Packers' Defensive Additions Will Make a Major Difference This Year

In their first year under the offensive-minded Matt LaFleur, the least Mike Pettine's defense could do is hunker down and take the heat off Aaron Rodgers and Co. And in Thursday night' season opener against the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, they delivered thanks to some compelling new faces.

Outside linebackers Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith, as well as safety Adrian Amos -- a former Bear, no less -- all did yeoman's work in their Green Bay debuts to help squeeze out a narrow 7-3 victory and bail out a struggling offense.

Last year, the Packers aren't winning a game like this. But in their first full season without Clay Matthews and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (or Mike McCarthy!), Pettine's unit has turned the page expertly with their trio of smart acquisitions. The Smiths each recorded a sack (they combined for 2.5) in their Packer debuts, helping limit Mitchell Trubisky to an unslightly 26-45 passing performance and holding the hometown Bears, who were favored in the game, to 3 points for the game.

But they were ultimately outdone by Amos.

The former Bears DB -- you can't make this stuff up, folks -- pulled down an interception with two minutes left on the clock to cut out the Bears' single best chance at a touchdown all game long.

It's a long season, and Week 1 is far too early to begin naming the leaders of the NFL pack. But this was a surprisingly stout showing from the Green Bay D on a night in which they truly needed it. Fans can certainly walk away from this one not just with the W, but with sincere peace of mind that this new playmaking trio is going to cause some serious headaches up and down the division.