The Chicago Bears have a crucial NFC North showdown against the bitter rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon but they may have to defeat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers without Jared Allen after he missed a week of practice with an illness.
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Allen was signed this offseason after the Minnesota Vikings let him walk and after the Bears released Julius Peppers in a salary cap move, but the perennial Pro Bowler has yet to make a significant impact as a pass-rusher for the Bears this season and is looking for his first sack after three games.
Coincidentally enough, the Bears will see Peppers on Sunday chasing after Jay Cutler after spending the last few years chasing after Rodgers.
The Bears spent a lot of money in free agency upgrading the defensive line after signing Allen, Lamar Houston and Willie Young and then drafting Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton in the second and third rounds, respectively, but despite the depth on the front four, the potential absence of Allen would be a significant loss.
If the Bears are to beat the Packers they must get pressure on Rodgers and if Allen can’t do that, where will the pressure come from with outside linebacker Shea McClellin who sacked and broke Rodgers’ collarbone last year and defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff already ruled out for the game?
Considering it is an illness and not a broken bone or strained ligament, I have a feeling we will see Allen on the field on Sunday.
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