Rodgers has owned the Bears — 13 touchdowns, zero interceptions in the past three meetings — but his completion percentage is under 57.5 in three of the past four games. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears (4-6) at Green Bay Packers (7-3)
Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET, at Lambeau Field, Green Bay – TV: NBC
*TV announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
*Keys to the game: Winless in the division (0-3), the Bears are back on the road for the sixth time in nine games and could have RB Matt Forte (knee) back in the mix with impressive rookie RB Jeremy Langford. Chicago’s preference is to limit the damage inflicted by QB Packers Aaron Rodgers, who has dominated QB Jay Cutler in the series.
Forte had 141 yards in a Week 1 loss to Green Bay, when Cutler hit TE Martellus Bennett for a touchdown, the start of a season-long struggle against tight ends for the Packers. Cutler uses his backs and tight ends, including No. 2 TE Zach Miller, as much as his receivers. That’s partly because lead receiver Alshon Jeffery has been saddled by leg injuries all season. Getting better in the red zone — an area of admitted failure for offensive coordinator Adam Gase — is a must for the Bears to compete with the Packers. Chicago is 3 of 10 in the red zone the past two games.
Rodgers has owned the Bears — 13 touchdowns, zero interceptions in the past three meetings — but his completion percentage is under 57.5 in three of the past four games. That’s dreadful by Rodgers’ MVP standard, but receivers are struggling to separate and the Packers hadn’t been a threat on the ground until a rejuvenated Eddie Lacy plowed for his first 100-yard game of the season last week. Lacy, who has only 183 yards rushing in his last three games against the Bears, and RB James Starks will get a chance to test a Bears defense ranked 25th (123.7 yards per game) and allowing 4.63 yards per carry.
*Matchup to watch – Packers C JC Tretter vs. Bears NT Eddie Goldman: Tretter appears to be in line for the Thanksgiving start with Corey Linsley ailing. Goldman, a rookie second-round pick, has nine quarterback pressure and 2.5 sacks.
*Player spotlight – Bears FS Chris Prosinski: He’ll get a second consecutive start with Antrel Rolle hurt, and the Packers are likely to attack him after Prosinki’s missed tackle in the open field made low-light reels in last week’s loss to the Broncos. “Chris was ready to go and did a commendable job,” Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said.
*Fast facts: The Packers had nine first-quarter touchdowns in their first six games and one in the past four games. … Cutler has a 67.2 career passer rating against the Packers with 15 touchdowns and 22 interceptions
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
QB Aaron Rodgers finds a soft secondary to his liking and the Packers look like their September selves until the Bears make it a fight in the second half.
*Our pick: Packers 32-26.
