GameDay: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-4) VS. CHICAGO BEARS (8-5) (FOX)

WHEN: 1:00 p.m. est December 16th
WHERE: Solider Field
TV: Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (analyst) with Pam Oliver on the sideline for NBC.
RADIO: Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) & Larry McCarren (analyst) for AM-620 and Packer Radio Network
INTERNET: Cheesehead TV Gameday Live Blog

NFC North rivals will face one another at Soldier Field when the Bears host the Packers. Green Bay enters Week 15 with a one-game lead over Chicago in the division. With a victory on Sunday, the Packers will win the NFC North for the second consecutive season.

“We’re 9-4 right now and we’re in first place in the division by a game,” says Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS. “We’ve put ourselves in good position, not only for the division, but potentially a first-round bye. The division is the first goal. We can wrap things up next week, but it’s a tough opponent and a tough place to play. There’s a lot on the line.”

Chicago, at 8-5, is just one game out of first place in the division and currently holds one of the two NFC Wild Card spots.

“It’s now about a three-game season and this next game,” says Bears head coach LOVIE SMITH. “That’s going to dictate what happens with us. We’re still in position to accomplish all of our goals that we set out early on.”

PACKERS: 

Have won 11 division games in row

QB AARON RODGERS aims for 6th consecutive win vs. Chi. (incl. playoffs). In past 3 vs. Chi., has 9 TDs, 2 INTs & 117.4 rating. Packers are 25-0 when he starts & has 115+ rating. In past 9 vs. division, is 9-0 with 21 TDs, 4 INTs & 117 rating

WR-PR-KR RANDALL COBB is only player in NFL with 900+ KR (927), 700+ rec. (777), 200+ PR (255) & 100+ rush (132) yards.

WR JAMES JONES ties for NFC lead with 9 rec. TDs. In past 2 vs. Chi.

WR GREG JENNINGS has 17 catches for 249 yards (124.5 per game).

TE JERMICHAEL FINLEY had career-high 3 TDs in last game at Chi.

In last meeting, P TIM MASTHAY threw 27-yard TD pass to TE TOM CRABTREE

Defense had 7 sacks & 4 INTs in Week 2. CB TRAMON WILLIAMS had 2 INTs in last meeting. Has NFC-best 15 INTs since 2010 (incl. playoffs).

LB CLAY MATTHEWS had 3.5 sacks in last game vs. Chi. In past 2 meetings, has 3.5 sacks, INT & FF.

CB CASEY HAYWARD leads rookies with 5 INTs

From the Dope Sheet:

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT:

• Packers vs. Bears:
• All-time, regular season: 86-91-6
• All-time, postseason: 1-1
• All-time, at Soldier Field: 21-19-0
• Streaks: The Packers have won five straight and seven of the last eight meetings (including playoffs).
• Last meeting, regular season: Sept. 13, 2012, at Lambeau Field, Packers won, 23-10.
• Last meeting, regular season, in Chicago: Sept. 25, 2011, at Lambeau Field, Packers won, 27-17.

THE PACKERS-BEARS SERIES

• No two teams have met on the gridiron more than the Packers and Bears. Sunday they face off for the 186th time.
• Starting in 1923, he clubs met for 59 straight years until both games in 1982 were canceled as part of a strike-shortened season.
• During the 2010 season, the teams squared off in the playoffs for just the second time in the history of the series. With a berth in Super Bowl XLV on the line, the Packers emerged victorious, 21-14, in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field.
• The last time Green Bay led the overall series? On the heels of its three straight NFL championships, 1932, when the Packers led 11-10-5. Two months after Babe Ruth allegedly called his shot at Wrigley Field in the 1932 World Series, the Bears stole from Green Bay a fourth straight title (which at the time was determined by league standings). Chicago barely finished atop the league standings, which unlike today did not count ties. Had the league counted ties in standings, the Packers would have won. The next year, 1933, the NFL began determining its champion with postseason games.

LAST MEETING, REGULAR SEASON, AT CHICAGO

• Sept. 25, 2011, at Soldier Field; Packers won, 27-17.
• QB Aaron Rodgersthrew for 297 yards and three TDs on 28-of-38 passing, with all three of his TD passes going to TE Jermichael Finley.
• Finley became just the second tight end in franchise history to catch three TD passes in a game, joining Keith Jackson, who caught three TDs at Tampa Bay on Sept. 1, 1996.
• WR Greg Jenningsled the team with nine receptions for 119 yards (13.2 avg.).
• S Morgan Burnettposted a career-high two interceptions, and Green Bay’s defense limited the Bears to just 13 yards rushing on 12 carries (1.1 avg.).
• The Packers’ 13 rushing yards allowed were the fewest in a game since Dec. 12, 1999, vs. Carolina (also 13 yards), and tied for the fourth fewest in franchise history.

Official injury report: