The most-played rivalry in NFL history has massive playoff implications Sunday as the Green Bay Packers (12-3) travel south to face the Chicago Bears (8-7). The Packers clinch the NFC’s top seed with a win, and the Bears clinch a playoff spot with a win.
Kickoff at Soldier Field is set for 4:25 P.M. Eastern on Sunday, January 3 on FOX.
The Packers lead the all-time series 100-95-6 with a 30-12 mark since the start of the 2000 season. The Packers won the Week 12 matchup 41-25 and have won four straight in the series. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 19-5 against the Bears with 51 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Green Bay Packers Betting Outlook: Keep Offense Rolling
The Packers are 9-6 ATS this season, and the over is 8-7 in their 15 games. The offense will face a challenge this week after losing All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari to a knee injury in practice. The four-time Pro Bowler allowed just one sack all season and is crucial to protecting Rodgers’ blind side.
Rodgers is the MVP favorite heading into the final game, with the Packers’ offense ranked first in the NFL in scoring (31.6 ppg) and third in total offense (393.9 ypg). He leads the NFL with 44 touchdown passes, one away from his career-high, and has tallied 4,059 passing yards. Rodgers has completed a career-best 70% of his passes and has just five interceptions.
Wide receiver Davante Adams is having a monster season despite missing two games. He has 109 catches for 1,328 yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns. Tight end Robert Tonyan has 10 touchdown catches with 568 yards, and Marquez Valdez-Scantling has 603 receiving yards.
Running back Aaron Jones has 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns this season with 43 receptions and another 312 yards. Jamal Williams is back after missing last week’s game, and he has 479 rushing yards on the season. Rookie A.J. Dillon filled in for Williams last week and ran for 124 yards and two scores against Tennessee.
Chicago Bears Betting Preview: Run Montgomery Run
The Bears offense looks rejuvenated with Mitch Trubisky back under center and David Montgomery finding the holes for the run game. They have scored 30 or more points in four straight games since scoring 15 in the fourth quarter in the loss at Green Bay.
Trubisky has thrown for at least 265 yards in three of those games with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He was picked off twice in Green Bay in November in his return to the starting lineup.
Montgomery has three 100-yard games this season, and they are all in the last five weeks, including 103 yards in Green Bay in November. He has also scored in four straight games, with six of his seven scores on the season coming in December. Overall, Montgomery has 1,001 yards rushing and 375 receiving on the year.
Allen Robinson leads the Bears with 100 catches for 1,213 yards on the season while tight end Jimmy Graham has a team-high eight touchdowns. Robinson scored twice in Green Bay with eight catches for 74 yards. Graham scored twice last week and has three touchdown catches during the three-game win streak.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears Betting Line
The Packers are four-point favorites at most books with a total of 49.5.
Betting Analysis
The Bears are desperate for a win, so they don’t have to rely on other results, but they have not fared well against the Packers under Rodgers or Brett Favre. Getting Akeem Hicks back should help, but Chicago still gave up 41 to the Packers five weeks ago as Rodgers threw for four touchdowns.
Trubisky has five interceptions in six career games against the Packers, and if he can avoid giving the ball away, the Bears should be playoff-bound.
Free Pick: Chicago Bears (+4).
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