Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers NFL Lines & Predictions

A win by the Chicago Bears this week earns them at least a share of the division lead and that’s what they’ll be fighting for while the Packers will be trying the avoid their third straight loss when they take on Chicago for the 175th time in this storied rivalry. Odds makers have given the edge to the Packers at home, listing Green Bay as the 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 43.5.

The Bears are currently tied with Minnesota atop the NFC North with Green Bay one game back. Chicago held a one game lead going into last Sunday but a 21-14 loss to Tennessee and a win by the Vikings evened things up in the division. Either the Packers or the Bears have won the NFC North since it was formed in 2002 when the NFL switched to eight divisions. Despite winning the NFC North title last season, Chicago had Green Bay’s number sweeping the season series. The Bears have now won six of the last eight in this series, including four in a row at Lambeau.

The Bears will hope that they get starting QB Kyle Orton back on the field this week. Orton suffered an ankle sprain in the Bears 27-23 win over Detroit on November 2 and did not play in last week’s loss, but he could return for this game. If Orton remains sidelined, it will be up to Rex Grossman to try to get the job done. Grossman led the Bears on a 75-yards touchdown drive on the first possession of last week’s game, but was then intercepted on the next one. Grossman was 11-of-14 for 120 yards with one touchdown passing and one rushing on Chicago’s two scoring drives, but was 9-for-23 for 53 yards and an interception on the other 11 series. The Bears were averaging 27.9 ppg through their first eight with Orton but didn’t look nearly as sharp with Rex last week.

Green Bay’s pass defense could be a problem for the Bears as it is third in the league against the pass, allowing just 179.1 ypg and has a NFL-leading 16 picks. Green Bay came up with three interceptions in last week’s heartbreaking one-point loss, including one for a touchdown, its sixth interception return for a score this season.

Besides hoping to get better production from the QB position, the Bears will also look to be better at defending the pass. Chicago has been very good against the run this season and held Tennessee to a franchise-low 20 rushing yards last Sunday, but it also allowed 14-year veteran Kerry Collins to pick apart the secondary for 289 yards. Chicago’s rush defense ranks fourth in the NFL, yielding only 74.9 ypg, but its pass defense is ranked 30th, allowing 251.8 ypg. Collins, Detroit’s Dan Orlovsky and Minnesota’s Gus Frerotte have combined to throw for 879 yards and six touchdowns on the Bears in their last three games and Aaron Rodgers will be the best passer they have seen yet. If you like Green Bay to take advantage of Chicago’s poor pass defense, bet the Packers at Bookmaker and receive a 20% cash sign up bonus.

Rodgers will have extra incentive to play well this week following last week’s mediocre performance in which he was 15 of 26 for 142 yards with no touchdowns. The Packers will likely be more concerned about the loss of middle linebacker Nick Barnett who suffered a torn knee ligament last week. Barnett’s absence really hurts a Green Bay run defense which ranks 28th in the league and now has to face NFL rookie rushing leader Matt Forte. When the Packers have given up over 115 rushing yards this season they have not won often. In fact, the Packers have yielded at least 115 yards rushing six times this season and have won just one of those contests. If you like Chicago to take advantage of Green Bay’s poor run defense, bet the Bears at +3.5 at Bookmaker.

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