When the Chicago Bears roll into Lambeau Field this Sunday with the NFC North lead on the line, the Green Bay Packers will have one goal circled in red: stop the run. But as much as this matchup will be won or lost in the trenches, there’s a looming question hanging over the Bears’ passing game - and it centers on their breakout wide receiver, Rome Odunze.
Odunze has been a difference-maker all season long. The second-year wideout leads Chicago in receptions (44), receiving yards (661), and touchdowns (6), and it’s not even close.
Caleb Williams has looked his way 90 times - that’s at least 27 more targets than any other Bears pass-catcher. That kind of volume doesn’t lie.
Odunze has become the guy in this offense, a true WR1 presence who has built instant chemistry with his rookie quarterback.
But his status for Sunday’s showdown is suddenly in doubt. Odunze has missed two straight practices this week with a foot injury, and while the Bears haven’t offered specifics, consecutive DNPs this late in the week are never a great sign.
If Odunze can’t go, the ripple effect on Chicago’s offense could be significant. DJ Moore, the savvy vet, would likely see an uptick in targets, while rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden would be asked to step into bigger roles. That’s a lot of pressure on a young group in a high-stakes divisional game, especially against a Packers defense that’s been trending up.
Still, the Packers know exactly where this game starts - and it’s not with the Bears’ receivers. It’s with the run game.
Chicago’s offensive line was dominant in their last outing, steamrolling the Eagles’ front and clearing the way for a two-headed rushing attack that looked downright unstoppable. Kyle Monangai racked up 130 yards and a score.
D’Andre Swift added 125 and another touchdown. That’s 255 yards on the ground between two backs - the kind of performance that can wear down a defense and keep a pass rush guessing.
That’s the real challenge for Green Bay. If the Bears can get the ground game going early, it opens up the playbook - and more importantly, the play-action.
That’s where Caleb Williams can be dangerous, even without Odunze. A strong run game slows down the pass rush, buys time in the pocket, and gives Williams the chance to work the ball downfield.
But if Odunze is out, it changes the calculus. The Packers can afford to tighten up coverage and force the Bears to beat them with secondary options. That’s a tall order for a rookie quarterback on the road in December, especially at Lambeau.
Green Bay’s best path to victory? Start fast, stop the run, and make the Bears one-dimensional. Take away the ground game, and all eyes shift to Williams - a talented but still-developing passer - trying to win without his top target.
That’s the formula. And if Odunze is watching from the sideline, the Packers’ job just got a little easier.