Packers at Bears
The Green Bay Packers appeared dead in the postseason chase after a dismal four-game losing streak, but they have turned things around and will carry a three-game winning streak into Sunday's road matchup at the Chicago Bears. Green Bay is one game out of the final playoff spot in the NFC and still has an outside shot at winning the NFC North title.
The defense has orchestrated the resurgence for the Packers, who have yielded 36 points during the three-game winning streak after being shredded for 153 during the four-game skid. Green Bay has a major injury concern with quarterback Aaron Rodgers nursing a calf strain that he suffered early in last week's 38-10 romp over Seattle. Longtime rival Chicago is buried at the bottom of the NFC North with a 3-10 record, but welcomes back star wide receiver Alshon Jeffery to the lineup after he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. It could end up as the coldest game in the history of the Bears, with a forecast calling for temperature around zero with winds of 15 mph.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Packers -6.5. O/U: 40.5
ABOUT THE PACKERS (7-6): Rodgers did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but despite hurting his right calf on the opening drive against Seattle, he threw for 246 yards and threw touchdowns on 18-of-23 passing and wound up winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Rodgers played well down the stretch while dealing with a similar calf injury in his left leg two years ago and, of course, he has plenty of experience playing in the frigid conditions of Green Bay. "It'll be about pain management on Sunday, but the good thing is I'll be out there," said Rodgers, who torched the Bears for 326 yards and three scores on 56 pass attempts in a 26-10 win on Oct. 20. Jordy Nelson caught a pair of TD passes last week to boost his league-best total to 12.
ABOUT THE BEARS (3-10): Chicago is down to third-string quarterback Matt Barkley, but nearly pulled off an upset of division-leading Detroit last week, only to see backup wide receiver Josh Bellamy drop an easy touchdown pass in the end zone. "I want to say that I feel like, if I was playing, some of those games we would have had a different outcome," said Jeffery, who had only one touchdown and one 100-yard game prior to his suspension. "We probably would have won." Rookie running back Jordan Howard is closing has rushed for at least 100 yards in five of the last 10 games, but he was held to a season low-tying 22 by Green Bay. Chicago's defense had held up well against the pass of late, holding four straight opponents to 227 yards of fewer.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Nelson had 430 receiving yards and four TDs in his last four meeetings versus Chicago.
2. Bears LB Leonard Floyd has three sacks in his past two home games and leads all rookies with seven.
3. Chicago leads the NFL's oldest rivalry by an eyelash -- 93-92-6.