The Green Bay Packers will face a new offensive coordinator when they take on the Chicago Bears in a crucial NFC North matchup this Sunday.
On Tuesday, the Bears made a surprise move, firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who was in his first season with the team. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Thomas Brown will step in as the new offensive coordinator.
Chicago’s offense has been struggling in recent weeks, managing just 27 points over the last three games. Their Week 10 loss to the New England Patriots was especially brutal, with the Bears scoring only three points, while rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked nine times and the team recorded just 142 total yards.
The Bears have averaged a mere 277.7 yards per game this season, ranking third-worst in the league. In contrast, the Packers’ offense is clicking, averaging 390.6 yards per game, which ranks third in the NFL.
However, Green Bay’s defense shouldn’t be overly concerned about facing a Thomas Brown-led offense. Last season, Brown’s Panthers ranked near the bottom in both points per game (31st with 13.9) and total yards per game (dead last with 250.5).
Given the Bears’ offensive line struggles, especially in the loss to the Patriots, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Packers bring heavy pressure on the rookie quarterback. If New England’s defense could sack Williams nine times, Green Bay, with its 22 sacks and 19 takeaways, could be poised for similar success. The Packers’ defense will need to exploit Chicago’s battered offensive line and aim to force mistakes from the rookie QB.
