The Chicago Bears (4-6) head to square off with the Green Bay Packers (7-3) at Lambeau Field this week. Green Bay has had its share of highlights this season, but has struggled in recent weeks, having lost three of its last five. The game will air Thursday, Nov 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
The Packers defeated the Bears 31-23 in their last meeting. That Week 1 game marked four straight wins for Green Bay against Chicago, going back to the 2013 season. James Jones had a great performance in the last meeting, grabbing four receptions for 51 yards and two TDs. Eddie Lacy had a great game as well, adding 85 yards and a TD on 19 carries. Matt Forte had a good outing running the ball for Chicago in that game, rushing 24 times for 141 yards and one TD. Martellus Bennett chipped in with 55 yards and a TD on five catches.
A close score is not projected this week when the Bears, a substantial seven-point underdog, take on Green Bay. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently at 47 points.
Sitting at 7-3 Straight Up (SU) and 6-4 Against The Spread (ATS), the Packers will look to improve heading into Week 12. In their five most recent matchups, the Packers went 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS. Green Bay hopes to take advantage of a Bears defense that allows 4.6 yards per rush, 29th in the NFL. During their last five games, the Packers have done a better job stopping the run, giving up an average of 97.8 rushing yards. In the first quarter, Green Bay is a tough challenge, putting up a league-leading 8.2 points in the first 15 minutes.
Across the field, the Bears fare well ATS, sitting at 6-4. However, they are only 4-6 SU this season. Over their last five games, the Bears have a SU record of 2-3 and a 4-1 record ATS. Chicago has made opposing defenses suffer as of late, averaging 25 points per game over the last five games. This improved stretch brought its season average to 21.4 PPG. Chicago’s quarterback and wide receivers will look to keep the strong passing attack rolling this week. Over the past five games, they’ve managed an impressive 280.6 yards through the air. Moving on to the Chicago defense, it has some favorable matchups that it may be able to take advantage of as well. Chicago’s pass defense ranks fourth in the league. This frightening bunch gives up 217.2 yards per game through the air. It’ll be difficult to keep Chicago’s offense off the field this week. The team’s average time of possession is 32:43, ranking fourth in the league.
Predictions: SU Winner – GB, ATS Winner – GB, O/U – Under
Notes
Green Bay is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Green Bay’s last 7 games.
Green Bay is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Green Bay’s last 6 games at home.
Green Bay is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Green Bay’s last 16 games when playing Chicago.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Green Bay’s last 5 games when playing Chicago.
Green Bay is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games when playing Chicago.
Green Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Chicago.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Green Bay’s last 7 games when playing at home against Chicago.
Chicago is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Green Bay.
Chicago is 1-1 SU when leading at the start of the fourth quarter this season. Green Bay is 6-0 SU when leading after three quarters.
This season, Green Bay is 7-2 SU in games where it loses the turnover battle.
When it comes to passing this year, Chicago is rated higher on both sides of the ball. Its 18th-ranked passing attack will face the 23rd-ranked pass defense of Green Bay, while its fourth-ranked pass defense will look to limit the 22nd-ranked passing game of the Packers.
Chicago has allowed 22.4 points per game on the road, which ranks it 17th in the league. Green Bay has scored 26.4 points per game at home (ranked 10th overall).
