Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears Preview
Game Details:
Matchup: Green Bay Packers (6-3) at Chicago Bears (4-5)
Date: Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Broadcaster: FOX
Betting Odds: Green Bay favored by 2 1/2 points
Against the Spread: Packers 4-5; Bears 4-4-1
Series Record: Packers lead the all-time series 107-95-6
Previous Meeting: The Packers defeated the Bears 17-9 in Green Bay on January 7, 2024.
Recent Performance:
The Packers enjoyed a bye week, having lost to Detroit 24-14 prior. Meanwhile, the Bears faced off against New England, suffering a 19-3 defeat.
Team Statistics:
Packers Offense: Ranked 3rd overall, 3rd in rushing, 7th in passing, 9th in scoring.
Packers Defense: Ranked 12th overall, 10th in rushing defense, 15th in passing defense, 11th in scoring defense.
Bears Offense: Ranked 30th overall, 24th in rushing, 30th in passing, 24th in scoring.
Bears Defense: Ranked 13th overall, 24th in rushing defense, 7th in passing defense, 7th in scoring defense.
Turnover Differential: Packers at plus-6; Bears at plus-8.
Key Players:
Player to Watch for the Packers: Quarterback Jordan Love. After benefitting from a bye week, Love comes back fresh, having fully participated in practice following a groin strain he dealt with during the previous loss. With 1,820 passing yards and 15 touchdowns this season, Love’s performance has been marred by 10 interceptions. Notably, he had a successful run against the Bears last season, throwing five touchdowns with no interceptions in their two meetings.
Player to Watch for the Bears: Quarterback Caleb Williams. After the recent change in offensive coordination, with Thomas Brown taking over from Shane Waldron, the focus is on whether Williams can find his rhythm. As the top overall draft pick, he has struggled during a three-game losing streak. In this stretch, he has completed only 48 of 95 passes without a touchdown and was sacked nine times in the last match against New England.
Matchup to Watch:
The contest will highlight Green Bay’s pass rush against the Bears’ offensive line. With the Packers tied for 19th in the NFL with 22 sacks this season, they have yet to become a dominant force in pressuring quarterbacks. However, given Chicago’s troubled offensive line and Williams’ league-high sack total of 38, this matchup could be pivotal for the outcome of the game.
Injuries to Monitor:
For the Packers, cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), center Josh Myers (wrist), and safety Evan Williams (hamstring) participated in limited practice on Wednesday following their absence against the Lions. The Bears remain cautious, ruling out safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) for the fifth consecutive game. However, left tackle Braxton Jones (knee) and right tackle Darnell Wright (knee) have practiced this week and could return, potentially bolstering an offensive line that has struggled. Defensive end Montez Sweat (ankle), left guard Teven Jenkins (ankle), and special teams player Tarvarius Moore (concussion) were listed as not participating in practice on Wednesday.
Historical Context:
The Packers have dominated recent encounters, winning 10 in a row and 25 of the last 28 matches. This includes victories that extend back to the NFC Championship game after the 2010 season. Green Bay’s defense has proven effective in their last five victories against the Bears on the road, not allowing more than 20 points in any of those games.
Statistics and Notes:
Currently, the Packers are placed third in the NFC North, trailing the Detroit Lions (8-1) and the Minnesota Vikings (7-2). Prior to their loss against the Lions, Green Bay had amassed four consecutive victories. They rank within the top ten on a variety of offensive measures, alongside only Baltimore and San Francisco. Additionally, the Packers boast 19 takeaways, sharing second place in the league with Buffalo. Safeties like Xavier McKinney lead in interceptions and takeaways, while tight end Tucker Kraft has scored a notable five touchdowns over six games. The Bears have struggled significantly, failing to score a touchdown in two consecutive games for the first time since 2004, with an alarming 23 possessions without a touchdown since a late score in Washington three weeks ago.
Fantasy Insight:
Consider Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who is currently fourth in the league with 762 rushing yards, as he faces a Bears defense that has shown vulnerability against the run.