2018 Packers vs Bears Preview: Playoffs On The Line

CHICAGO, IL - The NFL's oldest rivalry has been lopsided in recent years, with the Green Bay Packers dominating the Chicago Bears through much of the Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre eras.

But this year's Dec. 16 tilt at Soldier Field is a bit of a role-reversal. For this game, the Bears have asserted themselves in the NFC North, and it's the Packers who have to scratch and claw to get themselves back in the NFC playoff picture.

A Packers victory means Green Bay has yet another week of life left to their playoff hopes. A Bears victory would mean an NFC North division title and the team's return to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

The 2018 Bears may be on the verge of pulling off a "worst-to-first" season, but they first must take seriously a Packers team that is having a rare off-year. The Packers have been so disappointing in 2018 that they fired their head coach, Mike McCarthy, after a narrow loss to the last-place Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago. The team did defeat the Atlanta Falcons last week under new interim head coach Joe Philbin, however.

The Bears, too, are coming off a win. And the 15-6 triumph over the high-powered Los Angeles Rams Sunday night was as exciting as it gets.

How To Watch:

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
When: Sunday at Noon CDT
Where: Soldier Field, Illinois
TV: FOX
Streaming: fuboTV, Fox Sports App

5 Things To Watch Sunday

1. Mitch Trubisky to bounce back. After missing two games to injury and throwing three interceptions against the Rams, the Bears quarterback has a great chance to bounce back this week as the Packers have been among the league’s worst pass defenses.
2. The Freezer” Akiem Hicks to find the end zone against the Packers like “The Fridge” William Perry did in 1985? - Hicks scored on a touchdown run in a game against the New York Giants two weeks ago and could do it again at home against Green Bay, which would bring back memories of Perry’s iconic Monday Night Football moment 33 years ago.
3. Something's got to give: The Packers are 0-6 this season in games away from Lambeau Field ... though the Packers also has an eight-game winning streak in games played at Soldier Field.
4. The Turnover Battle: The Chicago Bears lead the NFL in turnover margin at +13, however the Packers traditionally have not turned the ball over. This season, Rodgers has thrown only one interception - and has attempted 368 passes without an interception which is an NFL record.
5. Back To Basics: Last week against Atlanta, interim Head Coach Joe Philbin said he wanted to get running back Aaron Jones the ball more. The result? Jones had 20 touches, totaling 106 yards and a touchdown.

Bears Vs. Packers Series History

• Green Bay leads the all-time series 97-94-6.
• The Packers have won five in a row in the series. The last Bears' win was a 17-13 decision at Green Bay on Nov. 26, 2015.
• At Soldier Field, the Packers have won eight in a row in the series, including the 2010 NFC Championship Game. The last Bears' win over Green Bay at home came on Sept. 27, 2010.

How The Bears Can Make The Playoffs:

1. Any combination of a win on Sunday versus the Packers or a Minnesota Vikings loss this week.

How The Packers Can Make The Playoffs:

Each of the first four options:

1) Packers: Win Out

It's a tough road, but for the Packers to have any chance of playoff glory, they're going to have to defeat the Bears in Chicago next weekend, then defeat the hapless New York Jets on the road, followed by a season-finale home game against the relatively toothless Detroit Lions.

2) Carolina Panthers: Lose One Game

The Carolina Panthers currently sit at 6—7 in second place in the NFC South. They've lost their fifth game in a row, this week to the Cleveland Browns. They'd have to lose one of the following games: next week at home against New Orleans, the following week at Atlanta, and then a season-finale against the Saints again.

3) Philadelphia Eagles: Lose One Game

The Eagles just lost a heart-breaker in Dallas in overtime this week and are currently 6-7 with three games to go. The Eagles have to travel to face the Rams next weekend, then wrap up the season at home against the Texans and Washington.

4) Washington: Lose one game

Washington has the Jaguars, Titans and Eagles for their last three games, and they have to lose one of them.

One of the next two options:

5) Seattle Seahawks: Lose Three More Games

Seattle's remaining games come against San Francisco, home for Kansas City and home against Arizona in their season finale.

5A) Minnesota Vikings: Lose Two More Games

The Vikings just lost to Seattle on Monday night, and now need to lose two more. The Vikings will be home against Miami, on the road versus Detroit and home against Chicago.

Photo Credit: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers avoids being sacked by Akiem Hicks #96 of the Chicago Bears during the first quarter of a game at Lambeau Field on September 9, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)