Bears vs. Packers: DJ Moore vs. Jaire Alexander is must-see TV

Rivalry week. A new era in Chicago. Week 1 at home against Green Bay. I’m counting the minutes until kickoff with my jersey on, some wings in the smoker, and a lit cigar.

There’s a lot to be excited about and plenty to monitor on Sunday as the Bears host the Green Bay Packers for an afternoon battle at Soldier Field. There are plenty of new faces wearing navy and orange for the first time in a regular season game and several new starters for the Packers.

Obviously, a big excitement factor in Chicago is watching DJ Moore suit up for his first Bears regular season game. With Justin Fields finally getting his WR1 in Chicago, one question lingers (and will hopefully be answered on Sunday): Do the Chicago Bears now have an answer for Jaire Alexander moving forward?

And that’s my “Matchup to Watch” for Week 1 of the season.

DJ Moore vs. Jaire Alexander

There’s no question that Jaire Alexander is a top-5 cornerback in the NFL. Following an AC joint injury in 2021, he bounced back in 2022 with a stellar year, including five interceptions, and only allowed a 66.2 passer rating when targeted. Needless to say, Alexander has the skills to be a problem for the Bears for years to come.

DJ Moore’s presence will obviously shake things up for Alexander. A true deep threat, Moore boasts a WR1 presence that Fields hasn’t had in his arsenal since being drafted by the Bears. He’s fresh off a seven-touchdown season with nearly 900 yards, preceded by three consecutive 1,100+ receiving-yard seasons. Moore is a game-changer of a receiver who will make an entertaining watch when he goes up against Alexander on Sunday.

The Moore vs. Alexander matchup is the most intriguing head-to-head battle to watch in the Bears’ Week 1 game. It will reveal how much Fields has grown as a passer. It will also show whether Chicago now has the weapons needed to threaten quality pass defenders.

Who Wins?

This is a very close matchup, with a top-five cornerback covering an elite wide receiver.

Even from an unbiased perspective, I see DJ Moore coming out on top with a big game, including a touchdown.

It won’t be an easy matchup by any means, but I give the slight advantage to Moore. Fields will pepper him with targets throughout the game. He’ll be open even when he’s covered, and if he converts a few of those 50-50 balls into receptions and yards after the catch, his final stat line will be impressive.

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