One game down, and it came with plenty of developments. I came away with altered opinions for almost every position group on both teams.
Mitchell Trubisky: One team had a franchise quarterback. The other had a guy who is trying to become one of those guys, but clearly isn’t there yet. Too many missed throws and missed opportunities. An ugly, loss-clinching interception at the end, and another poorly thrown ball earlier that should have been picked. Trubisky has mobility and a good structure around him, which will allow him to put together some good stats at time, but he’s just not good enough. The Bears have the worst quarterback in their own division, limiting what they’ll be able to do.
Aaron Rodgers: A slow start, but they’re knocking off rust after not playing in the preseason, and they’ve got a new offense. On this night, they were on the road against one of the league’s best defenses. I’m thinking he’s still very much a strong contender for top-5 quarterbacking numbers.
Bears running backs: I thought David Montgomery came as advertised. He had a nice catch, and he’s got more elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability than most backs. He may have the best career of this year’s rookie running backs. Josh Jacobs might prove to be better, but I don’t think it’s a given. This is, however, a committee situation. Tarik Cohen is still around to do his thing; the flow of this game resulted in him having a good statistical night, picking up some cheap catches late. And Mike Davis is going to play. He’s not a throwaway backup; he’ll be getting some touches.
Packers running backs: Aaron Jones had a lesser night. Much of that can be attributed to playing against a good defense. Chicago ranked No. 1 in run defense last year, and it will be up in the top 5 again this year. But Jamaal Williams looks like he’ll be rotated in for plenty of plays. Williams might be the better pass catcher of the two. It might not be a one-two punch backfield, but Williams at least is getting notable change-of-pace work. I suppose this shouldn’t be a surprise, given Jones’ size and injury history.
Bears receivers: Just one game, but Allen Robinson got a lot more balls and looked a lot better than he did in almost all of their games this year. It seems like Trubisky trusts him more than their other receivers. I will revise the rankings on Monday, and Robinson will move up some, while the other wide receivers will move down some. Anthony Miller wasn’t a factor. That won’t continue (he was open, by the way, for a big play late, but T-Biscuit missed him). Taylor Gabriel nearly made a couple of impact catches (one nullified by offensive pass interference, and he didn’t quite get his feet down on the other). Cordarrelle Patterson played plenty, so it will be tough for any of those three second-tier receivers – Miller, Gabriel, Patterson – to put up reliable numbers.
Packers receivers: I have wondered all summer whether to rank Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Geronimo Allison higher. MVS won the opener in a knockout. He played a lot more, and had a much bigger impact on the game, with the long catch in the second quarter. With the team using plenty of heavy formations, Allison didn’t actually play all that much. Davante Adams didn’t have a great game, but I’m not worried about him – definitely will be a top-10 receiver, and he’s still in the mix for top-5 stats. Another surprise in this group: I thought Jake Kumerow would be Green Bay’s No. 4 receiver, potentially being a notable player. Instead it was Trevor Davis in that role, and Davis made a big catch late when Adams was dinged.
Bears tight ends: Trey Burton didn’t play because of a groin injury. The guys filling in at tight end didn’t make much of an impact. With the depth they have at wide receiver, I don’t see Burton playing much better this year than he did in his first season.
Packers tight ends: Jimmy Graham looks like my first big error of the season. He didn’t make much of an impact in his first season in Green Bay, so I was focused in a lot more on their other pass catchers – Geronimo Allison and perhaps their rookie tight end, Jace Sternberger, who might be their starter in 2020. But Graham seems to have a better rapport with Aaron Rodgers now. He made a few big catches, putting together in my opinion his most impact game with the team. Rodgers trusted him in a 50-50 situation on the touchdown. Looks like a top-10 tight end. Green Bay used many formations with multiple tight ends, so Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan also will play plenty this year.
—Ian Allan