Bears vs. Packers: Three Keys to a Season-Shaping NFC North Clash
At 9-3, the Chicago Bears have climbed to the top of the NFC North mountain - but staying there might be even harder than getting there. This Sunday, they head into Lambeau Field for a heavyweight divisional showdown with the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1), and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The winner won’t just hold bragging rights - they’ll take control of a division that’s been one of the most competitive in football this season, with three teams already sitting at eight wins or more. For Chicago, a win could mean more than just division dominance; it could solidify their push for the NFC’s top seed. But to pull it off on the road, in one of the league’s toughest environments, the Bears will need to lean into what’s gotten them here - and elevate it.
Here’s what they’ll need to do to walk out of Lambeau with a statement win.
1. Let the Rookies Cook
No Rome Odunze? No problem - at least, that’s the hope for Chicago.
With their breakout rookie wideout sidelined due to a foot injury, the Bears will be missing their top option in receptions (44), yards (661), and touchdowns (six). That’s a big hole to fill.
But the good news? The next men up - fellow rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III - have shown they’re ready for more.
Loveland, in particular, has been trending upward in a big way. Since hauling in the game-winner against the Bengals, he’s become a go-to guy for Caleb Williams.
Over the last five games, he’s accounted for 21% of the team’s catches, 26% of the receiving yards, and a third of the receiving touchdowns. For a rookie tight end, that’s not just solid - that’s impact production.
He’s already among the top three rookie TEs in both yards and touchdowns, despite seeing fewer targets than most in that group.
Burden’s rise has been a bit more gradual, but it’s clear he’s earning trust in this offense. After struggling to crack 30% of the offensive snaps early in the season, he’s now consistently seeing over 44% of the snaps in recent weeks. And he’s making them count, with 13 catches for 157 yards in his last four games.
Of course, veteran D.J. Moore will likely slide into the WR1 role, and tight end Cole Kmet remains a steady presence in the middle of the field.
But if the Bears want to keep the Packers’ defense honest - and keep their offense humming - they’ll need Loveland and Burden to step up once again. The spotlight is on the rookies, and this is their chance to shine.
2. Keep Owning the Ground Game
If there’s one thing the Bears can hang their helmet on this season, it’s their run game. Averaging nearly 154 rushing yards per game - second-best in the league - Chicago has built a ground-and-pound identity that’s both effective and relentless.
The duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai has been central to that success. Swift leads the charge with 774 rushing yards, just shy of cracking the league’s top 10 in yards per game.
Monangai has chipped in 591 yards of his own, making them one of only two backfield tandems in the NFL with 500+ yards apiece through 13 weeks. The other?
Ben Johnson’s former backfield in Detroit, featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Last week, both Swift and Monangai topped 125 yards against a tough Eagles defense - a clear sign that this backfield isn’t just productive, it’s dangerous. But this week’s test might be even tougher. The Packers are one of just eight defenses holding opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game, and they’ve done it with discipline and gap integrity.
Still, the Bears have proven they can run on just about anyone. Since their bye week, they’ve been held under 100 rushing yards only twice - and in that same span, they’ve also posted two games with over 280 yards on the ground. That’s not just good; that’s dominant.
If the offensive line continues to open up lanes and control the line of scrimmage, the Bears can dictate the pace of the game. A strong run game also helps protect a young quarterback, keeps the opposing offense on the sideline, and complements a defense that thrives on creating turnovers. It’s a formula that’s worked, and it’s one they’ll need to stick with in this critical divisional matchup.
3. Pressure Jordan Love - Without Selling Out
Chicago’s defense has made a name for itself this season by creating takeaways - they lead the league in turnovers forced - but if they want to slow down the Packers, they’ll need to start by getting home with their front four.
That starts with Montez Sweat, who’s been a game-changer since arriving in Chicago. He’s recorded at least one sack in five of the last seven games, and he’s been the most consistent threat on a defensive line that, outside of him, has just 9.5 sacks combined. Injuries have taken their toll up front, but the Bears can’t afford to rely on blitz-heavy packages against a quarterback like Jordan Love, who’s been excellent at avoiding pressure.
The numbers back it up: the Packers are one of just four teams allowing fewer than 1.5 sacks per game. Love has been sacked more than twice in only two of Green Bay’s 12 games this season - and none in the last two weeks. He’s getting the ball out quickly, and the offensive line is doing its job.
But here’s the wrinkle: in the two games where Love was sacked more than twice, the Packers lost both. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it does suggest a clear path to disrupting their rhythm. On the flip side, the Bears are 4-1 this season when they record three or more sacks - the lone loss coming way back in Week 1.
If Chicago’s front can win their matchups and collapse the pocket without needing help from the secondary, it opens up everything else for the defense. It allows them to keep more bodies in coverage, jump routes, and capitalize on any mistakes Love might make under duress.
The Bottom Line
This game isn’t just about playoff seeding - it’s about identity. The Bears have spent the season building a physical, balanced, and opportunistic team. Now, they get a chance to prove it on the road, against a rival, with the division (and possibly the conference) on the line.
If the rookies rise to the occasion, the run game keeps rolling, and the front four finds a way to get after Jordan Love, the Bears won’t just be in control of the NFC North - they’ll be sending a message to the rest of the league.
This team is for real.