Packers Morning Buzz: Mitch Trubisky's struggles making Bears vulnerable

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

We'll start with longtime Chicago columnist David Haugh describing the gnawing fear of Bears fans that quarterback Mitch Trubisky's mediocrity is going to undermine a championship-caliber defense. Those concerns looked legitimate in the Bears' season-opening, 10-3 loss to the Packers and again Sunday in Denver, when Trubisky did nothing good (16-for-27 for 120 yards and a 70.0 rating) except complete a fourth-down pass that set up a last-second field goal for a 16-14 win.

Haugh writes:

Trubisky has yet to perform like a middle-of-the-pack quarterback – more like a player mired in the bottom 10. The Bears can win a lot of football games using that formula, a dominant defense with a strong running game and an average quarterback. They won’t win a championship that way.

When Trubisky drops back to throw, there's an instinctive fear that something bad could happen. Even Trubisky appears uncertain of how the play will go. He looks tentative and borderline shaky. Nothing about Trubisky’s body language or execution inspires confidence. And that must change quickly for the Bears.

One desperation completion to set up a game-winning field goal won’t change that.

You can read Haugh's entire piece here:

NBC's Peter King focuses on Trubisky's struggles in this video analysis of the Packers-Bears game:

Here are some damning numbers for Trubisky and the Vikings' Kirk Cousins:

Speaking of bad Bears quarterbacks, former Bears receiver Brandon Marshall unloads on former friend Jay Cutler:

Packers first-year coach Matt LaFleur is earning respect, writes Jim Owczarski:

Green Bay's defense takes a hit with the loss of safety Raven Greene:

In addition to the big free-agent acquistions, young players on defense are stepping up for the Packers:

Tom Silverstein and Owczarski analyze the Green Bay victory over Minnesota in their Packers Podcast:

The Packers' early success is reflected in ticket prices, writes Richard Ryman:

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook dazzled the folks at "Good Morning Football":

John Breech of CBS Sports likes the Packers' odds against the winless Broncos:

Opening line: Packers, -7 points

Although the Packers are known for the home-field advantage that the frozen tundra gives them in winter months, it turns out they're actually tougher to beat in the fall. In their past 14 home games played in September, the Packers have gone 13-0-1 straight-up and 10-4 ATS, which includes winning and covering against the Vikings on Sunday. The Packers are also nearly unbeatable at home against AFC teams. Since 2011, the Packers have gone 13-3 straight-up and 9-7 ATS. As for the Broncos, if there's one team you should stay away from betting right now, it's probably them. Dating back to last season, Denver has lost six straight games and gone 1-5 ATS in those games. 

You can check out odds for all Week 3 games here:

Nice Bart Starr tribute from Aaron Rodgers on Instagram (two great photos):

No surprise seeing this name in the "Losers" column on Lorenzo Reyes' weekly look at NFL studs and duds:

Kirk Cousins: The problem with a fully guaranteed, $84 million contract over three years, is that expectations instantly increase. And since Cousins has been the quarterback of the Vikings, he has simply committed too many mistakes like the one that absolutely derailed Minnesota’s comeback try in a 21-16 loss against the Packers. With 5:17 left to play in the game, from Green Bay’s eight-yard line, Cousins dropped back to pass, and off of his back foot, floated a pass into double coverage in the right corner of the end zone. Packers corner Kevin King picked it off, and eliminated the best chance the Vikings would have to take the lead. There’s no excuse for Cousins, at this point in his career, eight years in, to be making mistakes like that.

You can read the entire column here:

NFL Week 2 winners, losers: Dak Prescott's value rises, Kirk Cousins makes costly mistake

Contact Stu Courtney at (920) 431-8377 or scourtney@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stucourt