Even though the Green Bay Packers enter Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears with a 1-2 record, their pass defense has held up surprisingly well.

After finishing 24th in the NFL in pass defense a year ago, allowing an average of 247.3 yards per game, the Packers have improved considerably, allowing less than 200 yards per game thus far in 2014, 198.3 to be exact, ranking sixth in the league entering Week 4.

The job gets no easier this week when facing a trio of big Bears receivers: Alshon Jeffery at 6-3, Brandon Marshall at 6-4 and Martellus Bennett at 6-6.

"Big boys, experienced, good with the ball in their hands, good when they get the ball, definitely a challenge," said Packers cornerback Tramon Williams, describing the Bears receivers. "And it's a challenge we're up for. Every week's a challenge."

Now in the second year of coach Marc Trestman's system, there's no reason to believe these Bears receivers are going to regress, even if the Chicago aerial attack isn't firing on all cylinders so far this season.

Indeed, the Beras may have had the NFL's most prolific trio of receivers a year ago.

Jeffery had 89 receptions for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Marshall had 100 for 1,295 and 12. And Bennett had 65 for 759 and five.

"You've got a big, physical group there and big targets that are aggressive, experienced as far as their route running," said Packers coach Mike McCarthy. "You can definitely see the relationship between the quarterbacks and the whole receiver group. It's definitely a good challenge when you play big body types like that."

If it's true that practice can't imitate a game environment, then the Packers received invaluable on-the-job training last week by facing All-World wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The Packers didn't shut down Johnson cold a week ago, but they did keep him out of the end zone, limiting him to just six receptions for 82 yards.

Now they face a group of receivers with Johnson-esque qualities, according to Williams.

"I think you've got one of the guys who's still ascending right now (Jeffery) and another guy who's just a great receiver (Marshall), just like Calvin he is with a little different skill set," said Williams. "But at the same time, it's all a challenge. And we're ready for it. We know what these guys can do. We've been up against them before. We just have to hold our ground."

Perhaps the Packers' secret weapon is emerging cornerback Davon House, who frequently got the call to line up across from Johnson in last week's meeting.

When House was covering Johnson, he allowed only one of three passes in his direction to be completed, including an interception, whereas Sam Shields allowed all three passes intended for Johnson to be completed in front of him, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

"I thought he arrived last training where you felt, 'This guy's gonna jump up and claim a starting position and definitely factor,' said McCarthy of House. "He had some injuries last year, and I think he's doing that on a more and more consistent basis, just the way he's always been physical.

"He has long arms and I really like the way he's aggressive with the receiver. But I think his ability to track the football and go up and catch the football has really improved. He's made some good plays."

House may be listed on this week's injury report after hurting his knee in the Lions game, but he's been classified as a full practice participant all week and should play.

Whether Marshall will go for the Bears is another matter. He has yet to practice this week, having originally injured his ankle in the Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets.

No matter who plays for the Bears, House figures to play a role in the NFL's oldest rivalry given his solid play early in the 2014 season.

House is part of the reason the Packers rank fifth in the NFL in limiting opposing quarterbacks to a 77.1 passer rating.

Jay Cutler might have some of the biggest receivers in the league to throw to, and good ones at that, but the Packers hope to make it a long day for the Bears quarterback.

"I think (Cutler) has a coaching staff that understands his skill set, knows what he can do and try to control him from doing some of those things that we're talking about," said Williams. "Obviously Jay has all the ability in the world. Everyone knows that. It's just been his inconsistency at times that the media questions. But he looks good. We always knew what he was capable of doing. We'll be ready for him."

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].