It’s your move, Matt Nagy.
The Bears’ second-year head coach looks like he’s playing a back-and-forth game of chess against Packers second-year defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.
Nagy took the early lead with a touchdown and field goal on the first two possessions of the season opener last year at Lambeau Field. The Bears gained 139 yards on 19 plays — averaging 7.3 yards per play — as they took an early 10-0 lead.
But Pettine and the Packers’ defense responded, holding the Bears to two field goals the rest of the way as Green Bay rallied for a 24-23 victory.
Nagy answered with a better all-around effort in the rematch at Soldier Field last year. Mitch Trubisky threw two touchdown passes, had a 120.4 passer rating and was only sacked once as the Bears beat the Packers 24-17 to clinch the NFC North title.
But Pettine struck back on the big stage of the NFL season opener on Sept. 5 at Soldier Field. The Bears were held to 254 yards (3.9 per play) and only 45 rushing yards, and Trubisky was sacked five times in a 10-3 loss that set an ugly offensive tone.
So now it’s Nagy’s turn to respond. His offense is in a groove, scoring 20 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time all season in victories over the Lions (24-20) and Cowboys (31-24).
And as good as the Packers’ defense looked in the season opener, it has been pretty leaky since. Green Bay’s defense is 26th in yards allowed per play, 27th in yards allowed per carry and 25th in yards allowed per pass.
It is fourth in interceptions per play and 13th in points, which makes the unit a perfect litmus test for the Bears’ rejuvenated offense. Under Pettine, the Packers’ defense is well-coached and opportunistic but vulnerable. The Packers can be had by a good offense. Do the Bears have one?
It’s a timely test for Nagy, whose reputation as a quarterback whisperer, offense designer and play-caller has taken a hit this season. But the recent improvement could be a sign that just as Trubisky and the offensive line seem to be getting it, maybe Nagy is getting it just the same.
For what it’s worth, Nagy is 4-0 in rematches in his two seasons as the Bears’ coach. He won all three last year — beating the Lions (23-16), Packers and Vikings (24-10) the second time around. This year, the Bears beat the Lions at Ford Field on Thanksgiving after winning 20-13 at Soldier Field 18 days earlier.
This will be Nagy’s fourth game against Pettine. And while he doesn’t make it personal, he acknowledged the competition within the game.
“It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” Nagy said. “They had a lot of success against us, obviously, the first game. So when the game’s over, you say to yourself, ‘Did I do my job schematically of helping my team win?’ That’s when you want to have more yeses than noes. I felt personally — and I said this after Week 1 — that I didn’t do a good enough job as a coach getting our guys ready for that game.
“But I also said that that’s a very good defensive coordinator we’re going against, and they have great players. We’re all competitive. We all want to do well.”
Pettine is a formidable opponent.
“Coach Pettine has done a great job throughout his career of being almost tendency-free,” Bears offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said, responding to a question about Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith. “And they’re even better now with how they deploy [Smith and linebacker Preston Smith]. It’s kind of a perfect storm of scheme and talent.”
That made the difference the first time. The next move is Nagy’s.
