded over 320 yards from scrimmage through Week 2.

The game’s X-factor will be the Chicago Bears offensive line. They have allowed 11 sacks already this season and the loss of Olin Kreutz is noticeable. On the flipside, the Packers have brought down the quarterback seven times this year.

At home, hungry and coming off a loss to a strong Saints team, the Bears’ defense and offensive weapons will make up for their weakness on the o-line. They will win the first battle of what is the war for the 2011 NFC North title.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter.