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Bears, Packers, Rams Notes

 width=>>49ers Host Bears

(Santa Clara, CA) -- The San Francisco 49ers play their first regular season game at the new Levi's Stadium on Sunday night when they host the Chicago Bears. The Niners are coming off a 28-17 blasting of the Dallas Cowboys. San Francisco caused four turnovers and score on one of them. Tight end Vernon Davis hauled in two first-quarter touchdowns from QB Colin Kaepernick. The Bears are looking for their first win after dropping the season opener 23-20 in overtime to the Buffalo Bills. Running back Matt Forte had 169 total yards but failed to find the end zone. Chicago's wide receiver duo of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey status is unknown due to injuries.

 width=>>Packers Open Home Slate At Lambeau Field

(Green Bay, WI) -- Lambeau Field will be the site as the Packers play their home opener versus the Jets Sunday afternoon. Green Bay's season got off to a disappointing start when they were whooped by the Seahawks, 36-16, in the NFL's Week One Thursday night special. Running back Eddie Lacy is expected to play despite suffering a concussion in the loss. Aaron Rodgers was held to 189 yards passing with a touchdown and a turnover. New York comes in at 1-and-0, but didn't face a strong test with the victory against the Raiders. The Jets will try to take advantage of a Packers run defense that allowed 207 yards on 37 carries last week. New York posted 212 yards of its own on the ground including 71-yard touchdown run by Chris Ivory. Second-year QB Geno Smith showed off his growth completing 23-of-28 passes, but still showed signs of immaturity with an interception and fumble lost.

 width=>>Bucs Battle Rams In Matchup Of Winless Teams

(Tampa, FL) -- A pair of winless teams hookup Sunday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the St. Louis Rams at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs are coming off a disappointing 20-14 home loss to the Cam Newton-less Carolina Panthers in Week One. Tampa was held scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter. Josh McCown threw for just 183 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. Without top quarterback Sam Bradford, veteran signal caller Shaun Hill and the Rams opened up with a 34-6 home setback to the Minnesota Vikings. Hill left, however, after the first half with a quad injury and is listed as day-to-day. Second-year QB Austin Davis came in and finished 16-of-23 for 192 yards and an interception. Davis will make his first career start if Hill can't play.

 width=>>Bears Need Cutler To Be Stabalizer

If ever the Chicago Bears needed Jay Cutler to be a stabilizing force, this would seem to be the time.

Two Pro Bowl receivers and a pair of starting offensive lineman are injured. The Bears are coming off a brutal season-opening loss, and they're staring at a matchup with San Francisco this weekend that could make even the healthiest teams blink.

No need to remind Cutler. He understands what he has to do.

The Bears could have two spots on the offensive line manned by reserves with center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson nursing ankle injuries. Pro Bowl receivers Brandon Marshall (ankle) and Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) could be out.

 width=>>Packers Run Defense To Be Tested Against Run Heavy Jets

Julius Peppers and the Green Bay Packers are hoping to get better at stopping the run.

The defense allowed 207 yards rushing last week to Seattle. The New York Jets come to Lambeau Field on Sunday for Green Bay's home opener after running for 212 yards against Oakland.

A big point of emphasis in Green Bay this week is on tackling. It was a problem at times last season, too.

Peppers was brought in as a free agent during the offseason to help boost the pass rush. But Peppers says to be effective, the defense also has to slow down the running game.

The Jets hope they have a new one-two punch at running back with Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory. They also feature a mobile quarterback in second-year player Geno Smith.

>>Bears Back Goodell

The Chicago Bears top executives say they back Commissioner Roger Goodell and support an independent investigation into the NFL's handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case.

Chairman George McCaskey calls Goodell "a man of integrity" and says the Bears have "complete faith in him." He also said Thursday that fans deserve to know the facts.

The NFL has brought in a former FBI director to look at how it handled the case involving the former Baltimore running back. The move Wednesday came hours after The Associated Press reported that a law enforcement officer said he sent a league executive a video in April showing Rice striking his then-fiancee in a casino. Goodell has said no one in the league saw the video until TMZ Sports released it on Monday.

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