There is nothing quite like Packers week.
Or maybe there’s nothing like Packers week when the Bears are good.
It’s been quite a while since the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers met in December and both
teams had a winning record and playoff spots on the line. I believe it was 2001.
It’s a big game this week, and for once it has relevance outside of just Illinois and Wisconsin.
And whoever loses can quickly have revenge on their mind, as the teams play again in two weeks.
Green Bay Packers
SB Nation site: Acme Packing Company
Record: 8-3-1
Last week: 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions
Game day, time, TV: Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CT, FOX
Spread: Packers -6.5
Bears all-time record against: 96-108-6, including postseason
Historical meetings: With this week’s matchup coming in week 14 on Dec. 7, let’s look at the most lopsided game in the rivalry’s history. Which also came on Dec. 7 in week 14. Back in 1980.
The 5-8 Bears hosted the 5-7-1 Packers at Solider Field.
Following a deadlocked first quarter that saw no points for either team, the Bears exploded.
Walter Payton scored on 1- and 3-yard runs, followed by Roland Harper scoring on a 1-yard run.
The Packers finally responded down 21-0 with Lynn Dickey finding James Lofton for a 15-yard score.
The Bears answered with Vince Evans finding Brian Baschnagel for a 4-yard touchdown. The Bears took a 28-7 halftime lead.
Chicago’s onslaught never stopped after the half, either. Evans hit Robin Earl for a 9-yard score. Then, Gary Fencik intercepted Dickey, leading to a Rickey Watts 53-yard score from Evans.
Walter Payton scored 14-yard run at the start of the fourth quarter.
David Whitehurst, playing for the now-benched Dickey, threw a pick six to Len Walterscheid.
Finally, Willie McClendon capped the Bears’ scoring with a 1-yard score.
The Bears won a 61-7 laugher.
Last meeting: In week 18 last year, the Bears went into Lambeau on a 10-game losing streak.
They struck first with a Josh Blackwell 94-yard punt return touchdown.
Following a Green Bay field goal, the Bears punted and on the first play of the drive, Jayden Reed fumbled with Jonathan Owens recovering the ball for Chicago.
Three plays later, D’Andre Swift scored on a four-yard touchdown.
The Packers responded with a long drive of their own, capped by Josh Jacobs scoring on a 9-yard run.
After that, many backups started entering the game.
In the third, there was no scoring, despite Kevin Byard’s awesome sack fumble of Malik Willis.
But in the fourth, following a Packer turnover on downs, Caelb Williams found DJ Moore for a 32-yard touchdown.
Later, Emmanuel Wilson scored on a 21-yard run. Then the Packers tacked on a field goal following a fumble by Moore.
The Bears trailed 22-21 with under a minute to play. But Caleb led the Bears downfield, assisted by a Packers horse collar tackle.
Caleb got the Bears to the Packers’ 33-yard-line and spiked the ball with 3 second left, setting up Cairo Santos’ game-winning 51-yard field goal as time expired.
Injury report: The Packers list 17 (!) players as limited or not participating in Wednesday’s practice.
Limited participation
- DL Karl Brooks (ankle)
- S Javon Bullard (ankle)
- LB Edgerrin Cooper (shoulder)
- DL Brenton Cox (groin)
- WR Matthew Golden (wrist)
- LB Quay Walker (neck)
- CB Nate Hobbs (knee)
- RB Josh Jacobs (knee)
- RB MarShawn Lloyd (calf)
- DL Collin Oliver (hamstring)
- WR Jayden Reed (foot/shoulder)
- DL Barryn Sorrell (ankle)
- OL Zach Tom (back)
- LB Quay Walker (neck)
- WR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle)
Did not participate
- DL Lukas Van Ness (foot)
- WR Savion Williams (foot)
- DL Devonte Wyatt (ankle)
Offense: The Packers come into the game ranked 10th in points and 13th in yards.
Their passing offense ranks 13th and their rushing offense ranks 16th.
Jordan Love (67.0 pct. cmp./2,794 yds./19 TD/3 INT) is having a strong season and he’s known to play his best in December.
His weapons include Romeo Doubs (45 rec./542 yds./5 TD), WR Dontayvion Wicks (26/307/2), and Christian Watson (21/363/3). First-round pick Matthew Golden (24/286/0) is off to a slow start. And now that all-world TE Tucker Kraft is out, they’re leaning on TEs Luke Musgrave (15/140/0).
On the ground, Josh Jacobs (186 att./731 yds./11 TD) leads the way and is a good two-way back, as he actually is third on the team in receptions (29 rec./245 yds./0 TD). Emanuel Wilson (85/341/3) backs him up.
Defense: The Packers defense ranks sixth in points and fourth in yards.
Their passing defense ranks sixth and their rushing defense ranks eighth.
Micah Parsons (12.5 sk/1 FF/12 TFL/24 QB hits), Quay Walker (84 tkl/1.5 sk/6 TFL/6 QB hits/4 PD), Edgerrin Cooper (86 tkl/2 TFL/3 PD/2 FF/2 TFL) and S Evan Williams (80 tkl/4 TFL/3 INT/4 PD) are the stat leads at each level of the defense.
Up front with Parsons are Rashan Gary (7.5 sk/1 FF/6 TFL/6 QB hits/4 PD), and Devonte Wyatt (4 sk/7 QB hits/6 TFL) are getting after opposing QBs.
In the secondary, Xavier McKinney (2 INT/6 PD/1 sk/73 tkl/3 TFL) and Keisean Nixon (56 tkl/14 PD/1 FR/3 TFL) are making plays in the passing game. And LB Isaiah McDuffie (66 tkl/3 TFL/2 QB hits/1 INT/1PD) is also playing well.
Key match-ups: For the Bears defense this week, it will likely come down to how much they are able to pressure Jordan Love and hold his outside weapons.
Christian Watson is a great deep threat and they love to take downfield shots when they can. And Josh Jacobs is an outstanding running back, too. The Packers have some IOL issues and that could be a key to slowing down their offense, if Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter can get some push.
On offense, it’s similar to last week: get IOL push and establish the run. The Packers LBs and edge rushers are very good, but if Chicago can minimize Parsons’ disruptions, it will help get things going for the offense.
Key stats
- In their three losses, the Packers scored less than 14 points.
- The Packers have the 10th-highest pressure percentage on defense, but rank 30th in blitz percentage. All of their pressure is coming from their front.
- Opposing QBs have an 89.3 rating against Green Bay.
- Despite their overall prowess, the Packers’ defense ranks 21st in the red zone, allowing opponents to score on 59.4 percent of their trips inside the 20.
- Packers kicker Brandon McManus ranks last among kickers on active rosters at 71.4 percent on field goals this season.
- Packers are tied for the third-fewest sacks allowed this season with 17.
- Green Bay ranks 29th in rushing yards before contact with 1.9, Chicago ranks second with 3.1.
What will it take for the Chicago Bears to get a huge road win against the Packers this week?
