By The Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears renew one of the NFL’s oldest rivalries Saturday night in a wild-card showdown at Soldier Field, with both teams looking to reverse late-season slides.
The Bears (11-6), NFC North champions for the first time since 2018, host the Packers (9-7-1) at 8 p.m. EST on Amazon Prime Video. Oddsmakers at BetMGM list Green Bay as a 1-point favorite despite dropping its final four regular-season games.
Chicago enters the postseason behind rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Though his completion percentage ranked last among qualifying passers, Williams grew more comfortable in coach Ben Johnson’s system and led six fourth-quarter comebacks.
Green Bay counters with Jordan Love, cleared from concussion protocol after missing the regular-season finale. Love has nine touchdown passes and two interceptions in six career games against Chicago.
The Bears boast one of the league’s top rushing attacks, led by D’Andre Swift (1,087 yards) and rookie Kyle Monangai (783). But they managed just 65 yards on the ground in last week’s loss to Detroit. Green Bay’s run defense has struggled, allowing 150 yards to Chicago in their last meeting and 216 to Baltimore’s Derrick Henry two weeks ago.
Turnovers could decide the game. Chicago led the NFL with 33 takeaways and a plus-22 differential, while Green Bay finished at plus-1.
Injuries loom large. The Packers have lost key players on both sides of the ball including their defensive game changer Micah Parsons and will be without receiver Dontayvion Wicks. The Bears expect rookie receiver Rome Odunze back after a five-game absence, but their secondary remains thin with multiple defenders sidelined.
The Packers lead the all-time series 109-97-6 and have won 30 of 37 meetings since 2008. This marks the third playoff matchup between the teams — all in Chicago. The Bears won in 1941; the Packers prevailed in the 2011 NFC Championship.
Reminder that the game can only be watched Amazon Prime Video.
Saturday, 8 p.m. EST,
Green Bay (9-7-1) at Chicago (11-6)
BetMGM NFL odds: Packers by 1
Against the spread: Packers 6-10-1; Bears 9-7-1
Series record: Packers lead 109-97-6
Last meeting: Bears beat Packers 22-16 in OT at Chicago on Dec. 20
Last week: Packers lost at Minnesota 16-3; Bears lost to Detroit 19-16
Packers offense: overall (15), rush (15), pass (17), scoring (16)
Packers defense: overall (12), rush (18), pass (11), scoring (11)
Bears offense: overall (6), rush (3), pass (10), scoring (9)
Bears defense: overall (29), overall (27), pass (22), scoring (23)
Turnover differential: Packers plus-1; Bears plus-22
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