When the Bears (4-8) face rival Packers (9-3) in NFL Week 14’s penultimate game on “Sunday Night Football” (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), they’ll try to play. spoiled game. Chicago’s playoff hopes have gone up in flames while hosts Green Bay are battling for the top seed in the post-season NFC.
The Bears will have rookie defender Justin Fields (rib) start back instead of Andy Dalton (doubt on the left). He’ll get some much-needed help with Allen Robinson (hamstring) returning to support David Montgomery’s rerun, Darnell Mooney widening and closing Cole Kmet in attacking skill positions.
The Packers will see Aaron Rodgers (toe) play after his injury once again. The Davante Adams (hamstring) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back) wide receivers will do the same, while Randall Cobb (core out) will not.
Here’s everything there is to know about the Packers vs. Bears for Week 14, including updated odds, trends and our predictions for “Sunday Night Football”.
NFL WEEK 14 PICKS: Fight the contagion | Straight
Odds Packers vs. Bears for Sunday Night Football
- Spread: Packed by 12
- On lower: 43
- Moneyine: Bears +480, Packers -650
The Packers have been a heavy double-digit favorite all week, and the QB change for the Bears didn’t affect it much. The Packers are well-rested while the Bears are about to suffer a tough loss at home to the Cardinals.
(betting odds per FanDuel Sportsbook)
Packers’ all-time series vs. Bears
Packers lead the 102-95-6 series for a long time. They have won 5 games in a row and 10 of the last 11 games to take the lead. They also won 14/16 matches. The Bears last won in December 2016. Rodgers is right; he “owns them.”
Three trends to know
—76 percent of spread bettors think the number is too large in favor of the Packers and are siding with the Bears for a chance to open the backdoor.
—55 percent of over/under bets think the total is a bit too low due to the attacking potential of both teams.
—The Bears are winning 3-7 by margin and straight 3-7 in their past 10 games with three of them finished. The Packers are 9-1 ATS and 8-2 SU in their past 10 games with three of those games over.
Three things to see
Fields vs Packers
The Bears have nothing to lose by letting Fields let loose as a runner and deep passer when he’s almost at full weapon power wise and allowed to become a double threat before he can. wounded before Raven. Making Fields feel and look good before the season ends is the only goal now before getting a new coach.
Rodgers vs. the Bears
Rodgers will be determined to live up to his trash talk and possibly burn through the Bears defense minus the pressure of Khail Mack and a few sub-team answers. He undressed and embarrassed them again on the first meeting and could lay the final nail in the tumultuous tenure of coach Matt Nagy.
Running games
The Bears are feeding Montgomery as much as they can again for a period of time to boost their attack. He will be key to taking the pressure off Fields and working the clock to get Rodgers off the field. The Packers have Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon’s 1-2 punches that could help them overpower the Bears up front and close them in in the second half.
Important Stats
120.1. That’s the average javelin per game the Bears put in, good for 23rd in the NFL. They’ve been worn out at the front and the Packers won’t mind going downhill all night with Jones and Dillon.
Packers predictions vs. Bears
The Bears will compete a little earlier with Fields but ultimately Rodgers, Adams, Jones and the Packers will snowball attack, score early and often stay two steps ahead. The Packers’ defense also tends to play better at home against limited opponents. They just have too much on the line and too many of their interests to ignore here.
Packers 38, Bears 17
