Packers Periscope: Week 12 vs Chicago Bears
Clear your schedule for Sunday night because it is Bears week. Chicago, 5-5 on the season, have lost four in a row. The Green Bay Packers will look to rebound following a troubling overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Sunday’s primetime matchup between the NFL’s oldster rivalry will be the 201st installment. The Packers lead the series 99-95-6, including two playoff games. The Bears will travel to Lambeau Field in week 12, where they have lost 10 of the last 12 meetings.
Green Bay won both games against Chicago last season. They last met in week 15 when the Packers edged the Bears 21-13 to improve to 11-3. Aaron Rodgers and the offense had a rough day overall as they only had 292 yards collectively. Rodgers completed less than 50 percent of his passes and finished with a quarterback rating of 43.4. Aaron Jones rushed the ball 13 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
Mitch Trubisky was under center for Chicago and totaled 334 passing yards. However, he was picked off twice during his outing, once by Dean Lowry and another time by Jaire Alexander. Kenny Clark also had two sacks that day. It will be a good chance for the 2020 defense to generate some momentum as they enter the final stretch of the regular season.
Sunday’s game will be the first regular-season meeting between Green Bay and Chicago this season. The Bears will host the Packers in week 17 with the hope of having playoff implications on the line. By then, Green Bay should have their eyes set on securing the top seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.
In all likelihood, it will be Trusbisky under center after Nick Foles was carted off the field last week with a hip and glute injury. According to head coach Matt Nagy, Foles avoided a serious injury, but he has yet to practice this week. Nagy hasn’t officially named his starter against Green Bay, but all signs point to Trubisky, who has practiced with the starters in Foles’ absence.
If Foles is unable to go this week, the Packers' defense will have a golden opportunity in front of them. Trubisky is 1-5 all-time against Green Bay, and their run offense is last in the NFL.
Defensively, the Bears are ninth overall in 2020. After being on the COVID list briefly, safety Eddie Jackson was activated and is expected to play this week. Between Jackson, corner Kyle Fuller, and the Chicago pass rush, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense have a tough task this week, however, they may not have to light up the scoreboard to secure a win.
This is a game Green Bay should win, but this rivalry has delivered some interesting results in the past. One key for the Packers could be getting back to running the ball more effectively. Over the last two weeks, they have not been able to get Jones going the way they would like to. An effective run game would help open things up for Rodgers and Davante Adams.
This Chicago team screams desperation, but a key win over a division rival may save their season. Meanwhile, Green Bay would like to move to 8-3 and avoid falling too far behind in the race for the top NFC seed.
Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.
NFL Categories:
Comments (24)
badaxed
November 27, 2020 at 03:07 pm
The bears have a good defense. the Packers have a shitty soft defense. If the Packer's offense is on fire and scores a lot of points (evidently more than 31) we win. if not we lose no matter who is the quarterback for the bears.
canadapacker
November 27, 2020 at 03:17 pm
This game has nothing to do with looking towards the NFC top seed - those who look at this way always end up disappointed when they dont make the playoffs. This game is all about beating Da Bears and ensuring that we win our Division - it will put us up by 3 games in the NFC north. It is also about winning our division games against a team that is desperate and against a team that will give us trouble as I still believe that Trubisky is a better quarterback than Foulds and that his style is the best style against our soft against the run defense. So given that we have come out flat against other teams in our HOUSE - given that the Bears have always given us fits - We need to come out and play tough against a division rival.
GregC
November 28, 2020 at 09:01 pm
All very true, including what you wrote about the Bears QBs. Foles has looked terrible this year. Trubisky is bad too, but I think he is harder to defend because of his mobility.
Lphill
November 27, 2020 at 03:25 pm
As long as JK Scott is punting the Bears will have a chance to win.
Leatherhead
November 27, 2020 at 09:21 pm
You do realize Scott is hurt, don’t you?
egbertsouse
November 28, 2020 at 07:29 am
So why did they cut the other punter? They prefer an injured guy that isn’t that great when he’s healthy. Wow, no wonder special teams suck.
Leatherhead
November 28, 2020 at 08:28 pm
Because most teams don’t carry two punters.
Leatherhead
November 28, 2020 at 08:28 pm
Because most teams don’t carry two punters.
Bearmeat
November 27, 2020 at 03:44 pm
lol trubumsky is starting. This will be fun. The Bears Still Suck
JonathanSpader
November 27, 2020 at 03:53 pm
Montravius Adams going to IR talk about a disappointing 3rd round pick. Just when he started to show some promise. Packers bringing in Tavon Auston for a tryout. Looks like they're looking for a Ervin clone.
Irish_Cheesehead
November 27, 2020 at 06:18 pm
Texans release Kenny Stills. Wasn’t there talk the Packers were interested in him in addition to Fuller before the trade deadline?
Leatherhead
November 27, 2020 at 09:22 pm
A top three passing offense does not need to addStills.
PeteK
November 28, 2020 at 09:08 am
Agree, unless he can play DT. At 11 receptions in 10 games, I would save the 2+ mill for next season.
packer132
November 27, 2020 at 10:56 pm
Stills has to clear waivers on all 32 teams, and the teams with the worst record have first pick.
There are a few teams that need a WR with a worst record than Green Bay, so I think the chance is slim and none. He has a $7 million dollar contract which would pro rated for the end of the year. We will find out soon but I like the idea eventhough has has a history of injuries.
2019 he missed 3 games with knee injury and hamstring. 2018 he missed only one game with groin strain. 2016 he had back problems but missed no time. 2015 he had an ankle injury and only missed one preseason game.2014 Missed two preseason games with a quad.
Overall, pretty healthy record with no major injuries that would sideline him.
dobber
November 28, 2020 at 05:31 am
As someone pointed earlier, that prorated price tag is still likely large enough that teams will be unwilling to put in a waiver claim and will wait for him to be a FA so they can sign him at a lower, unguaranteed price.
"We will find out soon but I like the idea eventhough has has a history of injuries."
So you're saying that from 2013-3019 he was active and available for 15 or more games 6 of 7 seasons? Sounds pretty healthy to me.
Leatherhead
November 28, 2020 at 08:33 pm
We’re 2nd in passing TDs and adjusted yards per catch, and first in passer rating WITHOUT Stills. Why do we need to add a guy who is slower and smaller than the guys we already have?
ricky
November 27, 2020 at 06:41 pm
Trubisky adds the ability to scramble/run that Foles lacked. And the Packers showed against Indy, at least in the the first half, that their offense could move the ball against a highly ratted defense. The real question is whether the Packers will put together a full, sixty minute effort, rather than playing well for half a game. This team is maddening in their inability to put away inferior opponents, with the exception of the '49ers.
flackcatcher
November 27, 2020 at 08:11 pm
" This team is maddening in their inability to put away inferior opponents, with the exception of the '49ers." (ONE GIANT SIGH) ^This^
Leatherhead
November 27, 2020 at 09:24 pm
If we can’t beat the Bears on our home field, nothing else matters. If we go 2-14 and both wins are against theBears.....it’s a good season.
porupack
November 28, 2020 at 05:55 am
>>>>It will be a good chance for the 2020 defense to generate some momentum as they enter the final stretch of the regular season.<<<<<<
Yeah, we all think this every week, just altering "final", "opening" "early" "coming out of the bye". The guys are who we have, and more than adequate talent. It is on coaches to decide what kind of momentum, or perhaps what kind of trajectory (downward, leveling or bounceback) that defense will take. That's not even mentioning whether the defense even decides to show up, or decides its tackle football.
Pettine has failed to prepare that team for game day since the first couple games.....and is a survivor by sheer luck that a few games were won more by opponents mistakes and key injuries. He is very disappointing. Capers v.2.
porupack
November 28, 2020 at 05:56 am
Go get Kenny Stills.
13TimeChamps
November 28, 2020 at 09:39 am
You can't "go get" him. He has to go through waivers.
joejetson
November 28, 2020 at 06:07 am
It doesn't matter how low ranked the bears rushing offense is. They are going to try to run the ball until GB proves they can stop it. Which they haven't proven against anyone. They will include Trubisky in the run game as well. They don't care if he gets beat up running, his contract is up after this year, and they are desperate to win this game.
As usual, Rodgers and the offense will score points. The real question is how many points their sieve of a defense will surrender.
mnbadger
November 29, 2020 at 10:39 am
more than anything, this game is trubisky. If he balls out, both passing and running, like his career depends on it, this game is too close to call. If he lays a turd, Packers by 30. Good day not to be in the stands, as the stench of a turdisky MUST fill the air! GPG