CHICAGO — The Green Bay Packers are hoping the strategy to rest numerous starters helps snap a four-game slide when they face the Chicago Bears in a wild-card round matchup of NFC North rivals Saturday night.
It will be the third meeting in six weeks between the Bears (11-6), the second seed in the NFC under first-year coach Ben Johnson, and No. 7 seed Green Bay (9-7-1).
Chicago is making its first playoff appearance since 2020. The Bears have not won a playoff game since 2010, when they eventually lost to Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game.
“This was the vision from the beginning, to have some home playoff games at Soldier Field,” Johnson said Tuesday. “And so, I was really excited about that opportunity and to see that come to light here this year.”
Green Bay won the first meeting at home 28-21 in Week 14, ironically the Packers’ last victory. Two weeks later, the Bears averted the regular-season sweep with an improbable 22-16 victory in overtime, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation.
Chicago recovered an onside kick to set up the tying touchdown, a 6-yard scoring toss from Caleb Williams with 24 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis fumbled the snap on fourth-and-1. Williams then hit DJ Moore with a 46-yard touchdown pass on the Bears’ ensuing possession.
Green Bay rested almost every key starter, including quarterback Jordan Love and running back Josh Jacobs, in its final regular-season game, a 16-3 loss at Minnesota behind third-string quarterback Clayton Tune, who was released Tuesday.
Love, who has not played since sustaining a concussion in the second game against the Bears, will start on Saturday, Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.
Chicago allowed 361.8 yards per game, fourth most in the league, but the opportunistic Bears led the NFL in takeaways (33, including 23 interceptions) and turnover differential (plus-22).
Williams has completed 58.1% of his passes for 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven picks and also has rushed for 388 yards.
“We’ve seen him grow and progress as the season’s progressed,” LaFleur said Wednesday about Williams. “He’s made a lot of big-time plays. He did it, obviously, in our game. Really both games.”
The Bears running back tandem of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai have rushed for 1,087 yards and 783 yards, respectively.
Second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze, who has missed the last five games with a foot injury, had limited participation at practice Wednesday and told reporters he plans on returning Saturday.
Chicago had three players who did not practice Wednesday in defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, defensive lineman Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, each due to a concussion.
The Packers’ defense has struggled since losing perennial All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in a Week 15 loss at Denver. Parsons, acquired just before the start of the regular season in a blockbuster trade with Dallas, had a team-high 12.5 sacks before the injury.
Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt sustained a season-ending broken ankle on Thanksgiving Day against Detroit.
Love has completed 66.3% of his passes for 225.4 yards per game with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions and a passer rating of 101.2, the first time that’s been above 100 in his three seasons as the starter.
Jacobs is the leading rusher with 929 yards and 13 touchdowns and also has 36 pass receptions. Emanuel Wilson added 496 yards on the ground.
Offensive tackle Zach Tom, who missed the final three regular-season games, is expected to play against the Bears after limited participation at practice Wednesday.
Bo Melton, who plays cornerback, wide receiver and special teams for Green Bay, was placed on injured reserve after a knee injury in the regular-season finale.
“It’s a tough opponent on the road, a division rival,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “There’s obviously going to be a lot of excitement everywhere about this game. We’ve just got to go play our type of game.”
–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media
