Green Bay Packers Vs. Chicago Bears: Who Has The Edge?

The NFL’s oldest rivalry resumes Sunday night, and the stakes are extremely high.

The Green Bay Packers (7-3) host NFC North rival Chicago (5-5) at 7:20 p.m. (CST) in the 201^st meeting of this historic series. The Packers hold a 99-95-6 overall advantage, which includes two playoff games (1-1).

Green Bay, currently the No. 3 seed in the NFC, is one game behind New Orleans (8-2) for the top spot in the conference. Chicago (5-5) has lost four straight games and must snap out of its funk to stay in wildcard contention.

“It has been a rivalry. A lot of years and there’s a lot of history within the rivalry,” said Packers safety Adrian Amos, who spent the first four years of his career in Chicago. “But it really only counts as one game when you go out there and play.

“But it is a division game and every time you go into a division game and you’re playing a division opponent, sometimes there’s that little bit extra chippy-ness. You have to go out there and you have to execute, and try to gain another step on the next person in the division.”

Here’s a look at each positional group and which team has the edge.

QUARTERBACKS

Chicago will turn back to fourth-year player Mitchell Trubisky, who started the first three games of the season. Nick Foles, who took over for Trubisky in Week 3, is doubtful with a hip injury.

Trubisky, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft, led Chicago to the playoffs and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2018. Trubisky regressed badly last year, though, and lost his job to Foles earlier this year.

Trubisky threw for 560 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and had a passer rating of 87.4 before his benching. Chicago did go 3-0 with Trubisky as its starter, though, and 2-5 with Foles.

“Now that he has an opportunity here, I think this kid is just excited to get back out there,” Nagy said of Trubisky. “And I don’t want to make any predictions, but I like the way that he’s practiced all week.”

Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers is 19-5 lifetime against Chicago, including a win over the Bears in the 2010 NFC Championship Game.

Rodgers has just eight interceptions since the start of the 2019 season — a stretch of 26 regular season games. Four of those interceptions have come, though, in the last six games.

“You know, he makes some great decisions,” Packers quarterbacks coach Nathaniel Hackett said of Rodgers. “I think he definitely has a plan once that ball is snapped to me, I think he has such a great mind of what’s going on pre-snap and where he wants to try to go with the ball or how he wants to manipulate people with his eyes, so I think that allows him to make some good decisions.”

ADVANTAGE: Packers

RUNNING BACKS

The Packers haven’t been able to get Pro Bowler Aaron Jones going this season.

Jones has just one 100-yard rushing game (Week 2 vs. Detroit) and is averaging 48.3 yards per game since returning from a calf injury three games ago.

“I feel like I’m ready to break one any game, it’s not just against the Bears,” Jones said. “We have been waiting to hit a big one. We know we have to make the most of every opportunity when we get those great looks. But like I said, any game we’re looking to make those big runs, because you know that brings a lot of juice and a lot of energy and it just jump starts everything.”

Chicago’s David Montgomery has been cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol and will play. Montgomery suffered a concussion in the second half of Chicago’s loss at Tennessee on Nov. 8 and missed the Bears’ game against Minnesota on Nov. 15.

Montgomery leads Chicago in rushing attempts (131) and yards (472).

“I mean, he pretty much does everything,” Kenny Clark said of Montgomery. “He’s like an in-and-out runner, he runs behind his pads. He’s a really good runner, he does a lot of good things, they get him out in the passing game, too, so we’re going to have our hands full with him.”

ADVANTAGE: Packers

RECEIVERS

Green Bay’s Allen Lazard returned last week from a core muscle injury he suffered in Week 3. Lazard played 36 of 60 offensive snaps (60.0%) and is hoping for a bigger role down the stretch.

“I feel like I played my best ball (in 2019) especially in the cold weather this time of year, November, December, just because of the climate change,” Lazard said. “I think that’s a huge part, just from the conditioning part. It’s not as hot, so you’re not getting as tired. You’re not sweating as much so to answer your question, yeah I feel 100% able to go out there and do whatever the coaches and my teammates need of me.”

Chicago’s Allen Robinson has been the best part of the Bears’ dreadful offense this season. Robinson, who inked a three-year, $42 million contract before 2018, has 63 catches for 755 yards and three touchdowns this year despite inconsistency from the quarterback position.

Anthony Miller (34-349-2), a walk-on at Memphis, is ultra-competitive and is dangerous after the catch. Rookie fifth round pick Darnell Mooney ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds at the Combine and is off to impressive start (33-351-2).

Tight end Jimmy Graham, a Packer in 2018-19, can’t run anymore and is averaging just 8.6 yards per catch. Chicago is using Graham better inside the red zone than Green Bay ever did, though, and his five touchdown receptions leads the team.

“He’s going to be pumped up. He’s going to try to play physical in the pass game as far as getting the ball,” Packers safety Adrian Amos said of Graham. “He’s great at boxing out defenders. He’s great at jump balls. He’s just been good for so long in the league. That’s a person we have to keep an eye on.”

ADVANTAGE: Packers

OFFENSIVE LINE

Bears left tackle Charles Leno is a game-time decision with a toe injury. If Leno can’t play, Chicago’s only preferred starters would be center Cody Whitehair and right guard Germain Ifedi.

Left guard James Daniels (pectoral) and right tackle Bobby Massie (knee) are on injured reserve. Former Packer Jason Spriggs is the No. 3 tackle and could get the call if Leno can’t go.

Injuries up front have been a major reason the Bears rank last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (78.2) and 21^st in sacks allowed (25).

“What we’re trying to do is put the players that we have in the best spots that we think (they belong), where they work together and they’re unified in what their strengths are and how they work best together,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said of his offensive line. “That’s kind of where we’re at right now. There are some moving parts.”

Aaron Rodgers took over as Green Bay’s starting quarterback in 2008. In the time since, the fewest sacks the Packers have allowed in a season in 30.

Green Bay currently ranks third in the league with just 12 sacks allowed, which puts the Packers on pace to give up just 19 sacks this year. Green Bay also ranks fourth in sacks per pass attempt (3.41%).

“I think it’s been kind of a perfect storm of all those things,” Rodgers said of Green Bay’s offensive line. “But at the crux of it is very consistent play by those guys, especially both the tackles. You know, the edge pressure is so important. Interiorly, you want to definitely be solid at the line of scrimmage and those guys have done a good job, but when we can block consistently as well as we have on the edges, you’re probably going to have a low sack number.”

ADVANTAGE: Packers

DEFENSIVE LINE

Chicago ranks ninth in total defense (340.1) and sixth in points allowed (20.9).

The Bears, who play a 3-4, had one of the best fronts in football when the year began. But nose tackle Eddie Goldman opted out due to COVID concerns and end Roy Robertson-Harris went down in Week 8 with a season-ending shoulder injury.

Now, dominant left end Akiem Hicks — one of the elite defensive linemen in football — will be a game-time decision with a hamstring injury.

“At the end of the day, there isn’t anything you can do about it,” Bears defensive line coach Jay Rodgers said of Hicks. “You just put the guys in where they need to be in.

“It’s not like I can say, ‘Hey, hurry up and get uninjured,’ because that doesn’t happen. So, you plug the guys in.”

Bilal Nichols has filled in adequately at both nose tackle and end. Mario Edwards Jr. has been the Bears’ most consistent pass rusher after linebacker Khalil Mack.

Rotational players Brent Urban and Daniel McCullers have both been solid contributors, as well.

Green Bay nose tackle Kenny Clark notched his first sack of the season last week. Since entering the league in 2016, nine of Clark’s 17 sacks have come in December.

The Packers lost defensive end Montravius Adams to a season-ending toe injury, though. Adams, whose contract expires after this year, isn’t expected back.

“Ah man, he was doing really good this year,” Clark said of Adams. “He’s a guy, he was finally finding himself. Every time he got on the field, you see him flying to the ball. He had a couple TFLs. He was doing a lot of good things for us, and he’s one of my closest friends on the team, so it’s sad for me to see him get hurt and everything.

“Great guy, guy that gives his all to this game, that wants to learn, and throughout since he’s been here he’s been trying to figure out his role and the way to play this game. I think this year he really turned it on and just unfortunate that he got hurt.”

ADVANTAGE: Bears

LINEBACKERS

Packers outside linebacker Rashan Gary is coming off back-to-back standout games, despite playing just 45% of the total snaps. With Preston Smith struggling, look for Gary’s playing time to start going up.

“Rashan is playing too well and he deserves more reps,” Packers outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said of Gary. “He’s proven himself in practice in the week and he’s feeling good and he’s in a good place. It’s all starting to come together for him. He definitely deserves more reps.”

Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack, now in his seventh season, already has 68 career sacks and could be headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day. Mack is one of the most disruptive forces in football and has 27.5 sacks and 13 forced fumbles since coming to Chicago at the start of the 2018 season.

“Khalil Mack is a game-wrecker,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “You better know where he’s at on every snap because, you know, he’s got the ability just by himself to go wreck whatever you’re trying to do.”

Inside linebacker Roquan Smith is an emerging star and is the Bears’ runaway leader in tackles (96). Danny Trevathan, the other inside ‘backer, is a terrific leader and as steady as they come.

Strongside linebacker Robert Quinn, who signed a $70 million deal last offseason, has been a colossal disappointment with nine tackles and one sack.

ADVANTAGE: Bears

SECONDARY

Green Bay ranked fifth in opposing quarterback passer rating in 2019 at 82.8. This year, the Packers are a disappointing 27^th, allowing opposing quarterbacks to post a rating of 101.8.

“The only number that I really strive for is to win the football game because that’s the only thing that really matters as a defense,” Packers defensive backs coach Jerry Gray said. “And then the big thing is as a secondary is I try to tell guys you’ve got to challenge all the throws. “One of the biggest things I think of learning my philosophy is that you’ve got to challenge guys, you’ve got to get in their face. You may get some balls thrown over you, but I think we’ve kind of done a pretty good job of that, not getting balls thrown over our head, now we’ve got to get back down to getting a little bit more aggressive.”

Bears No. 1 corner Kyle Fuller, a Pro Bowler the last two years, is terrific at reading a quarterback’s eyes and a master at jumping routes. Fuller led the NFL with seven interceptions in 2018 and has 18 for his career, but he’s somewhat of a gambler and can be beaten deep.

Rookie Jaylon Johnson, a second-round pick in April, is sneaky quick, physical and smart. While Johnson’s future is bright, you can be certain Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will test the youngster plenty.

Pro Bowl free safety Eddie Jackson signed a four-year, $58 million contract in January making him the highest-paid safety in the game. Jackson is a game-changer and was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday.

Veteran strong safety Tashaun Gipson has been a slight upgrade from Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

“Obviously, Kyle (Fuller) has been a top corner in the league for a while since we offered him a contract that was matched,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “He’s an extremely talented player. The rook on the other side, the young guy, (Jaylon) Johnson’s doing a really good job as well. The safeties I think have been very consistent veteran, (Tashaun) Gipson and obviously Eddie’s (Jackson) been a premier player since he got in the league.”

ADVANTAGE: Bears

SPECIAL TEAMS

Green Bay’s special teams have been abysmal in recent weeks.

Packers kick returner Darrius Shepherd lost a fumble at Indianapolis last week. One week earlier, Jacksonville’s Keelan Cole brought a kickoff back 91 yards for a touchdown.

The Packers also had a punt blocked against Houston and failed to secure an onside kick vs. San Francisco in the past month. Punter J.K. Scott, who ranks 26^th in net average (35.6), has begun his annual second-half swoon.

“Obviously, I’m trying to do the job to the best of my ability,” Packers special teams coach Shawn Mennenga said. “It’s frustrating when you put the time and effort in that we do. You always want good results. When things, maybe you look back and something you’d rather do differently and it’s frustrating for you and stuff. It’s obvious, it’s very frustrating.

“We want to help the team win. When you don’t do those things, it’s very frustrating. You go back and you try to evaluate and try to change some things but we’re working with human beings and we’re working with young players and there’s going to be some hiccups and those are things that we don’t want to let happen but we’re going to keep coaching them and do the best we can.”

Chicago’s Cordarrelle Patterson is one of the most electrifying kick returners in the game. Patterson is averaging 30.3 yards on his 26 kickoff attempts highlighted by a 104-yard touchdown return against Minnesota two weeks ago.

During Patterson’s eight-year career, he’s returned eight kickoffs for touchdowns and is averaging 29.9 yards per return.

“His vision. He’s got a rare combination of his size and how big he is and how well he runs,” Mennenga said of Patterson. “He’s got great balance. He seems the whole field and he’s a threat.

“He can hit it downhill, he can cut it back, he can run a naked if you’re backside players squeeze too hard, he can bend it back on his own and make people miss. He’s a very big athlete that’s really got the whole skill-set with the speed and things. He’s definitely one of the best to ever do it.”

The Bears haven’t decided between wide receiver Anthony Miller and newly signed return specialist DeAndre Carter as their punt returner.

Kicker Cairo Santos has made 17-of-19 field goals (89.5%), while punter Pat O’Donnell ranks just 22^nd in net average (39.5).

ADVANTAGE: Bears

COACHING

Chicago’s Matt Nagy, who’s just 42, led the Bears to a 12-4 mark and the NFC North title during his first season in 2018. Chicago is just 13-13 since, despite having one of the NFL’s top defenses.

Nagy and first-year offensive coordinator Bill Lazor would prefer running an RPO-based attack, but the talent situation has made that impossible at times. Chuck Pagano, a former head coach in Indianapolis, runs the defense.

Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur won his first eight games against the NFC North before losing to Minnesota on Nov. 1. That was the fourth-most divisional wins to start a career in the Super Bowl era.

LaFleur will look to start a new streak against the NFC North on Sunday.

ADVANTAGE: Packers

Reischel’s Prediction: Packers 23, Bears 16

Season record: 9-1