Written by Brett Solesky | 08 September 2009

I am completely torn about the upcoming game with the Packers.  On the one hand it's only the first game of the season, way too early to be talking about a make or break game. 

But if you look at it from another  perspective you don't want the Bears to start the season 0-2.  With defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh coming to Soldier Field in week  two starting with two losses is not how to get rolling and build confidence.  Most Bears fans have the Pittsburgh game written off as a loss and it's hard to disagree with a team that returns all 22 starters from a team that finished 12-4 in 2008. 


What you see is that the  Steelers didn't lose many games last year so you have to hope to take advantage of a Packers team that will be just getting their legs under them defensively.  More importantly is the fact that the Packers are in the same division.  Sure it's an obvious statement to make, duh the Packers are in the division, but if you hope to  compete for the playoffs it's important to win a road game against a potentially playoff team from your own division.  You don't want to get down in the standings against both a division opponent and a playoff contending team. 

Being down in the standings potentially two games further cements a bit of urgency.  The question is does Lovie  Smith the famous  "the season is split into four quarters and this is the first game of the first quarter" man of focus share the same sense of urgency as we as fans do? 

Yes there is no denying the Bears have the easiest schedule heading into the 2009 season, but a lot of momentum can be developed against two playoff worthy teams.  Ironing out any defensive short comings against one of the best 3-4 defensive minds of all-time would be a good way to focus on beating the best 3-4 defensive team in the league right now. 

You want to start out on the right foot in 2009, with a big road game win against the Packers.  A make or break game?  I would say no, not a make or break game, but one of the most important opening games in the last decade of the Chicago Bears opening football schedule.  The Bears have not been in this position in a long time, opening as a team that could go to the playoffs, on the road against a divisional rival who also is a playoff contender.

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