The intense historic rivalry moves to another level on Sunday when the Green Bay Packers host the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears in a matchup with significant playoff implications.
Chicago (9-3), who are tied with the Los Angeles Rams for the best record in the NFC, have a half-game lead over the Packers (8-3-1) in the division. The Bears are 1-2 in the division, while Green Bay is 3-0.
The two teams meet again in two weeks in Chicago.
Green Bay defeated defending division champion Detroit 31-24 on Thanksgiving behind four touchdown passes by Jordan Love, who was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Chicago is coming off a 24-15 victory over Philadelphia last Friday.
“They’re playing good football right now,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said of the Packers on Tuesday. “They’ve really come on, especially in these last three games. Offense is playing at a high level, quarterback is very accurate, so we’ve got a challenge on that side.
“It might be the best defense we’ve seen all year,” said Johnson, who was an assistant at Detroit before taking over in Chicago this season.
Love has completed 67.0% of his passes for 2,794 yards with 19 touchdowns and three interceptions. Romeo Doubs has 45 catches for 542 yards and five scores.
Josh Jacobs has rushed for a team-high 731 yards with 11 touchdowns.
Green Bay is No. 1 in the league in third-down conversion with 49.3% and has scored touchdowns on nine of its 11 trips to the red zone over the last four games.
All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, acquired from Dallas in a blockbuster trade before the start of the regular season, is third in the league with 12.5 sacks. The Packers’ run defense suffered a significant loss when tackle Devonte Wyatt sustained a season-ending ankle injury against the Lions.
Four players designated for return from injured reserve — wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot/shoulder), defensive end Brenton Cox (groin), running back MarShawn Lloyd (calf) and defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring) — were limited participants at practice Wednesday.
Four others who were inactive vs. Detroit — defensive tackle Karl Brooks (ankle), receiver Matthew Golden (wrist), cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) and linebacker Quay Walker (neck) — were limited in Wednesday’s practice.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has completed 58.1% of his passes for 2,722 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has been sacked 19 times.
“He’s doing a really good job managing the ballgame,” Johnson said. “And that’s step No. 1 for the quarterback. He’s going to continue to get better. The process is really good right now with how he approaches the week.”
D’Andre Swift paces the ground attack with 774 yards and rookie Kyle Monangai has 591 yards. Both have five rushing touchdowns.
The Bears led the NFL with a plus-17 turnover differential and 26 takeaways, with 17 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.
“I think the first thing that jumps out is offensively they’re doing a great job of taking care of the ball,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday. “Defensively, they’re doing a great job of getting the takeaways.”
The Bears did not practice Wednesday but released an estimated injury report. The team said receiver Rome Odunze (foot) and Monangai (ankle) would not have practiced. Injured linebackers T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring) and Noah Sewell (elbow) could have participated.
These two franchises have met 208 times during the regular season with Green Bay holding a 107-95-6 advantage.
Green Bay has won 16 of the last 18 regular-season matchups against Chicago.
-Field Level Media
