Bears Hope to Disrupt Packers’ Success
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The Green Bay Packers have won three straight games, including recent back-to-back wins at Lambeau Field, to bring their record to 7-6. Green Bay is tied for second with the Minnesota Vikings (7-6) in the NFC North, where the Detroit Lions (9-4) hold a two-game advantage over their division rivals.
Green Bay’s decisive 38-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks was their largest margin of victory of the season and came at a critical point in the season. Both the Vikings and Lions were also victorious in last week’s NFL action, meaning the Packers did not make up any ground in their division title chase, but did indeed keep themselves within reach of the division lead and in the running for a wild card berth.
The Packers will head to Soldier Field on Sunday to contest the Chicago Bears (3-10) in Green Bay’s first of three consecutive games against their NFC North opponents. Green Bay will host the Vikings in Week 16 before traveling to Detroit to take on the Lions in the season finale.
The Bears are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention after tallying their 10th loss of the season. This marks the third straight season Chicago obtained double-digit losses. The Bears finished 5-11 in 2014, 6-10 in 2015, and are currently 3-10 with three games to play in the 2016 regular season.
The Bears experienced a similar stretch of double-digit losses between the 1997 and 2000 seasons. Chicago finished 4-12 in 1997 and 1998, followed by finishing 6-10 in 1999 and 5-11 in 2000.
With Chicago’s postseason hopes having to wait until the 2017 season, they now look to disrupt the Packers’ late-season run. Regardless of records and standings, the Green Bay and Chicago age-old rivalry is sure to entertain.
Through the 95-year history of this rivalry, Chicago leads the overall series, 94-93-6. A Green Bay win would even the series and give the Packers a clearer picture of their end goal this season; reaching the postseason.
Green Bay will need help if they hope to vie for the NFC North title and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. Division leaders, the Detroit Lions, have a challenging stretch ahead of them.
Detroit will visit the New York Giants (9-4) on Sunday before heading to play the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 on Monday Night Football. The Cowboys hold the NFL’s best record at 11-2 with both losses coming at the hands of the Giants. The Lions will wrap up their season at home against the Packers, a game that many suspect will decide the division champion.
Of course, the Minnesota Vikings are right alongside the Packers in their own chase for the division. The Vikings play the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) on Sunday before heading to Green Bay in Week 16 and wrapping up their season at home against Chicago.
