The biggest look-ahead spot in 2015 ? The Chicago Bears became an interesting option in week one

The Green Bay Packers will open their season in a Sunday 1:00 pm game at Chicago.

One week after, they will get the Seahawks at home in the Sunday Night Football game in one of the biggest revenge spots of the last few years.

Even though it's a big rivalry, the Packers won't have the biggest motivation for the Bears as the Cheeseheads absolutely smashed them last season (38-17 & 55-14).

They will have the Seahawks game in mind all summer long and probably dream about this scene very often: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mj9fGSyCFA

The Bears, under new head coach John Fox, will just have their season opener in mind, as they play Arizona at home in week two. In addition, the Packers were everything but strong on the road during the last three seasons.

With the NFL schedule announcement, the Chicago Bears became an interesting option in week one.

God, it kills me to agree as the Bears are a disaster 

Jets -2 vs Browns seems the best bet for me in week one.

Suuma....great to hear from you.....hope the Veltins is treating you right.......Great observation......wonder what the line will be?.......also noticing the Hawks play at St. Louis week one.....not a gimme either........Can't wait for football to start....Pro and College......

Week 1.....Green Bay -4 vs Chicago.......Seattle -4 vs St. Louis....

Wow, more than four months left and bookmakers have lines out ?

Chicago at more than a FG looks solid at first glance.

I usually ignore motivation in the pros.  College, yeah

What about Seattle-Rams.  If you want to talk motivation what about losing the Super Bowl on a bs play and having to play on the road vs a tough team

Getting 4 points?  I think this thing is headed down, certainly not up

Than you ignore a very important facet of capping the NFL. A few examples from last season I quickly remember:

In week 12 of the last season, the Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Oakland for a TNF game after they won against Seattle and before they played the Broncos - classic sandwich game. The Raiders haven't won like 16 games in a row and put everything they had together for that primetime game at home. Chiefs had little motivation and guess what ? They lost outright.

The Chargers were on a five-game win-streak when playing against KC at home after they have beaten Oakland on the road. They had a TNF game at Denver on deck and lost outright against KC. They couldn't come up for that game.

After their season opener against GB, the Seahawks had to play at San Diego before their big Super Bowl rematch at home against the Broncos. Classic sandwich game - the Seahawks lost by 9 points against the Chargers.

I like your reasoning on the Seahawks game. It's an interesting angle.

Actually I was on the Raiders that game.  I had a thread about it.  There were other things, like the Riaders saying it was their Super Bowl because it was their first time on national tv in forever.  Also KC had a very short time to get out West after as you said a big game against Seattle.  We also had the "teams that lose after playing Seattle" angle.  So there was a lot to look at, including motivation.

I said usually ignore.  So yes I do pay attention, sometimes.  You're right-KC Oakland was a motivational angle.

I'm not against your Bears.  I think points in a divisional matchup is generally a good idea.  As for motivation-which Cutler is going to show up.  Paid him all that $ and sometimes he acts like he doesn't care.  If pressed I'd take the Bears with the points too. 

Good motivational angles sometimes occur when a team or person gets called out.  Wager on the team that was called out-told they suck, will be beat, whatever.

LIke I said college it's a bigger angle.  Just from years and years of doing this stuff.  Kids are more emotional, and in the pros for most of these guys it's a job.

 

 

Another angle on  your pick is generally John Fox does well quickly. Also, the Packers won't have film of the Bears under Fox

So yeah like I said not against your selection, may put a little on it, not much but we'll see.  

Biggest look ahead?

I couldn't take the Bears in this game they stink on defense.  Until the Bears show me something I won't be betting them.  

Don't get me wrong. I don't bet solely on a motivational angle. I always look into those situations and if I see such a strong one, I try to use it as a basis for capping that certain game. I won't put any money on the Bears until September when I evaluated everything I need to know - it's just a circled situation.

Touché

Agree with that.

I also circle ahead of time.

I think we're on the same page.  Bet one sport only, and few games.  You'll go nuts trying to understand everything.

For now I strongly disagree with the Bears angle.

Thanks for your opinion. It is a good basis for a discussion and most likely worth an own thread.

If I learned one thing in my lifetime watching pro sports, it's that I never listen to phrases those coaches, managers or quarterbacks tell us. They have to tell you those things. Packers were 8-0 at home and 4-4 on the road - so it's obvious they need to improve on the road. Did you ever hear from those guys that they don't want to win their next game ?

As much as you keep telling the media you have to win that next game, you don't have the exact same motivation depending on the situation and opponent. Of course the Packers will say they want to win at Chicago and will focus on that game and don't think ahead to Seattle. But it just isn't the truth. If you have ever played team sports, you will know that. There are games which you can't get 100% up for.

I'm not saying the Packers will be flabby and soft, but I'm saying some guys won't be 100% focused on the Bears, because they have Seattle in their minds. Maybe they are 90% - it could be enough to not get the Packers' best effort. Even if they come out strong, there will be the moment during the game in which the Seahawks come into their minds. It's human nature.

Last season the Chiefs started vs. Tennessee before playing the Broncos. They knew they have to beat the SB runner-up to have a shot at winning their division. Do you really think the Chiefs had the Titans in mind during the summer ? No, it was the Broncos. The Chiefs lost 10-26 at Arrowhead, it was one of two games the Titans won last year. Furthermore it was probably the worst Chiefs game in 2014. If you had given them the Raiders in week two, they wouldn't have lost or at least wouldn't have showed such a terrible performance. They thought it's gonna be easy because the boss is waiting the next Sunday.

I played basketball at a decent level (not pro but I was paid), so I have a little experience.

I think that's the point. They don't want to lose at Chicago and put themselves into that situation. But wanting to win at 100% or 95% can make the difference in this sport. I can tell you a hundred examples from Soccer about that situation or the classic sandwich spot.

You are right - interesting situation with the Chiefs playing at Houston. It should be considered when evaluating that game. There can be so many variables until September, but I think for the Eagles game, it's a bit different. It's a prime time game, the doubted Chip Kelly offense against the "new" Falcons under Dan Quinn - there could be a lot of hype by the media. So I expect a different kind of focusing by the Eagles players than I expect by the Chiefs for example. But like I said, just at first glance.

I was thinking about that, in pro level such as NFL, details are very very important. The difference between 100% focus and 95%, you will see that in the details, so it's a game changer.

The combination of Jay Cutler, Jon Fox and Adam Gase will negate any look ahead factor the Bears would have. This is going to be an utterly terrible grouping for the Bears. A clueless OC, QB and head coach are not going to present a challenge to the Pack.

Leave it to Fox to be completely unprepared for anything Aaron Rodgers brings to the table, and leave it to Gase to have a one-dimensional game plan. Too many weapons for the Pack for Fox to gameplan for. Gase can't turn the reigns over to his QB like he usually does because Cutler can't read a defense.

The Bears made the best Fires and Hires this offseason in team History.

I can't for one minute guess/forsee/hope what the Bears are going to be like THIS year.

Throw everything you know about them last year,and Fox, and Gase, out the window. This is a new team, w/ a new GM, and it's being built from the ground up.

In regards to the OP. Love the sandwich angle and anyone who looks for spots like these has seen them before. Good thread.

Remember what Rodgers said after losing to Seattle? He said the Packers lost too many road games which prevented them from getting home field against Seattle. Now their 1st game is on the road. You were supposed to remind me about that. 

Interesting view