GameDay: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

All the news, notes and other relevant info Packers fans need for tonight's Week Two matchup with the Bears

CHICAGO BEARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (NFL Network)

WHEN: 8:20 p.m. est September 13th
WHERE: Lambeau Field
TV: Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Mike Mayock (analyst), with Alex Flanagan on the sidelines for NFLN.
RADIO: Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) & Larry McCarren (analyst) for AM-620 and Packer Radio Network
INTERNET: Cheesehead TV Gameday Live Blog

NFL Network kicks off its expanded 13-game Thursday Night Football schedule when the Packers host the division-rival Bears. The teams will meet for the 185th time (including playoffs), the most-played rivalry in NFL history.

“It’s the most-played rivalry in the NFL,” says Bears head coach Lovie Smith. “It’s a good rivalry. Normally, these are good football games and we’re glad to be a part of the history.”

The Bears opened the season with a 41-21 victory over Indianapolis. Quarterback Jay Cutler passed for 333 yards and two touchdowns and wide receiver Brandon Marshall had nine catches for 119 yards and a score. Marshall’s 119 receiving yards are the most in a Bears debut since Harlon Hill (140) in 1954.

The Packers look to bounce back from a Kickoff Weekend loss to San Francisco. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed for 303 yards and two touchdowns, including nine completions to wide receiver Randall Cobb. Cobb, who had a 75-yard punt-return touchdown against the 49ers and an 108-yard kickoff-return TD in last year’s opener, is the only player in NFL history to have a kick-return touchdown in Week 1 in each of his first two NFL seasons.

“As a team, when you lose, you want to get right back on the field,” says Green Bay linebacker A.J. Hawk. “We’re ready for Thursday. I think everyone on this team feels the same way. We need to get back on the field and show what we are.”

From the Dope Sheet:

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT:

  • Packers vs. Chicago Bears:
  • All-time regular season: 85-91-6
  • All-time, postseason: 1-1
  • All-time, in Green Bay: 31-22-0
  • Streaks: The Packers have won six of the last seven meetings (including playoffs).
  • Last meeting, regular season: Dec. 25, 2011, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 35-21

THE PACKERS-BEARS SERIES

  • No two teams have met on the gridiron more than the Packers and Bears. Thursday they face off for the 185th 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

  • Dec. 25, 2011, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 35-21.
  • With their 14th win on the season, Green Bay set the franchise record for most victories in a single season.
  • It also marked the Packers’ fourth win over the Bears in 2011 (including playoffs) as they became just the second team in NFL history to beat the same opponent four times in a calendar year (1994 Los Angeles Raiders, 4-0 vs. Denver).
  • QB Aaron Rodgersthrew a career-high five TD passes, and with 283 passing yards on the evening, set the single-season franchise record for most passing yards in a season with 4,643 (Lynn Dickey, 4,458).
  • WRs Jordy Nelsonand James Joneseach caught two TD passes on the night.

RIVALRY UNDER THE LIGHTS

  • Thursday night’s contest vs. Chicago is the first of five scheduled prime-time appearances (subject to flex scheduling) for the Packers this season, which would be a franchise record.
  • What makes the evening contest against the Bears more notable is the fact that it marks the seventh consecutive season (2006-12) that the NFC North rivals have met in a prime-time game.
  • The teams have met four times in Sunday night contests and twice on Monday Night Football since 2006, with each club winning three games.
  • The Packers and Bears have met on a Thursday night only once before, an Oct. 17, 1991, contest at Lambeau Field. That was Green Bay’s first-ever appearance on a Thursday night and this week’s contest will be the Packers’ seventh Thursday evening game in team history.
  • This will be the 17th time that the division rivals have met in a prime-time contest. Green Bay holds a 9-7 edge in those games (5-5 on Monday Night Football, 4-1 on Sunday night, 0-1 on Thursday night).
  • Since 2009, the Packers are 8-3 overall (.727) in prime-time games.

Official injury report:

CHICAGO BEARS
 
Status Report
QUESTIONABLE TE Kyle Adams (shoulder), CB Charles Tillman (shin)
 
PROBABLE LB Brian Urlacher (knee)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
  Monday TE Kyle Adams (shoulder), CB Charles Tillman (shin), LB Brian Urlacher (coach's decision, knee)
  Tuesday CB Charles Tillman (shin), LB Brian Urlacher (coach's decision, knee)
 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
  Monday T J'Marcus Webb (thumb)
  Tuesday TE Kyle Adams (shoulder)
  Wednesday TE Kyle Adams (shoulder), CB Charles Tillman (shin)
 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
  Tuesday T J'Marcus Webb (thumb)
  Wednesday LB Brian Urlacher (knee)
 
GREEN BAY PACKERS
 
Status Report
OUT LB Terrell Manning (concussion)
 
DOUBTFUL CB Davon House (shoulder), WR Greg Jennings (groin), RB James Starks (toe)
 
QUESTIONABLE LB Jamari Lattimore (ankle), DE C.J. Wilson (groin)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
  Monday WR Greg Jennings (groin), LB Terrell Manning (concussion), RB James Starks (toe), DE C.J. Wilson (groin)
  Tuesday WR Greg Jennings (groin), LB Terrell Manning (concussion), RB James Starks (toe)
  Wednesday WR Greg Jennings (groin), LB Terrell Manning (concussion)
 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
  Monday CB Davon House (shoulder), LB Jamari Lattimore (ankle)
  Tuesday CB Davon House (shoulder), LB Jamari Lattimore (ankle), DE C.J. Wilson (groin)
  Wednesday CB Davon House (shoulder), LB Jamari Lattimore (ankle), RB James Starks (toe), DE C.J. Wilson (groin)

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

0 points
 

Comments (4)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
tundraboy's picture

September 13, 2012 at 09:03 am

Here we go. Its time for the real Pack to show up. I can not wait!!!!!!!!!!
28-3 would be nice! Lots of D
Go Pack!!!!!!!!!!

0 points
0
0
Bob906's picture

September 13, 2012 at 01:35 pm

I don't get the NFL network. Is there a 'live stream' feed anywhere?

0 points
0
0
tundraboy's picture

September 13, 2012 at 10:13 pm

23-3 and lots of D . Looks like I may get my wish

0 points
0
0
tundraboy's picture

September 13, 2012 at 10:15 pm

Interception. Remind me to wait until game is over. Still happy though. Great D tonight

0 points
0
0