NFL Wildcard Weekend 2026: Packers vs. Bears

Let's get the obvious out of the way: last weekend's game at Minnesota to conclude the regular season was a yawner, a preseason-type game masquerading as Week #18.

The Packers rested a lot of players, many by default from injuries, etc. And remember, there had been no "bye" week since Week #5. Playing on fumes. So Packers head coach Matt LaFleur decided to rest as many of his valuable and/or healthy players as possible in advance of their already-known #7 Wildcard seed against either Chicago or Philadelphia. With Da Bearz' loss in Detroit — with their coach noting that some coaches rest their guys going into the playoffs while others (such as themselves) "play football" (a-hem) —and the results, the Pack gets exactly who they want in the first round of the playoffs: our friends to the south.

The Preview

For the third time in 6 weeks, and with the season series split at 1-1 (although even Chicago fans and pundits admit the Packers outplayed Da Bearz in both games and, barring a botched onside kickoff recovery, would have won the second game after taking the first), the Packers travel once again to the Mistake by the Lake for a Prime-time matchup...get it? (The game is only available on Amazon Prime. Good luck with that if you are outside the primary markets.)

After getting knocked out of the last game in Chicago with a 1st half

concussion and finally getting out of concussion protocol, QB Jordan Love

will be counted on for a big game against Da Bearz despite what might

be some typically bad Chicago January weather.

(Photo via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

This, interestingly, in the long history of the rivalry between Green Bay and Chicago, is just the third time that the two teams have met up in the playoffs. In the first meeting, back in the late 1940s if memory serves, Chicago got the win. In the second meeting, in the NFC Championship Game in Chicago in 2010, the Packers came away with the win, sealed by a B.J. Raji pick-6 off QB Smokin' Jay Cutler. Sweet.

Tonight? Hmmm...

Well, the Packers roll into this game on a 4-game losing streak. Not ideal. But key players have been able to get healthier. Despite that, and RB Josh Jacobs saying he feels the best he has since mid-November (that's good!), Packers GM Brian Gutekunst made a flurry of changes to the roster over the last few weeks: claiming guys, releasing guys, signings here and there. Busy. All to bolster the Pack's depth going into the playoffs...and to also stock the practice squad cabinet up a bit for next season, too, one might guess.

On the flip side, Chicago is coming into this game on a  2-game losing streak. And, yes, they will be getting some key pieces back, as well.

But...when you compare the two teams, overall, which has the most talent? Especially at the key positions? The Packers. The Packers defense, inconsistent especially in the second half of the season and after the season loss of Micah Parsons, can't pull a reprise of their game versus the Ravens in which they parted like the Red Sea for RB Derrick Henry. Chicago has a pair of running backs who can also cause problems for an opposing defense. Of course, QB Caleb Williams can also cause problems, particularly with his legs if he escapes the pocket. He has also developed an ability over the season to become better throwing on the run. Force him to throw in the pocket and an INT or two could be had. Which would be a real boost in this game as the Packers have fallen short in terms of getting turnovers this season. Now, one of the recent roster additions for the Pack, claimed off waivers from Dallas (thanks, again, Jerry!), is CB Trevon Diggs. He saw some action in the Minnesota game and recent interviews with Diggs indicate that he is very comfortable in the Packers defense right now. He could certainly have a big impact in this game.

Conversely, Chicago has been a turnover/takeaway machine this season. They are 9-0 when they get two or more turnovers in a game, and nowhere close when they get one or none. So, for the Packers, it is critical they do not turn the ball over in this game. Or make special teams mistakes.

What will be the weather impact tonight? "Blustery"  seems to be the operative word. There will be wind gusts of 20-30 mph, dropping wind-chill temperatures, and the possibility of blowing light snow. Passing and kicking could be affected for both teams, obviously. And the conditions would seem to favor the run game and make turnovers of all kinds even more of a likelihood.

The Prediction

 The Packers are currently favored at the time of this writing by 1-1/2 points ... earlier in the week, Chicago was favored by the same amount. Even famed Chicago ESPN sportswriter Michael Wilson calls it a toss-up, which it obviously pained him to do.

On the other hand, my friend Billy Da Bearz Fan, called the game 36-34 Chicago. He's biased, true. The over-under has actually dropped to the vicinity of around 44-1/2, so the likelihood of a 70-point game seems ... not likely. Nor does the Chicago win.

We expect another close game. But you know what? The last game wasn't. Until about the last few minutes. The Pack had it and gave it away.

Not tonight. Can't let Chicago hang around.

We're calling it Packers 27 - Da Bearz 20.

Go Pack Go!!!

NFL Week 18: Packers vs. Vikings Preview & Prediction

Soooo...Packer fans...we were just a bit off in our prediction for last week. Yowza. Yes, it got within 3 points for a brief time. But, really. Not even close. The Ravens had more energy from the get-go. The Pack's run defense must have thought the game was on Sunday instead of Saturday because they were a no-show throughout the game. Embarrassing. We will spare you the details.

But with the NFC North Division title still open, the Packers decided to hand it on a silver platter to Da Bearz, along with the second seed in the upcoming NFC playoffs. For their efforts, or lack thereof, the Pack secured the seventh seed no matter what they do in the regular season finale against the ViQueens in Minnesota.

Which brings us to our preview...

The Preview

Let's be honest: this final regular season game for the Packers is much like the first game. Of the preseason. There's no way to improve their seeding for the playoffs. And with even more players hurt in last week's game — adding to the devastating tally of all the preceding games — the object, as it is in preseason, is to just get through the game without more injuries, especially to key players.

Hence, many of the starters will be held out or see minimal time on the field. Starting QB Jordan Love, who has missed the last few games as he was going through the concussion protocol, was cleared late this week. Think he will play to get some action in before the first playoff game (likely against Chicago, by the way...or possibly the Eagles)? Not a chance. QB Malik Willis? He's dinged up but under normal circumstances he'd likely go. Instead, third-string QB Clayton Tune got the word on Thursday that he will start the game, the second start of his brief NFL career. What about the running game? Josh Jacobs? With the injuries he's dealt and played with all season, he's a no-go. RT Zach Tom? Nope. There are others.

Ladies and gentlemen, your starting QB for the 2025 regular season

finale against the ViQueens: backup QB Clayton Tune.

(Photo via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Now, let's also remember that the Packers bye week was a looooong time ago in Week #5. So these guys deserve a break. Playing for pride, sure, and a double-digit winning record again. But a loss won't hurt as much as losing more players to injury.

The silver lining is that this will be a chance to see what some of the younger backup players can do. At least there's that. Plus, not sure if you heard the late-breaking news of the week (kidding!): the Packers claimed one-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs off waivers from the Cowboys. He might actually see some limited playing time. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley indicated that they were working with him to get him up to speed on some of the language and schemes used on defense. Will be interesting to see how that plays out.

As a sign of how tight things are from a personnel standpoint, reports indicate that the Packers have added receiver Jakobie Keeney-James and guard/center Lecitus Smith from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, and tight end Drake Dabney and linebacker Jamon Johnson were elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster. Whether "signed" or "elevated", these are some new names to watch for Sunday and likely in the playoffs.

Bottom line, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Since Dec. 26, the Packers have placed eight players on injured reserve, signed six players from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and claimed two players off waivers from other teams." Now, every team deals with injuries, we got it. But...yowza. None of this is how you want to roll into the playoffs. Particularly with a three-game, and potentially four-game, losing streak at play. Crikey.

Do we even need to bother talking about Minnesota? Well, they have now won a few in row. Have a very good defense under coordinator Brian Flores. Offense is so-so, as is — on a good day — young QB J.J. McCarthy. Not really as relevant to this point of view as all that's going on with the Packers, sorry.

The Prediction

Given the circumstances, the Packers are coming into this game as anywhere from a 7-1/2 to 9-1/2-point underdog. Packer fans would probably be very happy if the game wound up being this close.

We're calling this game Packers 13 - Vikings 24.

Hope we're wrong and perhaps catch lightening in a bottle. Let us pray.

Go Pack Go!!!

NFL Week 17: Packers vs. Ravens Preview & Prediction

Before our preview ... a review ...

The game in Chicago last Saturday night didn't turn out as anticipated, did it, Packer fans? A heartbreaking loss. Not only of the game, putting Da Bearz back in first place in the NFC North for the time being — and along with that a second seed in the NFC playoffs — but also losing QB Jordan Love to a concussion in the second quarter of the game on a hit for which the offender was subsequently fined. Backup QB Malik Willis came on in Love's place and, as he has done every time when called upon, kept the Packers in the game.

It even looked, with about 5 minutes left and up by 10 points, that the Pack would walk out of the Mistake By The Lake (i.e., Soldier Field) with a victory. But a comedy of errors, including a botched onside kick recovery by Romeo Doubs with less than 2 minutes to go — and missed opportunities over the course of the game (five trips to the red zone and only three field goals to show for their efforts) — wound up seizing defeat from the jaws of victory. Fugly. By the way, in the last two games the Packers are only one for nine in touchdowns in their red zone trips...a  recipe for defeat if ever there was one... eeesh!

Still, with Aaron Rodgers and his resurgent Steelers beating the Lions last weekend, and the ViQueens beating Detroit in a Christmas Day game, the Packers locked up a playoff berth. Currently the 7th seed, if memory serves, they could still wind up finishing as the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th or 7th seed depending on how these final two games go for them as well as others in the NFC. 

So that brings us to tonight's game. So let's see what lies ahead, shall we?

Backup QB Malik Willis will be leading the Packers

offense against the Ravens as starter Jordan Love is still

in concussion protocol following last weekend's game.

(Photo via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Preview

The first thing to note by way of the preview is that QB Jordan Love has been ruled out for tonight's game as he is apparently still in the league's concussion protocol from last week's game against Chicago. Since he practiced a couple days this week there was a great deal of optimism that he would be available tonight. But ... not. Backup Malik Willis will be taking the snaps, despite also having suffered a shoulder injury against Chicago late in the game. No doubt head coach Matt LaFleur saw the handwriting on the wall as the week went on and has schemed his offense to make the most use of Willis' own talents while giving Willis a full week to also be prepared to play against Baltimore, despite missing a practice with an illness; illness is hitting the Packers' locker room, btw, as both guard Aaron Banks and receiver Savion Williams were downgraded to questionable because of illness. Oy.

The question about who will be Willis' backup inevitably arises: practice squad quarterback Clayton Tune will be in uniform tonight, wearing #19. The Packers have the option of signing him to the 53-man roster or elevating him to the game-day roster. Either way, let's hope Willis makes it through the game unharmed and keeps Mr. Tune carrying the clipboard throughout.

RB Josh Jacobs is expected to return to the field this evening despite the knee issue which has hindered him the last few weeks. Of course, he had a costly fumble at Chicago's 2-yard line last weekend that would likely have sealed the win for the Pack had they gone on to score there either by TD or FG. Jacobs was, for whatever reason, held out the rest of the game with Emanuel Wilson carrying the bulk of the load from there on. It will be interesting to see how LaFleur divides the carries, especially with more of a run-centered approach with Willis at the helm.

Now, the Ravens will also be without their starting QB, Lamar Jackson, who is dealing with back issues. In his place, veteran backup Tyler Huntley will be behind center. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article by veteran Packers reporter Tom Silverstein reminds us: "When he last played the Packers, on Dec. 19, 2021, Huntley led the Ravens from a 14-point deficit to the cusp of victory in place of Jackson, who was out with an ankle injury. He completed 28 of 40 passes for 215 and two touchdowns and ran 13 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Down 31-30, coach John Harbaugh chose to go for the win, but safety Darnell Savage broke up Huntley’s 2-point conversion pass to tight end Mark Andrews. Huntley has shown the Ravens don’t have to change their offense when he's in the game." So...the Packers defense still needs to show up.

That is especially the case in trying to defend against RB and full-on rushing load Derrick Henry. What is he: 6'2" and 250 pounds? Something like that. As big as or bigger than many linebackers. But the Ravens also have RB Keaton Mitchell who received the majority of carries in their last game. They will attempt to pound the Packers' defense and wear down the front. If the Packers can't contain Henry — or Mitchell — in could be a long night on the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field.

The Prediction

Following the downgrading of Jordan Love to being out for tonight's game, the point spread went from the Pack being favored by 3-1/2 points to (at the time of this writing) 2-1/2 points. Obviously the marquee matchup between Love and Jackson at the time the NFL flexed the game to tonight has fallen by the wayside. Now, it's who wants it more? The Ravens are still fighting for their playoff lives while the Packers still — believe it or not — have a shot at winning the NFC North and securing the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs ... yeah, it could happen. Why not? Not many breaks have gone the Packers way this season so perhaps they get one for a change. Some fans are calling for the team to rest some players who could use a couple weeks off to be ready for the playoff run. But, again, until Da Bearz win their two remaining games, the NFC North title is still in play. So ... play.

This time of year and in northeastern Wisconsin one must always take a look at the weather forecast. Via sportingnews.com: "According to AccuWeather.com, the temperature will sit around 34-35 degrees the entire game, which isn't bad for this time of year. Adding to that, both teams are accustomed to playing in cold weather. Wind and precipitation won't be a factor, either, as there is a zero-percent chance for the latter and wind gusts will only reach a high of about 12 MPH." So, no worries about weather impacting the game.

We're calling this one Packers 20 - Ravens 17.

Go Pack Go!!!

NFL Week 16: Packers vs. Bears Preview & Prediction (Part Deux)

The Preview

After a disappointing loss in Denver last weekend, Packer fans, including especially the loss of DE Micah Parsons with a non-contact ACL tear that shuts him down for the remainder of the regular season, playoffs, and likely into the early part of the 2026 season, we come tonight to the regular season rematch with Da Bearz. Two games against each other in three weeks. Who makes these schedules???

As we recall, the Pack won the first round at Lambeau Field, although it came down to an end-of-game 4th-and-one-near-the-goal-line interception in the end zone to seal the deal. The Packers seemed to have things well in hand in the first half, although they left points on the field by having to settle for field goals rather than touchdowns (one in particular early on could have well helped put that game away). Following halftime, Chicago took charge and made a game of it. Despite the then-uninjured Parsons chasing Bears QB Caleb Williams all over the place, he did not record a sack. Williams found his on-the-run passing mojo and kept drives alive and the Packers defense on the field and wearing down. Not great.

But, still the "W" went in the Packers column. As it rightly should be.

The Packers defense — without Micah Parsons — will have to be on top

of its game against Chicago and QB Caleb Williams to emerge

with another "W" against Da Bearz.

(Photo via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

So tonight, Packers defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, will have to pull out all the tricks in his bag to contain Williams and make him throw from the pocket — not his strong suit. Still, coming off his best game of the season, Williams will be looking to build upon his success. The Packers must find ways to force him into mistakes and to take advantage of those mistakes when they come their way. All season long, the Packers have had a tough time getting turnovers and especially hanging onto potential interceptions. Williams may very well throw a couple that should be picked off; Packers defenders must catch them.

Simple game, isn't it?

At this point in the season, though, injuries for all teams play a big role in outcomes. As of the time of this writing, the Packers have 9 players listed as questionable, about half on defense. Late this week, the Pack elevated DE Brenton Cox Jr. off the injured reserve list. He was having a good early start to the season before suffering a groin injury that placed him on injured reserve. Whether he plays tonight and how effective he'd be is anyone's guess. But football sometimes is a game of attrition and right now the Packers can use any able body, especially on defense. DE Lukas Van Ness should also see spot duty, so that's a plus. And do we also need to mention that DE Rashan Gary really needs to step up tonight in Parson's absence? Nobody's going to individually replace Parsons, but a collective effort along the defensive front can go a long way.

Offensively, RB Josh Jacobs is still dealing with knee issues but we can expect head coach Matt LaFleur to use him as he has in recent games: strategically. Jacobs knows he's a big factor in the Pack's offense and he'll do whatever he can do when he's in the game to win, whether running or in the passing game.

WR Christian Watson, who spent time in a Denver hospital following the game against the Broncos with what appeared to be possibly another season-ending injury at the time, may actually play in the game tonight. That would be huge as there's no Chicago defender that can cover him one-on-one. Another big lift would be the emergence of 2025 1st-round draft pick WR Matthew Golden. He's been used in small doses, but successfully so, especially recently. Perhaps with Watson somewhat limited (?) LaFleur will dial up Golden a bit more. With Jayden Reed back in the flow, Jacobs a legitimate receiving and yards-after-catch threat, if the Packers O-line (likely minus RT Zach Tom who was also injured vs. the Broncos) can protect QB Jordan Love, control time of possession, and convert touchdowns instead of field goals when they are in the red zone, the Packers should come out on top.

No denying, this will be a battle. While it pains us to acknowledge it, Chicago has the record it has for a reason at this point. They scraped by by the skin of their teeth through a number of games but still won. If the Packers let them hang around, as they did in the earlier meeting, Da Bearz could sneak out a win. Can't...let...that...happen.

For the Packers: stop the stupid pre-snap penalties, take advantage of turnover opportunities, special teams needs to come through...play a full 60-minutes in sync...you know, complementary football. You got this. Remember: you own Da Bearz!

The Prediction

The weather forecast for this evening is actually balmy for this time of year in Chicago. A few weeks ago, the forecast had frigid weather for this evening; now, temps at game time are supposed to be above freezing ... low/mid-30s...with wind chills in the 20s and going down throughout the game. With two of my good Bearz fans buddies attending the game tonight, I really was hoping for the frigid forecast. You know, what are friends for, right?

At the time of this writing, Chicago is favored by 1-1/2 points. Not surprising, at home and all. The over-under is set at 46-1/2.

Both teams are playing for the lead in the NFC North and playoff seeding. The Packers need to win 2 out of the next 3 games in order to secure their playoff berth. Run the table and they win the division, as well. Many pundits are taking Da Bearz tonight. Even my friend, Billy Da Bearz fan — not surprisingly — is taking his favorite team, 28-27. I commended him for his surprisingly close call...so out of character!

Against the odds tonight, we think the Pack will find a way to get it done.

We're calling it Packers 27 - Da Bearz 24. Hope it's not that close.

Go Pack Go!!!

NFL Week 15: Packers vs. Broncos Preview & Prediction

Before looking at this Sunday's game in Denver vs. the 11-2 Broncos, a quick look back to last weekend's game vs. Da Bearz in Lambeau Field. Here it is: Packers won ... 28-21! (If you check our prediction for that game, we once again had the spread correct on the final score, just off a few points for both teams with the prediction. Still ...)

The Pack was in control in the first half, but Chicago made adjustments at halftime which basically allowed them to make a game of it in the second half by controlling the time of possession. The Pack's defense was gassed. They couldn't get off the field and when they did, Green Bay's offense either scored too quickly (as defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley noted in his chat with the press during this past week) or couldn't sustain possessions to let their defense get a breather.

It was a nail biter at the end, with the victory sealed by an interception in the end zone on a 4th-and-1 play that new Chicago head coach Ben Johnson would probably like a mulligan on. Whew! The Packers see Da Bearz next Saturday night in Chicago in primetime in what will be an even colder game than they played last weekend. Bundle up if you're going (like my Chicago fan buddies Bill and Jack ... good luck with the cold guys, not the game).

On to the game at hand.

We hope to see the Packers celebrating like this

throughout the game versus the Broncos on Sunday.

(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

The Preview

Both of these teams are mentioned as Super Bowl contenders. Some pundits even suggest that this game may be a Super Bowl preview. Let's set that aside for the moment. Can't even get there without winning one game at a time, starting with this one, obviously.

Denver has won 10 straight games, albeit without really dominating opponents. They've won 11 straight home games going back to last season. The Broncos are coming off two straight road game wins. Returning to Mile High Stadium (is it still called that???), the home fans will be jacked. Historically, the Packers have not done well in Denver: 1-7.

Packers QB Jordan Love has already said the GB offense will be operating on a silent count the whole game because of the noise. Factor in the altitude, and this is a tough test for any team. 

The Broncos have a great defense — as does the Packers — and an ascending offense under QB Bo Nix. More on Denver's offense and quarterback in a moment.

The Broncos have the best third-down defense in the NFL and, coincidentally, the Packers have the best third-down offense in the NFL. The Broncos get many teams into a lot of third-and-longs. It will be a match up of heavyweights in those situations. Denver also likes to play the type of pass defense against which QB Jordan Love has had a great deal of success. So if the O-line can protect Love and give him time, he and his receivers could have a big day. That's a big if because Denver's defense has been a sack machine this season, on track to tie or even surpass the 1985 Bears. Yowza.

This will likely be the best defense, and especially defensive front, the Packers will see the rest of the season. The ability of the offensive line to create some running lanes for the Pack's running backs, to set up play-action, will be hugely tested. If they can't do that, it could be a long day for Love. It won't be easy as Denver's defense is No. 1 in the NFL in yards allowed per rushing attempt. Oy.

Back to Denver's offense and QB ... in terms of abilities, Nix reminds some of Chicago QB Caleb Williams: young guy, good arm and dangerous legs. The Packers know how to scheme against that type of quarterback. Execution of the scheme is, as always, the key. And Denver will have the home field advantage of the fans allowing them to call out the signals.

Weather conditions will be balmy in Denver for mid-December. Kickoff temperature is predicted to be in the low 60s. Sweet. Despite that, the Packers will still be wearing their "Winter Warning" all-white uniforms ... which have come to grow on at least some of us. (Yeah ... we like 'em!)

The Packers on Saturday, in a concerning move, added backup RB Emanuel Wilson to the injury report and listed him as questionable. This apparently arose due to an illness. It's concerning, of course, because starting RB Josh Jacobs is also questionable with his ongoing knee issue.  As a result of both of these circumstances, the Packers elevated RB Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad; this is Strong's third call-up of the season, the maximum allowed. Elsewhere, most of the receivers are good to go. And the Packers may even have DE Lukas Van Ness available, which would help along the defensive line. Every bit helps. Especially with the need to spell guys given the altitude issues which come along with a visiting team playing in Denver.

If it comes down to a special teams play, Denver has the edge. Returner Marvin Mims is statistically the greatest punt returner in league history in his young career with a 16.1 yard average. He's averaging 26.3 yards per kickoff return. Conversely, the Packers sit at 21st in punt coverage and 13th in kickoff coverage. Yikes! As fans know, penalties have been a real issue all season long for the special teams, with some Packers players now even suggesting that the officials are looking for penalties to call on the Pack while not doing so in a similar way for the opponents. More on that here.

Punter Daniel Whelen will need a big day when called upon to change field position. He's third in the league in average at 51.1 yards and seventh with a 42.7 yard net average. Obviously, kicker Brandon McManus also needs to be spot on with his kickoffs (i.e., make sure they land in the "landing zone" and not the end zone) and make his field goal attempts. With the thinner air, we may see some long attempts. Gotta make 'em, because it may come down to that.

The Prediction

Earlier in the week the Packers were favored by 2-1/2 ... against an 11-2 team ... who is playing at home. At the time of this writing, that spread has tightened and currently sits at 1-1/2 in favor of the Pack. In a game such as this, that doesn't really mean much. Accept perhaps giving the "no respect" card to the Broncos as added incentive. Both teams need to win to stay atop their respective divisions and help solidify playoff seeding in their conferences.

This game could well go down to who has the ball last. Hope not. 

We're calling this game Packers 24 - Broncos 23.

Go Pack Go!!!

NFL Week 14: Packers vs. Bears Preview & Prediction

Before getting into Sunday's game, let's take a victory lap for the Packers 31-24 win over the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving. Big win. A season sweep!

There. That's enough.

Now onto the game for the NFC North Division lead and the #1 seed in the NFL Playoff standings.

But first, I need to apologize for all the links that appear in this post. Some funky auto-insert thingie from Google that seems to be set to "on" and we haven't figured out how to turn it off. Sorry. Ignore them.

The Preview

Contender. Pretender. Da Bears. The Packers. Not necessarily in that order. One sitting at 9-3 atop the NFC North. (The horror ... the horror ...) The other, a half game behind at 8-3-1. But which team is really the better one? And which will emerge as the bona fide leader of the NFL and begin to separate a bit from the others as we head down the final stretch of the season? Yeah, a game with big consequences. Not a be-all, end-all. But with four out of the next five  games (including this one) in the division and two of those versus these same Bearz, this begins crunch time for playoff seeding, a first round bye, wild card, all that.

Da Bearz come into this game as a team not to be overlooked. They are atop the standings for a good reason, namely they create turnovers which has helped them cover up a number of glaring deficiencies. As Mina Kimes pointed out recently, Chicago is "leading the NFL with 26 takeaways, including 17 interceptions. But this is a boom-or-bust strategy. The Bears are 8-0 when they force at least two turnovers, but 1-3 when they create one or fewer takeaways." Digging into that stat further, she noted "The Bears' defense — dead last in success rate versus throws of 15 yards or more."

So, two things: the Packers have only had seven turnovers all season, including four fumbles. Packers QB Jordan Love has thrown only three interceptions. And when he throws downfield, he has had a good success rate, especially now that WR Christian Watson is back on the field. Dontayvion Wicks has also come on recently, especially with his big game on Thanksgiving.

Look for Packers WR Jayden Reed to be back

in the lineup against Da Bearz.

(Photo via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Packers will also likely have wide receivers Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden available for the game against Chicago, as well as LB Quay Walker. Unfortunately, as Packers fans know, DT Devonte Wyatt is lost for the remainder of the season with an injury suffered in the win over the Lions. At the beginning of the season, Kenny Clark and Wyatt were the two guys being counted on to stuff the run. Now, neither is on the field, one via trade and the other via injury. That leaves a large hole in the defensive line which some young and recently-signed players are expected to fill. Per this article by Tom Silverstein in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "... rookies Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse will have to play meaningful snaps, along with newcomer Jordon Riley, to fill the void. The 6-foot-5, 338-pound Riley was signed off the Giants’ practice squad for one reason. “Run game, man,” Riley said. “I’m here to stop the run, especially this week with Chicago.” Even though he’ll have had just three days of practice, Riley should be active against the Bears."

With Chicago's running success in their last game on the road versus the Eagles — two running backs each with more than 100 yards rushing! — it could be a test for the Packers run-stopping defense which, let's be honest, has been hit and miss over the course of this season although in the game versus Detroit the Pack held Jahmyr Gibbs (the league’s No. 4 rusher) to 68 yards on 20 carries, and David Montgomery to eight carries for just 32 yards. Detroit is still primarily running the Ben Johnson offense which he brought with him to Chicago in his first year as head coach. So the Packers had a bit of a trial run against that offense on Thanksgiving. So there's that.

Bottom line: the way for the Packers to beat Da Bearz is for the Packers defense to stop the run and force the ball into QB Caleb Williams' hands while also keeping him from scrambling and beating you with his legs. Oh, did we note that Williams pass completion percentage is under 60 percent, which even Johnson noted was an element of their game that they were viewing as winning not because of but "in spite of". Hope you get that. By the way, Williams' favorite receiving target, Rome Odunze, is listed as out for the game. That's huge. Odunze is his security blanket. Will he now look more to his tight ends? Dump offs to the backs? Will be interesting to see the adjustments in the Chicago game plan as well as what Williams does when protection breaks down and he's about to get sacked by Micah Parsons. The game within the game, so to speak.

You can bet that Chicago will do their collective best to keep Jordan Love and the Pack offense on the bench. The best way to counter that approach, along with the Packers defense clamping down on Da Bearz running game, is for the Packers to get off to a fast start and have the "All gas, no brakes" mentality on both sides of the ball for a full 60 minutes.

Making Da Bearz play from behind puts the Pack in the driver's seat given Williams' issues. When Chicago stays close, they can pull off some late-minute heroics (remember the Pack's three-point losses to Cleveland and Carolina?). Da Bearz point differential — +6 — for a team with 9 wins is anemic. Again, all those takeaways have worked in their favor. Defensively, they are ranked towards the bottom of the league in a number of categories. Can't let them stay close. Need to put them away early and not let up.

An overlooked factor in the game today is the punting weapon for the Packers named Daniel Whelan. He's got a powerful leg (a 72-yard official yardage punt vs. the Lions ... yes, indoors, but still ...) and can definitely flip the field to the Packers advantage. We must also mention kicker Brandon McManus who seems to have rectified his accuracy issues since coming back from his quad injury. The one remaining issue is that he has been having trouble putting his kickoffs in the so-called "landing zone" and has been putting them into the opponent's end zone, which then brings the ball out to the 35-yard line. Not great. Can't give Da Bearz that kind of free yardage to start their possessions.

The Prediction

The Packers are currently favored by 6-1/2 points at the time of this writing. That seems like a lot for a game of this kind. But ... maybe not?

The playing conditions need to be factored in. It's December. In Green Bay. With a 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff and temps ranging from about 17 degrees down to about 11 degrees when the game ends, it will make the ball hard and slick. Runners and receivers will need to take extra care of the ball. Kickers and punters will need to be sure-footed, as will linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. A slip can make the difference between a win and a loss. But it's the same for both sides, as they say. Still, to get his team acclimated, head coach Matt LaFleur had his team practice outside all week. Can't hurt. Other than the possible frostbite.

We're calling it Packers 31 - Da Bearz 24. There's the contender and pretender order.

Go Pack Go!!!

NFL Week 13: Packers vs. Lions Thanksgiving Day Preview & Prediction

Before having a quick look at the Turkey Day extravaganza in Detroit, let's have a brief look back at this past Sunday's beat down of the ViQueens at Lambeau Field. The synopsis: the Packers won in dominating fashion behind a run-centric offense led by backup RB Emanuel Wilson, a pound-the-first-year-starting-quarterback defense, and a game-changing special teams play that turned the game on its head.

Do we need to say anything further? You know about all these things already if you are a Packers fan. And if you are reading this blog, you definitely are!

For the second week in a row, we also had the margin of victory correct, albeit again with a difference of 7 points on either end of the prediction, 23-6 final vs. the 30-13 prediction. Not bad.

Will we see a similar game plan offensively on Thursday? We hope not, frankly. Defensively, we'll definitely take the sacks, pressures and turnover the Packers generated. And if we can get a special teams play that turns the game, well, that would be just fine, as well. Because we expect this to be a close one. Let's take a look.

Packers fans hope to see QB Jordan Love successfully opening

up the passing game today vs. the Lions.

(Photo via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Preview

Let's begin with the Packers having RB Josh Jacobs return to the backfield. They rested him vs. Minnesota to give him a few extra days to get healthy for this Detroit game, with a longer break afterward to recover before the next game against Da Bearz. Of course, Wilson proved on Sunday that he can carry the full load once again if Jacobs is limited. We expect a mix of Jacobs and Wilson depending upon the flow and needs of the game, with head coach Matt LaFleur hopefully scheming and maximizing the strengths of each.

While not having their full complement of receivers available (see the injury report below), there will be enough to give Detroit problems. This assumes, of course, that the Pack's offensive line is stout enough to not only have the running game be effective but to also protect Jordan Love. Recall that Love has a left shoulder separation, according to reports, from taking that unnecessary hit on a scramble a couple weeks ago. He didn't even do handoffs using the left hand during Sunday's game, opting for doing it all with his right hand only. Now, as the game evolved, the bulk of the offense wound up featuring the running game. LaFleur actually said for the first time ever that he called the same running play five times in a row because Minnesota just couldn't stop it (Lombardi would have loved that!).

Against the Lions, however, the air attack will need to ramp up considerably. With WR Christian Watson now seemingly stepping into that Receiver 1 role since coming back from his ACL injury, both downfield and in other patterns, this helps open the door for other receivers, as well. And keep in mind, too, that Jacobs is also a very capable receiver and perhaps an even better run-after-the-catch threat that can be used out of the backfield. Yes, TE Tucker Kraft is not returning this season, and TE Luke Musgrave hasn't taken advantage of his opportunities, with the other tight ends appearing to be used more in recent weeks.

Along the offensive line, it appears that rookie and second round draft pick Anthony Belton may have beaten out Jordan Morgan for the right guard spot. After a bit of rotation in the first half on Sunday, Belton was at the spot the entire second half and did a very good job moving people off the line, opening holes for Wilson, and usually giving Love enough time to execute the limited passing plays that were called. We'd expect to see him start at the position today.

Defensively, the Packers will just need to keep doing what they've been doing, i.e., get after the quarterback. Lions QB Jared Goff, statistically, is very good when he is not under pressure but is, statistically, not so great when he is pressured. If the Packers can do against Detroit what they did against Minnesota they will go a long way to increasing the chances for a Packers win. 

One of the facets of the Packers defense, however, that still needs tightening up — in Week 13! — is the run defense. Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs has been having a good season overall. You don't want to let him have explosive runs for big yardage, take the pressure off Goff and help the Lions control the time of possession. If the Packers come out the way they did in Week 1 against this same team, the result should also be the same.

Packers who are out for the today game include DL Karl Brooks, WR Jayden Reed (darn it!), DE Lukas Van Ness (again) and WR Savion Williams. Players currently listed as questionable include WR Matthew Golden, CB Nate Hobbs, CB Keisean Nixon, and LB Quay Walker. The Lions will also be missing some players, especially along the offensive line which should open up plenty of opportunities for DE Micah Parsons et al to get after Goff.

If the defense can contain Gibbs and get after Goff ... game, set, match.

The Prediction

The Lions are 2-1/2 point favorites at the time of this writing and according to one metric have about a 54 percent chance of beating the Packers. Really.

Yes, we, too, figure this will be a tight and close game...perhaps another one of those where the last team to possess the ball will win...or not. Hope not. But with the Pack sitting at 7-3-1 and the Lions at 7-4, it is a toss up. Either the Packers will be in first place (assuming Da Bearz lose on Friday to the Eagles) or in third in the NFC North depending upon the outcome of this game. We prefer first place, don't you?

While most pundits are giving this one to the Lions, we're calling this one Packers 24 - Lions 23.

Go Pack Go!!!