Green Bay, Wis.
— For Green Bay Packers fans, this is a game about how you win.
In the words of coach Mike McCarthy, it’s about what you’re good at.
And, with that in mind, the Packers’ fans should expect a “bigger” game this Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
“We’re going to play to the best of our ability,” McCarthy said Thursday during the first-ever media day for the team’s new stadium, which opened in September.
We’ve been playing great football, and we’re not letting anything get to us. “
The last game, the last time we played, we won the game and we played well.
We’ve been playing great football, and we’re not letting anything get to us.
So we’re going back to that.”
The Packers’ home opener is Nov. 15 at Lambeau Field.
But the game is expected to be played in the new stadium’s home turf, as McCarthy has been adamant about doing.
“That’s a big part of the strategy,” McCarthy told reporters Thursday.
“If we don’t get our best play, we’re in a tough spot.
But that’s what we have to do.
We have to take care of the ball.
“So, you’ve got to make sure that you’re prepared to play the game of football. “
And if we don`t, we’ll have a tough game. “
So, you’ve got to make sure that you’re prepared to play the game of football.
And if we don`t, we’ll have a tough game.
We can win the game, but it won’t be a win.”
The first meeting between the teams dates back to 1985.
That’s when the Packers, who lost 24-20 in the season opener at Atlanta, lost 27-24 at Chicago the following week.
That game set the tone for the rest of the season, and McCarthy has always said the Bears will be the better team.
“I think that the Bears are going to get a lot of credit for the win,” McCarthy added.
“They did a great job against us last week, but we played great football.
We got our chances, but they had a chance to get back in the game.
I don’t think that they were a big factor in the win.
I think they were one of the reasons we won, but I’m confident in our football team.”
The Bears (4-3) will be without quarterback Jay Cutler (ankle), who suffered a shoulder injury Sunday against Atlanta, as well as defensive tackle Danny Trevathan (knee), who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Cornerback Kyle Fuller (kicker) and safety Don Jones (kneel-to-knee) are out as well.
McCarthy said that’s not a concern.
“It`s not an issue with those guys,” McCarthy joked.
“Danny is out, and he`s going to miss some time.
I`m confident in them.”
Chicago (3-5) also lost the season finale at Atlanta to a 10-point margin, but its defense was a huge factor in that victory.
“For the last couple of years, we’ve been a great defensive team,” McCarthy continued.
“But last year we were a very good offensive team.
We put up a lot more points than they did.
And we can go back to playing good football, but that defense can play with us in the secondary.” “
This year, I think we have a very, very good defense.
And we can go back to playing good football, but that defense can play with us in the secondary.”
It will be a different defense than what the Packers had last year.
“There`s no doubt in my mind that they are a very talented football team,” said McCarthy.
“When you get to a certain point in your career, you`re going to have to play better football.
You can’t just take chances.
We`re just going to go for the big play. “
To win this game, we`re not going to just go for it.
We`re just going to go for the big play.
And they have a good football team, and I know that they`re a very well coached football team.
And I think those two things go hand in hand.
So, I’m just confident in the defense.”