It's another Bears week!  The Green Bay Packers head to Chicago to take on the Bears and do exactly what the image of this piece shows:  get the Bears out of their way.  The Packers are looking for their fourth straight win and to stay alive in the hunt for a playoff spot.  Secondary but noteworthy is that the Packers can even up the all-time series between these two teams for the first time since 1933.  For those of you who lived through the 1970's and 1980's, that's a sweet moment.  If you're like me, back then it didn't seem possible that the Packers would ever catch the Bears.

It's expected to be another cold day on the gridiron.  The Packers were at home the past two weeks and had snow two weeks back so they're plenty ready for the elements.  Let's take a look at some of the headlines on both the good and not-so-great side of things.

Rants

If You Have Your Health, You Have It All

After last week's performance against the Seattle Seahawks, there is little to complain about.  Health unfortunately isn't one of those things.  Aaron Rodgers suffered a calf injury, Jared Cook had a lung contusion and Randall Cobb had an ankle issue.  Rodgers and Cobb were able to return while Cook was held out.  

No team is fully healthy this time of year and many guys have resolved themselves to playing through the various ailments they have.  The Packers have to hope that nothing serious strikes any more of their key players.  Rodgers is now dealing with a hamstring and the calf, both in different legs.  His mobility has been a key part of his game and the Packers offense.  Thanks to an off day for Russell Wilson and a big day for the Packers defense, Rodgers was able to keep the offense moving and punching it in when they had the chance.  The Packers offensive line has kept Rodgers clean and the hope is they can continue that this week.  Despite a tough season, the Bears have 33 sacks this season, which ties them with the Packers and is good for sixth best in the league.

Add Clay Matthews to the list with his continued recovery from a separated AC joint in his shoulder.  Matthews has played through it but has only been on the field on obvious pass rushing situations.  He will likely continue to play in a part time role, but the Packers are hoping Matthews continues to get stronger and would be ready for the late season push against the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.  Matthews' ability to be effective is even more key with Nick Perry likely to miss most if not all of the rest of the season.

On the plus side, there is a chance that the Packers could get J.C. Tretter back this week to deepen the offensive line.

That's All, Folks

After a performance like last week's, I have nothing else to complain about going into a game against a Bears team that doesn't have many advantages on the Packers.  

Raves

Ball Hawking

The Packers got five interceptions and a fumble recovery last week to bring them to +1 in the giveaway/takeaway category.  That's the Packers defense that we know and hopefully it continues.  Teams who win the turnover battles often come away with victories.

A Well Oiled Machine

The Packers offense is humming and whistling.  They put up 38 points against a good Seahawks defense and appear to have found a rhythm over the past three games.  Even with a hampered Rodgers, the receivers are finding more separation and Ty Montgomery continues to be a springboard as a tail back.  If Cook is able to return sooner than later and become a short yardage threat, the magic could continue.  Rodgers posted a passer rating over 150 last week and has had some of his best games against the Bears over his career.  The weather conditions don't favor a lot of scoring, but the Packers should be able to move the ball in this game.

Thanks, Coach!

We're probably overly critical of the coaches when things aren't going well.  There were plenty of questions about whether head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers would survive this season, let alone return next year.  Now those rumblings have quieted down and we're seeing this staff get creative with the players they have to work with and through all of the injuries to key starters.  Montgomery at running back and Morgan Burnett as a part time linebacker are two examples of how they're moving guys around to get more from them and keep the ball rolling.  Back in 2009, we saw linebacker Spencer Havner turn into a key on offense as he became a tight end so this isn't the first time we've seen McCarthy get creative with personnel.  

In Capers' case, he's finding ways to get his younger guys to be more effective with scheme.  If someone told us that we'd see this team rolling late in the season with LaDarius Gunter as a starting cornerback and no Sam Shields, we would have likely questioned it.  No doubt the defense struggled when they were without Shields, Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, but Capers has proven that when it matters most, he has a good game plan.  Capers' defense isn't the easiest and there is a lot of communication between players that is needed.  They appear to be doing well in that area of late.  Let's just hope that his guys can execute and we don't see another rookie error that is the difference in a playoff game.

Let's give a little credit where it's due.

We all know the lyrics to the song about the rivals to the south.  The Packers need to make sure that it rings true and "keep hope alive" on Sunday.