The final week of this 2020 season is upon us. It’s also rivalry week as Green Bay travels to Chicago. There is still plenty on line when these two teams meet later this afternoon. The Packers are playing for the number 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, while the Bears need a win to secure a playoff spot.

Packers at Bears

  • When: Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 3:25 pm
  • Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
  • TV: FOX
  • Commentators: Kevin Burkhardt, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver
  • Line: Packers favored by 4
  • Last Meeting: Week 12 at Lambeau Field, Packers 41 Bears 25
  • All-Time Series: Packers lead 100–95–6

3 Things to Watch

Replacing David Bakhtiari 

It’s tough to replace Pro Bowl offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Bakhtiari missed three games earlier this season with broken ribs. This freak injury during practice will force Green Bay to shuffle their offensive line once again. They may turn too moving right tackle Billy Turner over to the left side and having Rick Wagner enter at right tackle. Now, Wagner has been injured himself but head coach Matt LaFleur said he should be good to against Chicago. This is what the Packers did the last time Bakhtiari missed some time. This is a huge blow to the Packers offense, but it is next man up. Seeing how Green Bay is able to handle this lose will not only have an impact on this game but how deep of a playoff run they will make.

Playoff Implications

There is something on the line for both times when the game kicks off. Its simple for both teams. For the Chicago Bears, beat Green Bay and you are in the playoffs. It’s easier to type that than it is for the Bears to actually do that. Now, the Bears could lose to Green Bay and still make the playoffs but will then need some help from Los Angeles Rams. The Bears have improved the past few weeks, but they are facing Aaron Rodgers who is currently playing on a totally different level and Green Bay is a different animal. For Green Bay, they are already in the playoffs, but a win would secure the number 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Meaning, the road to the Super Bowl would go through Green Bay. Rodgers has never had home field advantage throughout the playoffs, so he will definitely be playing with a chip on his shoulder. Playoff implications in a game against the Bears at Soldier Field, that just adds to this already intense rivalry.

Aaron Rodgers vs Mitch Trubisky

I will start with Mitch Trubisky. He started the year as the Bears starting quarterback, then lost the job to Nick Foles and has gotten the job back but is playing better than he was at the beginning of the season. Since taking over for Foles, Trubisky has completed 71 percent of his passes and thrown 6 touchdown passes and only 2 interceptions. Which is nice and good for the Bears. But Rodgers, he is playing better than I have ever seen him play. He is on another level. He is playing like an MVP. When the teams met in week 12 Rodgers threw 4 touchdown passes. Rodgers doesn’t turn the ball over and has only been sacked 19 times this season. The Packers have so many weapons at Rodgers disposal that you don’t always know where he will attack you. Plus, throw in these types playoff implication games against Chicago and Rodgers has dominated them. There is now question that Rodgers is hands down the better quarterback here. It will be good to watch how each handles the opposing defense in a pressure game.

Final Analysis

This is Green Bay vs Chicago, anything can happen. It’s a rivalry game. There is more on the line than just bragging rights and Green Bay has had the edge since Brett Favre and Mike Holmgren. The Packers have won 12 of their last 15 meetings against the Bears and 3 straight during the time span. Aaron Rodgers completely dominated them earlier this season and I expect more of the same this time around. Rodgers is playing at an MVP level and the Packers are the class of the NFC this season. I think it will be closer than it was in week 12 as the Bears may actually put up a fight but the Packers will win and secure the number 1 seed in the NFC.

Go Pack Go!!

Anthony Haag is a writer for PackersTalk.com. He has been a Packers fan since the day he was born and truly bleeds green and gold. He makes annual visits to Lambeau Field and has attended his fair share of games. You can follow Anthony on Twitter at @anthony_haag