As poorly as things have gone for the Chicago Bears over the last month, they have a chance to close November by getting right back in the thick of the NFC North race.
If the Bears don't capitalize on the opportunity, the Green Bay Packers will head into December well on their way to clinching a second straight division title.
Chicago (5-5) has lost four straight and trails the Packers (7-3) by two games as the teams renew the NFL's oldest rivalry Sunday night at Green Bay.
''We're fighters,'' Bears running back David Montgomery said. ''So if anybody's counting us out, that's fine. But we're fighters, so we're going to keep fighting.''
The Packers have their own issues.
After racing to a 4-0 start, the Packers have split their last six games. Green Bay has struggled lately at home with the pandemic preventing the Packers from allowing any fans to games.
In their last two home games, the Packers lost 28-22 to the Minnesota Vikings and eked out a 24-20 victory over the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars. The Packers are back at Lambeau Field after blowing a two-touchdown halftime lead in a 34-31 overtime loss at Indianapolis.
But the Packers still could gain a commanding three-game division lead by winning Sunday night in the first of two regular-season meetings between these teams. The Packers and Bears meet again Jan. 3 in Chicago to close the regular season.
''We're on Sunday night football, it's the only game playing at that time, it's a divisional rival against the Bears and it's a huge game in our division,'' Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. ''If you're not pumped up for this one, then I don't know what to say to you.''
This game features another quarterback change for the Bears.
Mitchell Trubisky was benched in favor of Nick Foles during the Bears' third game and later injured his right shoulder. Trubisky now will get another chance to lead the Bears' offense after Foles injured his hip and glute in the Bears' last game, a 19-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 16.
Bears coach Matt Nagy confirmed Friday that Trubisky will start. Nagy said it was too early to tell whether this move could last beyond this week and that he's focusing only on the Green Bay game for now.
''Right now we're excited that Mitch is ready, and it's an opportunity for him,'' Nagy said. ''I know for Nick, with him being doubtful and his not being able to be out here at practice, it's frustrating, but that's a part of this game, and he's been supportive with the other quarterbacks all week long.''
THIRD-DOWN MATCHUP
The Packers rank among the NFL's most efficient teams in third-down situations. They are converting on 47.9% of their third-down attempts. Only Las Vegas, Kansas City and Buffalo have better third-down percentages.
Chicago is allowing its opponents to convert only 33.3%, giving the Bears the NFL's best third-down defense. Packers coach Matt LaFleur says this will be the toughest defense Green Bay has faced.
''Khalil Mack is a game wrecker,'' 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.''
RODGERS REIGNS OVER BEARS
While the Bears have an uncertain quarterback situation heading into Sunday's game, they'll have to beat a two-time MVP quarterback who has dominated this series throughout his career.
Green Bay owns a 19-5 record against the Bears in games Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has started.
SPECTATORS AT LAMBEAU
This will mark the Packers' first home game with any spectators at all.
Packers officials have announced that team employees and their family members - about 500 people in all - will be in the stands to test out Lambeau Field COVID-19 protocols in case paying fans are allowed at home games later this season.
MONTGOMERY'S RETURN
Montgomery sat out one game with a concussion but is expected to play Sunday night. Montgomery has rushed for a team-high 472 yards on 131 carries.
That's a big addition for a team that severely lacks running back depth. Without Montgomery available, wide receiver/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson had 12 of the Bears' 17 carries in the Vikings game.
BEARS' RECORD RETURNER
Patterson scored on a 104-yard kickoff return against the Vikings, enabling him to tie an NFL record with eight such touchdowns in his career. He shares the record with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington.
Patterson, of course, can have the record all to himself if he scores on a kickoff return at Green Bay. The Packers have struggled on special teams lately, though their issues haven't involved kickoff coverage. Darrius Shepherd fumbled on a kickoff return at Indianapolis. One week earlier, the Packers allowed Jacksonville's Keelan Cole to score on a franchise-record 91-yard punt return.
---
AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman contributed to this report.
---
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLhttps://twitter.com/AP-NFL
Comments
Post a Comment