Thursday Night Football gives us one of the NFL’s classic rivalries when the Chicago Bears (1-4) travel to Wisconsin to take on the suddenly vulnerable Green Bay Packers (3-2).
The Game: Chicago at Green Bay (-7.5)
The History
The series goes back to the very foundation of the NFL as the then Chicago Staleys beat the Green Bay Packers 20-0 on Nov. 27, 1921. Tonight’s game will be the 193rd time the two teams have met, with the Bears holding a slight edge in the overall record, 94-92-6.
The Bears won the last meeting, 17-13, with Jay Cutler actually outperforming Aaron Rodgers with a 90.8 quarterback rating. Rodgers posted a 62.4. Cutler will not be playing tonight.
The longest streak in the series belongs to the Packers. From Oct. 1994 to Dec. 1998 Green Bay reeled off 10 straight wins over the Bears in the Brett Favre era. The Bears held an eight-game win streak from Nov. 1985 to Nov. 1988. Both teams won Super Bowls during their streaks.
The Bears and Packers have met in the playoffs only twice, once in 2011 (a 21-14 Green Bay win) and the other all the way back in 1941. The Bears won that one 33-14.
Though there are six ties in the series, the Bears and Packers have played just two overtime games. The Bears won 20-17 in overtime in 2008 and the Packers won 12-6 in overtime in 1980. All six ties happened before the modern overtime rules were adopted. The last time the teams tied was on Nov. 9, 1952 with a 21-21 final score.
The Bears on Offense
Jay Cutler is still listed as questionable, but there’s no reason to expect to see him playing in this game. Instead, Brian Hoyer will get another shot at quarterback with very little help in the backfield as Jeremy Langford is still out. Alshon Jeffery is banged up too, but expected to play. Kevin White’s contributions to the offense continue to expand, but this is a unit that has struggled to put up a legit point total all season. Their high right now is 23 in a loss to the Colts three weeks ago.
The Packers on Offense
It’s well known at this point that Aaron Rodgers, over the last calendar year, has not been the same quarterback that won the NFL’s MVP award a few years ago. This year he has his favorite receiver, Jordy Nelson, back, but the offensive issues remain. I blame Mike McCarthy’s horrid playcalling, but doubt the Packers will part ways with him just yet. As it is, Rodgers will have to work without Eddie Lacy in the backfield. He’s out with an ankle and was officially placed on IR today. Newly acquired running back Knile Davis and James Starks will have to tote the load for a while.
The Bears on Defense
Chicago’s defense is right in the middle of the pack in yards allowed (No. 13) and tied for 12th in sacks with 13. Their defense enters this game with some key players hobbled. Sam Acho, Leonard Floyd and Tracy Porter are all listed as questionable on the injury report and nose tackle Eddie Goldman probably won’t play. Willie Young is an underrated pass rusher on the outside, flying under the NFL’s radar since the team signed him as free agent back in 2014. He’s already got six sacks this season and has 22.5 sacks in 36 games with the Bears.
The Packers on Defense
Green Bay boasts one of the best defenses in the league this season and they’ve needed it. With the offense struggling, it’s the Clay Matthews-led squad that’s kept scores down and the Packers in games. The problem for the Pack this week is two of their best defensive backs, Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins are both out with groin injuries. How both guys suffered the same injury to the groin is a joke that writes itself, needless to say there will be holes in the back end for the Bears to exploit. And I dare you to paste that entire last sentence into Google and click “images.”
The Coaches
John Fox has been a fixture on my Coach Ineptitude List since its inauguration and, barring the results of this game, could be joined by Mike McCarthy. There is no advantage here, to say the least.
The Pick
As the Bears continue to hint that Hoyer might be able to win the job over Cutler when Jay is healthy, the worse it will be for Hoyer. He’s a psychological collapse waiting to happen. The Pack’s defense is too good let the Bears get away with any short stuff and though they might give up some plays to Jeffery, I like Green Bay. Packers 24, Bears 13
