The oldest and best rivalry in the NFL is officially back this week as the Chicago Bears make their way up north to take on the Green Bay Packers in a pivotal division matchup for both teams. The Bears (3-1) are winners of two straight following their 23-12 dismantling of the New York Jets on the lakefront. Chicago was a bully on offense, racking up over 42 minutes of time of possession and running 89 plays en route to their victory behind running back Kyle Monangai's 146 rushing yards and two scores.
As for the Packers (2-2), they quieted the alarms temporarily with a 17-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to climb back to .500. Up to this point, the season hasn't gone Green Bay's way thanks to injuries on both sides of the ball, running back Josh
Jacobs' legal situation, and questions mounting regarding head coach Matt LaFleur. But a win over the Bears would change the narrative fairly quickly.
These two teams have faced each other four times in the last 21 months with the Bears having a 3-1 advantage during that span. It also means there is plenty of familiarity between players and coaches alike. Could we see some newcomers make a significant impact, or will the usual suspects show up instead? Here are the Packers players we'll be watching on Sunday:
1. QB Jordan Love
It's been a rough start to the season for Jordan Love. The Packers quarterback has struggled mightily in part due to a battered offensive line that leaves him little protection, the worst run game in the league, and a mix of injuries and miscues at the skill positions. Love has been sacked eight times and hit 22 times in four games, which is on pace for the highest totals in his career, while his receivers are leading the league in dropped passes. Love isn't absolved of blame, though.
He currently has the worst bad throw percentage of his career at 22.5% and has the lowest on-target percentage at 70.9%, according to Pro Football Reference. He has struggled when teams only send four rushers yet hasn't produced when blitz-like has in the past. It will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Dennis Allen decides to attack Love and how the quarterback will respond on Sunday.
2. TE Tucker Kraft
The last three times these teams have met, tight end Tucker Kraft wasn't on the field. Kraft suffered a torn ACL prior to the Bears-Packers' first meeting in 2025, and his absence was felt on Green Bay's end. Now that he's back and fully healthy, what type of impact will he make? Kraft snagged his first touchdown reception of the year last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and accounted for 42 of Love's 197 yards of passing.
It's hard to believe, but Kraft hasn't been much of a factor in previous matchups against the Bears. In four career games, he has just seven receptions for 67 yards and no touchdowns. And with the Bears' ability to neutralize opposing tight ends this year, it's fair to wonder just how much he will impact this game. Kraft should see at least a few targets and could be a difference maker if he gets going.
3. WR Christian Watson
Christian Watson was the Packers' most dangerous weapon last year when these two teams met, and not much has changed since then. The fifth-year veteran is off to a blazing start with 331 receiving yards and four touchdowns, and he's on track for a career season. Watson continues to be a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses as his 6-foot-4 frame combined with a 4.36 40-yard time makes guarding him seem impossible.
Watson has burned the Bears in the past. He toasted the secondary for 150 yards on just four receptions in 2024, and in 2025, he had two long touchdowns to go with 89 receiving yards. The Bears' secondary is still a bit suspect, with players like Tyrique Stevenson and Jaylon Johnson having up and down games. We'll see if Watson gets behind them for big gains like he has before. He's a game-changing weapon.
4. LB Isaiah McDuffie
The Packers suffered a major loss last weekend when linebacker Edgerrin Cooper suffered a torn Achilles against Tampa Bay, which means Isaiah McDuffie slides in to the starter spot on defense. Cooper had been one of Green Bay's best defenders, and McDuffie doesn't bring the same pop. The Bears can exploit the weakness with tight end mismatches as well as plays out of the backfield.
McDuffie has played a reserve role following the addition of Zaire Franklin in the offseason but will now have to establish chemistry with him quickly. It's worth noting McDuffie needed to step up during last postseason when Cooper exited the game and was picked on quite a bit. We'll see if he gets re-acclimated and can handle facing the Bears' offense.
5. CB Keisean Nixon
It seems every Bears-Packers game in recent years has involved cornerback Keisean Nixon in some way, shape, or form. He sealed a win with an interception, was the targeted defender on the game-winning score a few weeks later, and made some business decisions that helped the Bears get back in the game in the playoffs. What will the fourth installment of this series bring?
Nixon has had a decent start to the season, allowing an opposing passer rating of just 67.5 with no touchdowns. Of course, DJ Moore isn't around to beat him deep, but the Bears do have some weapons that are capable of big plays downfield. Can Nixon keep up his strong play, or will he be lured into making a mistake yet again? His play could decide the game when it's all said and done.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 Packers players to watch vs. Bears
