THE STORY: For most of the season, it seemed the NFC North title would be on the line when the Chicago Bears faced the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on the final Sunday of the regular season, and while that's not the case - the Bears have already clinched their third division title in six years - the meeting of traditional rivals carries plenty of playoff implications. The Packers can clinch a playoff spot with a victory - with a loss, they would need the Giants and Buccaneers to lose to get in - and the Bears still have a shot at the NFC's top seed with a victory and a bit of help.
TV: 4:15 p.m. EST, FOX
OPENING LINE: Green Bay -10, O/U 41.5
WEATHER: The high isn't expected to inch past 20 degrees Sunday in Green Bay, but the frigid temperatures aren't likely to be accompanied by snow.
ABOUT THE PACKERS (9-6): The Packers are in playoff mode for a second straight week, and a win would ensure they earn an actual postseason game. They kept their hopes of snagging a wild card alive with a dominant 45-17 win against the Giants last week, racking up a season-high 515 total yards and snapping a two-game losing streak. They're 6-1 at Lambeau Field this season - the lone defeat a 23-20 loss to Miami on Oct. 17 - and have outscored their last three home opponents by a combined 124-40.
ABOUT THE BEARS (11-4): The Bears already have a built-in bye week during wild card weekend, but coach Lovie Smith has toyed with the idea of giving some of his stars a little more time to rest against the Packers. Chicago does have something to play for, though, albeit an unlikely reward. If the Bears win and both Atlanta and New Orleans lose, the road to the Super Bowl would go through Soldier Field. Chicago has won its last two and seven of eight since its Week 8 bye, including a 38-34 home win against the playoff-bound New York Jets last week. The Bears are 6-1 on the road and 5-0 against NFC North opponents.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Bears running back Matt Forte rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown and had four catches for 56 yards last week, becoming the first player to rush for more than 100 yards against the Jets in more than a year. With 978 rushing yards and 487 receiving yards, he joins Gale Sayers as the only Bears players with 1,000-plus scrimmage yards in each of their first three seasons. Chicago wide receiver Johnny Knox had four catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns last week and needs 40 yards for first career 1,000-yard season.
Packers running back Brandon Jackson has topped 50 yards rushing only once in the past six games. The lack of production on the ground is due in part to the Packers turning more to the passing game, but Jackson has also lost some playing time to John Kuhn, who had a career-high three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) last week against the Giants. Green Bay receiver Greg Jennings has gone over 100 yards in four of the past five games, including seven catches for 142 yards against the Giants. Jennings is second in the NFC with 1,168 yards on 72 receptions.
QUARTERBACKS: Bears quarterback Jay Cutler last week became the first quarterback in franchise history with consecutive 3,000-yard seasons. After throwing for 215 yards and three touchdowns against the Jets, he sits at 3,106 yards with 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Cutler has been especially good over the past five games, passing for 1,042 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Rodgers has put together an even better stretch, though it was disrupted by his second concussion of the season. He left the Packers' 7-3 loss at Detroit in the second quarter and missed a 31-27 loss at New England the following week, but over his past six games, Rodgers has completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 1,682 yards with 15 touchdowns and one interception. Rodgers returned from the concussion last week to throw for a career-high 404 yards and four touchdowns. He is 10-1 in his past 11 home starts.
RECENT HISTORY: Green Bay swept the series last year, but the Bears have a chance to return the favor this season. Chicago won the first meeting 20-17 at home Sept. 27, as Robbie Gould kicked two fourth-quarter field goals, including a game-winning 19-yarder with 4 seconds left. The Packers have won the past two meetings in Green Bay.
KEY INJURIES: Chicago - WR Earl Bennett (ankle), LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee). Green Bay - S Atari Bigby (groin), LB Frank Zombo (knee), DE Cullen Jenkins (calf), G Marshall Newhouse (back).
LAST WORD: Packers coach Mike McCarthy said this week he believes versatile Bears speedster Devin Hester is "the best player on their football team," a claim Hester has done a good job of backing up lately. Hester's 14 career combined kick return touchdowns (10 punt returns, four kickoff returns) are the most in NFL history, and he has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past two games, as well. He has three punt return scores this season, including a 62-yard touchdown return in the first meeting with Green Bay. "I think he is having an incredible season," McCarthy said. "He has impacted pretty much every game that they have won. … When he has the ball in his hands, he is dangerous."