Packers, Bears Continue Rivalry on Sunday Night Football

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will look to bounce back from a Sunday Night Football loss to New Orleans two weeks ago by defeating Chicago on Sunday Night Football this week.

The National Football League’s oldest rivalry goes prime time Sunday as the Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears.

Kickoff in the Sunday Night Football clash at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

Both teams enter the game following a bye week, with both looking to bounce back from losses too.

The Story So Far

After opening the season 1-2, Aaron Rodgers told fans to “relax” and the Green Bay (5-3, 3-0 home) headed to Soldier Field for the 99th time.

The Bears led that encounter 17-14 with less than four minutes to play in the second quarter before the Packers reeled off 24 unanswered points to emerge with the 38-17 victory.

Aaron Rodgers finished the game 22-of-28 passing for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson each caught a pair of scores.

The victory propelled the Packers onto a four-game winning streak, which included wins over the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers.

Week 8 saw Mike McCarthy’s side head to the Big Easy to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football. A tied game at halftime quickly became a one-sided affair as Rodgers pulled up with a hamstring strain in the third. The quarterback attempted to battle his way through but the Saints compiled 28 of the final 35 points to win 44-23.

The loss sent the Packers home to Wisconsin with plenty to think about and a bye to be thankful for.

Chicago (3-5, 3-2 road) enters Sunday’s nationally televised game having lost four of its last five games and in serious need of a turnaround.

The Bears entered Week 4’s clash with the Packers sporting a 2-1 record. That was the last time Bears fans had anything to smile about.

Losses to Carolina and Miami bookmarked a win over the deflating Atlanta Falcons, before a 51-23 thrashing at the hands of the New England Patriots sent the Bears into the bye week with a 3-5 record.

The Bears may not consider another showdown with the Packers to be the punishment it looks like though. Firstly, all three of the team’s wins have come on the road this season. Secondly, Lambeau Field was kind to the Bears a season ago, albeit with Rodgers out of action. Thirdly, Sunday Night Football also proved kind to the Bears in a Week 2 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Maybe some of that luck will rub off on the team once more.

But then again, recent history hasn’t been kind to the Bears in Wisconsin.

Head-to-Head

In what is the NFL’s oldest rivalry, the Packers and Bears meet for the 190th time on Sunday. Chicago leads the all-time head-to-head 93-90-6, but there has been a definite swing in favor of the Packers in recent years.

The Packers have won two straight in the series – including Week 4’s showdown at Soldier Field – and is 10-2 over the last 12 meetings. Eight of those games have been decided by one score or less though.

The Bears earned a 27-20 victory at Lambeau Field a season ago, snapping a five-game losing streak in Wisconsin.

Green Bay is 44-41-4 all-time when hosting Chicago.

Injury Report

Chicago linebacker and defensive captain Lance Briggs (ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Left guard Matt Slauson (pectoral) and defensive end Lamarr Houston (leg) are both out.

For Green Bay, right guard T.J. Lang (ankle) is listed as doubtful while cornerback Sam Shields (knee) and safety Morgan Burnett (calf) are listed as questionable.

Check out the full injury list

Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs is among those players listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Betting Report

Below you’ll find Betting Sports’ breakdown of odds and betting trends.

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers odds for 11/09/2014

Moneyline: Green Bay (-340) opened as the favorite over Chicago (+297) on the moneyline and continues to be a comfortable favorite ahead of kickoff.

Spread: The spread opened at 7.5 in favor of the Packers.

The Packers (4-3-1 ATS) have fared better against the spread this season than the Bears (3-5-0 ATS), and look like a solid bet in this one.

The Packers are 2-0-1 ATS at home and 4-0-1 ATS when designated the favorite. The Bears are 3-2-0 ATS on the road and 3-3-0 ATS when considered the underdog.

Green Bay is 7-1-0 ATS in its last eight games with Chicago, and covered the spread in the Week 4 clash between the two sides.

The Packers are 4-2-0 ATS in the last six games the two teams have played at Lambeau Field.

Total: The total opened at 52.5 and has subsequently risen ahead of kickoff.

Both Green Bay (7-1-0 O/U) and Chicago (5-3-0 O/U) have favored the over through the first half of this season.

The total has gone over in five straight Packer games and four of the side’s last five at Lambeau. The Week 4 head-to-head matchup saw the total go over.

The over had paid out in eight of the 10 Sunday night games played so far this season.

All of that being said – 11 of the last 14 head-to-head matchups have seen the total go under, including five of Chicago’s last six visits to Green Bay.

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