When I took over writing the game previews several years ago from Steven Schweickert, I changed his naming convention.
This was mostly due to changing SEO standards and boring ol’ search stuff that the
powers at be are rightly concerned with. But the old preview naming convention works so well for this week. When it was a division rival or a team the Chicago Bears were facing again, it was “Oh you again: team name.”
Oh, you again, Green Bay.
Saturday’s game is going to be fun. Hopefully. Fun in the sense that Chicago is back in the playoffs, with a good head coach and a good quarterback. For once in this rivalry, it actually feels like the Bears have a QB they can win because of, not in spite of.
But truly, this game is a bit of a coin toss. Three of the last four meetings between these teams was decided on the final snap of the game (blocked field goal last season, made field goal and the OT touchdown). The one that wasn’t, the first meeting this season, had just one kneel down following Caleb Williams’ interception.
It will likely be another close game. Be prepared to bite your nails, have a knot in your stomach and be stressed out. It’s the playoffs.
Remember, this Bears team wasn’t really supposed to be here this year. Just enjoy the ride.
Green Bay Packers
SB Nation site: Acme Packing Company
Record: 9-7-1
Last week: 16-3 loss to the Vikings
Game day, time, TV: Saturday, 7 p.m. CT, Prime Video
Spread: Packers -1
Bears all-time record against: 97-109-6, including 1-1 in the postseason
Historical meetings: 1941 Divisional Playoffs. The 10-1 Bears met 10-1 Packers at Wrigley Field in the first-ever postseason meeting between these teams.
The Bears answered an early Packers touchdown with an 81-yard punt return touchdown by Hugh Gallarneau.
Chicago blew the game open in the second quarter with a field goal and three rushing touchdowns—two by Norm Standlee (3 yards and 2 yards) and one by Bob Swisher.
The Bears rolled on to the championship game 33-14.
Last meeting: In week 16, the Bears were down 16-6 with less than 2:15 to play.
The Bears kicked a field goal, recovered an onside kick, scored a touchdown and went to overtime.
They stopped the Packers on fourth down and scored a walk-off touchdown to DJ Moore.
ROLL THE TAPE (No embed allowed, sorry!)
Injury report: The Packers list six players as limited on their Wednesday report.
Limited participation
- DL Warren Brinson (foot)
- WR Dontayvion Wicks (concussion)
- LB Nick Niemann (pectoral)
- OL Zach Tom (back/knee)
- QB Malik Willis (shoulder/hamstring)
Offense: The Packers come into the game ranked 16th in points and 15th in yards.
Their passing offense ranks 17th and their rushing offense ranks 15th.
Jordan Love (66.3 pct. cmp./3,381 yds./23 TD/6 INT) returns from the concussion he suffered in these teams’ second game. He hasn’t played since then.
His weapons include Romeo Doubs (55 rec./724 yds./6 TD), WR Dontayvion Wicks (30/332/2), and Christian Watson (35/611/6). First-round pick Matthew Golden (29/361/0) is off to a slow start. And now that all-world TE Tucker Kraft is out, they’re leaning on TEs Luke Musgrave (24/252/0) and John FitzPatrick (12/72/1).
On the ground, Josh Jacobs (234 att./929 yds./13 TD) leads the way and is a good two-way back, as he actually is second on the team in receptions (36 rec./282 yds./1 TD). Emanuel Wilson (125/496/3) is the backup.
Defense: The Packers defense ranks 11th in points and 12th in yards.
Their passing defense ranks 11th and their rushing defense ranks 18th.
Rashan Gary (7.5 sk/1 FF/7 TFL/20 QB hits/1 PD) and Lukas Van Ness (1.5 sk/3 TFL/7 QB hits) are the main passe rushers now, but their linebackers are also good.
Leading tacklers are Quay Walker (128 tkl/2.5 sk/8 TFL/7 QB hits/5 PD) and Edgerrin Cooper (118 tkl/0.5 sk/4 TFL/4 PD/2 FF/3 QB hits) and S Evan Williams (100 tkl/4 TFL/3 INT/5 PD).
In the secondary, Xavier McKinney (2 INT/10 PD/1 sk/107 tkl) and Keisean Nixon (72 tkl/17 PD/1 INT/1 FR/3 TFL) are making plays in the passing game. And LB Isaiah McDuffie (1.0 sk/92 tkl/3 TFL/3 QB hits/1 INT/1PD) is also playing well.
Key match-ups: Cover inside breaking routes. Disrupt the timing and don’t let their dangerous playmakers get inside and cross the field. The Packers killed the Bears in their first matchup with that. And don’t let Josh Jacobs get going.
For the offense, they need to start fast and chew up the clock. They have to come out and establish the run and win in the trenches. That will set up the pass and play action.
Really, just win in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
Key stats
- Jordan Love is 1-2 in the postseason
- Matt LeFleur is 3-5 in the postseason
- During their four-game skid, the Packers are allowing 170.7 rushing yards per game
- The Packers have lost the turnover battle in three of their four losses, the exception being last week, when they played all of their backups.
- Green Bay has just three sacks since losing Micah Parsons. Two of those came against Max Brosmer.
- Chicago is seeking their first playoff win since the 2010 season. Their last playoff win was on Jan. 16, 2011.
Can the Bears break through and win a playoff game against their division rival? What’s it going to take?
