An NFC North rivalry showdown between the Green Bay Packers (12-3, 5-2 away) and the Chicago Bears (8-7, 3-4 home) in the final week of the National Football League regular season. The Packers embarrassed the Bears six weeks ago, thumping Chicago 41-25 in Green Bay. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. EST at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. Green Bay is a 6-point road favorite in the divisional showdown, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Green Bay Packers
The Packers have won seven of their last eight games, including five in a row as they roll into the final week of play. Green Bay has clinched the division but has their sights set on locking up the top overall seed heading into the postseason. Green Bay’s offense will be without starting left tackle David Bakhtiari who will miss the season’s remainder with a knee injury.
Aaron Rodgers has put together an MVP-caliber season and is the favorite to win the award at the end of the year. Rodgers has thrown for 4,059 yards with 44 touchdowns and only five interceptions. The veteran quarterback has also added three touchdown rushers to his total this season.
Aaron Jones carried the ball 190 times for 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns as the Packers’ lead running back. Jamaal Williams (114 carries, 479 yards, two touchdowns) and AJ Dillion (45 carries, 239 yards, two touchdowns) are two punishing rushers to spell Jones throughout the game. Dillion carried the ball 21 times for 124 yards and two scores last Sunday against the Titans.
Wide receiver Davante Adams has benefitted from Rodgers’ MVP season, catching 109 passes for 1,328 yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns. Tight end Robert Tonyan also had a career season with 50 receptions and ten touchdowns in his third season in the NFL.
What to Know – Chicago Bears
Chicago suffered six-straight losses from Week 7 through Week 13 and, in that stretch, benched starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky for a handful of games. The benching might have saved the Bears’ season, as the Bears have rallied to win their last three and remain in the playoff conversation. A win against the Packers or an Arizona Cardinals loss to the Los Angeles Rams puts the Bears into the postseason.
Trubisky completed 166-of-255 passes for 1,803 yards with 17 touchdowns and six picks over nine games. Nick Foles threw for 1,852 yards and ten touchdowns in nine games, including seven starts under center.
David Montgomery has turned up production out of the backfield, rushing for 354 yards and four touchdowns over the last three weeks. Montgomery has carried the ball 225 times for 1,001 yards this season.
Allen Robinson II is tied for fifth in the NFL with 100 receptions this season. Robinson has 1,213 yards receiving and six touchdowns scored. Robinson hauled in a pair of touchdown catches the last time these two teams got together. In the red zone, the Chicago quarterbacks look to veteran tight end Jimmy Graham (48 receptions, 451 yards, eight touchdowns).
The Pick is In
Aaron Rodgers has owned the Bears during his time in Green Bay, compiling a 19-5 record against the Bears as a starting quarterback. Chicago is playing for a spot in the playoffs, so there will be extra motivation on the Chicago sideline Sunday. Don’t expect a blowout like the Packers handed the Bears in Green Bay six weeks ago, but expect Rodgers and company to do what needs to be done to keep their rival out of the postseason.
The Pick: Packers -6
