The game: Chicago at Green Bay (-7.5)
As you drift off to sleep somewhere on your couch, your recliner (or, as bestselling British author Garth Merenghi once suggested, your bean bag chair if that’s how you’ve chosen to live your life) a round the third quarter with the Packers up by two scores, you’ll think back to this article and be glad that helped you decipher what will become a game you’ll forget you even watched three days from now.
Of course, unlike our usual Thursday night slate, this game isn’t beginning our week. By the time the Bears (4-6) and Packers (7-3) kick off, we’ll have played two games. Realizing this, I popped my picks up on twitter last night.
Lions 20, Eagles 17 and Cowboys 27, Panthers 23. #NFL #Thanksgiving #GetMoreSports
— Adam Greene (@TheFirstMan) November 26, 2015
The History
There’s a lot of it. The two teams first met in 1921 with the Bears winning 20-0. Since then they’ve met 191 times with Chicago leading the all-time series 93-92-6.
The longest Packers win streak in the series is relevant to tonight’s halftime ceremony retiring former quarterback Brett Favre’s jersey. From Halloween 1994 to Nov. 7 1999 the Packers won 10 straight over the Bears.
You’ll not be surprised to learn the era where the Bears were able to put their eight-game win streak over the packers together. It lasted from Sept. 1985 to Nov. 27 1988. You might remember those guys.
The Packers have dominated the match-up recently, winning four straight beginning Dec. 2013. The Bears last win was 27-20 on Nov. 4, 2013 on Monday Night Football. That victory halted a six-game Packers streak.
Since Aaron Rodgers took over at quarterback for the Packers in 2008, they’ve only lost to the Bears three times.
The Bears on Offense
Chicago is led by Jay Cutler and depending on what day it is, that’s either a good thing for them, or a good thing for the team they’re playing. And the problem is for everybody, there’s no way to predict those good and bad days before they happen. Cutler will be missing a big weapon with tight end Martellus Bennett out with injured ribs. Both Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte are listed as questionable and may not play either. If they don’t, Cutler is going to have to beat a potential Super Bowl team with rookie Josh Bellamy, who has caught a total of 12 passes this season, and third-year receiver Marquess Wilson who’s caught exactly twice as many in 2015. Rookie Jeremy Langford has proven his worth this season at running back, but Cutler and the Bears are coming into this game short-handed.
The Packers on Offense
After three weeks of sub-par (for them) performances, the Packers offense got back on track last week and Aaron Rodgers seems to be out of the slump that made him just a good quarterback and not the super human best quarterback in the NFL. Green Bay has some injury issues of its own with wide receiver Devante Adams and running back Eddie Lacy both nursing sore ankles, but both men are expected to play. Randall Cobb and James Jones, back via free agency, have been solid receivers with the occasional big plays in them and tight end Richard Rodgers has become a real weapon for the Packers in the red zone. He’s caught five touchdowns this season.
The Bears on Defense
The Bears are still trying to build a defense under new coordinator Vic Fangio and they’ve gotten better as the season has progressed. Chicago doesn’t rush the passer well and free agent linebacker Pernell McPhee is the only guy legitimately dangerous in that regard. The Bears’ strength is its secondary and cornerback Kyle Fuller is one of the young underrated stars in the game right now.
The Packers on Defense
While the Bears’ defense has improved over the last few weeks, the same can’t be said of the Packers. Injuries and some bad match-ups have cause yardage and points to pile up. Clay Matthews remains one of the best players in the game and Julius Peppers is having a rejuvenated season rushing the passer, already just half a sack behind last year’s full-season total. Rookie Damarious Randall, who made me scratch my head when the Packers took him in the first round in the draft may actually be their best defensive back. He has 42 tackles, two picks and 12 passes defended this season.
The pick: It’s that time of the year and the Packers have already lost their three games. They won’t lose again and definitely won’t to the Bears at home. Packers 38, Bears 27
