Packers Host Bears in NFC North Thursday Night Battle

Thursday Night Football kicks off Week 4 of the NFL regular season when the Chicago Bears visit Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers in an NFC North showdown. The current line has Green Bay favored by 7 points with the over/under point total on 45.5.

Entering this game, Chicago on the season is 1-2 straight up and 2-1 against the spread. On the road, the Bears are 0-1 SU and ATS. Green Bay on the season is 2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS. At home, the Packers are 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS.

Chicago comes into this shortened week off a huge upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-17, while Green Bay rallied to beat the Cincinnati Bengals at home 27-24. In the two head to head games last season, Green Bay beat Chicago by 3 at Soldier Field and by 16 at Lambeau Field.

Jordan Howard rushed for a 19-yard walk-off touchdown for Chicago over the Steelers, but only after the Bears had squandered a 17-7 lead. Setting up Howard’s touchdown run was a long run by Tarik Cohen just a few plays prior.

Howard ended the day with 138 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, while Cohen rushed for 78 yards. The running game is Chicago’s strength at the moment as injuries have hurt the receiving corps and quarterback Mike Glennon is only hitting on short passes.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who if not being sacked (6) was scrambling to find receivers due a lack of protection in the pocket, somehow brought the team back from a halftime deficit of 14 points to win.

Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson with just 17 second left in regulation to send the game to overtime. After Green Bay’s defense stopped the Bengals, Rodgers threw a 72-yard pass to Geronimo Allison to set up the winning field goal by Mason Crosby.

The running game is once again failing the Pack with just 64 yards on the ground against the Bengals. The Packers defense allowed 301 yards but came up big late. Safety Josh Jones had 12 tackles and 2 sacks.

Chicago is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games on the road.

Green Bay is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games played at home.

Prediction: The Bears looked strong defeating Pittsburgh, but a short week and facing Green Bay spells trouble. Lean here with the Packers.