(Photo: Clutchpoints)

NFC Game Of The Week

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Bears (9–3):

What a story they’ve been this year. After watching their game on Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles, I immediately took to social media to give them their flowers. That was by far their best performance of the season, and I couldn’t have been more impressed. I’ve often referred to the Eagles as a bully — a team that challenges opponents’ manhood by simply being more physical. And what’s my saying? “The bully doesn’t like to get bullied.” When you beat a team using their own style against them, they don’t handle it well. That was evident in South Philly on Black Friday. Many of the Bears’ wins this season would’ve been losses under Matt Eberflus, which leads me to say what I’ve said many times before: coaching matters. Ben Johnson was the right hire for this legendary organization. The same offense he built in Detroit is exactly what he’s building in Chicago. He has two tight ends in Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland, two running backs similar to what he had with the Lions in D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and a strong receiving duo in Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore. Most importantly, this team believes in itself — a direct testament to coaching. Ben has this group confident after so many down years. This Sunday, they’ll look to keep the streak alive at Lambeau.

Packers (8–3–1):

After their loss to the Eagles on Monday night, the Packers have rebounded nicely, winning three straight. The most important of those came on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions — and anyone who watches football knows that to get anywhere in the NFC North, that’s the team you must take down. When they met Detroit in Week 1, it was Micah Parsons’ debut in green and gold, and that defense consistently got home on Jared Goff. I was anxious to see what would happen in the rematch months later, and they got by the Lions once again. Thanksgiving Day was the best I’ve seen Jordan Love look all year, and when he plays like that, Green Bay is a tough out for anyone. I’ve been vocal about how seriously people should take the Packers as contenders. Their defense has had no issues and has been one of the best units in football this season. It’s incredible how one guy can come in and make all the difference. My only concern has been their offensive inconsistency. Their performance in Detroit was the best I’ve seen from them since that tie against the Cowboys all the way back in Week 4. This Sunday, they return home for a massive divisional showdown with not just the current NFC North leaders, but the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Bears X-Factor: D’Andre Swift

I love what he has become for this Bears offense, and this is why I always say that having a competent coach matters — something Matt Eberflus was far from. He constantly put everything on Caleb Williams’ shoulders. Under Coach Ben, the Bears display true balance, and D’Andre Swift is a major part of that. He dictates tempo. When he gets rolling, the Bears can control the clock, dictate the pace of the game, and keep Green Bay’s offense on the sideline. The Packers struggle defending in space, and Swift can create problems as both a runner and a pass catcher in the flat. He’s a momentum player who can energize the entire team with one big play.

Packers X-Factor: Xavier McKinney

He’s one of the best safeties in the league today and a key piece of this stingy Green Bay defense. McKinney’s instincts and ball-hawking ability can change the dynamic of an entire game. The Bears love attacking the middle of the field, and McKinney is elite at reading route combinations and jumping underneath throws. He’s also excellent at diagnosing delayed passes and crashing the lane for breakups or interceptions. On key downs, expect him near the sticks. The Bears must know where he is at all times because he can flip the momentum in one play — whether by forcing a turnover or tipping a pass.

Final Thoughts:

This rivalry is the oldest in the league, and having lived in Illinois, I know exactly what this matchup means to Bears fans and what “Packer Week” is all about. As we approach Week 14, who could’ve imagined the Bears would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC? Football is unpredictable — and that’s what makes it incredible. For the Bears, the biggest key is keeping the run game going. This has been their bread and butter, and look at what they did last week against a Philadelphia team that’s been stout against the run all season. A strong ground attack takes pressure off Caleb Williams — balance is everything. They must also keep Caleb protected. Under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the Packers love simulated pressures and late safety rotations, which can confuse an offense. Lastly, Chicago must stay on schedule and avoid third-and-long. Green Bay thrives when rushing the passer. For the Packers, Jordan Love must win his early downs. If he gets into a rhythm, the Bears defense becomes predictable and vulnerable. Green Bay also needs to attack the Bears’ linebackers in coverage and run the football with intent, not just volume. Lambeau Field will be the place to be this weekend as two iconic teams clash once again.

Prediction:

Packers 27, Bears 21