GREEN BAY, Wis. – All that stands between the Green Bay Packers and a playoff berth is an NFC North rival they’ve dominated for the last five seasons.
Although the Bears (7-9) have no shot at making the playoffs and already own the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, they’d love nothing more than to end the Packers’ season Sunday at Lambeau Field.
“I think it would mean a lot to the team, the fans, the city,” Bears quarterback Justin Fields said. “I think it’d be great. We know Green Bay’s playing for a lot, what’s at stake.”
The Packers (8-8) want to avoid a repeat of last season’s finale, when they blew a chance to reach the playoffs by losing to the Detroit Lions at home.
“I think it’s just a totally different squad,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “There’s a different vibe around here, a different mindset. We’ve got to go attack. That’s the bottom line.”
The Packers have an outside chance of reaching the playoffs even if they lose Sunday, but they’d need plenty of help.
Green Bay has beaten the Bears nine straight times, including a 38-20 victory at Chicago in this season’s opener. Green Bay’s Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes without an interception in that game.
Chicago’s defense has come a long way since that game with head coach Matt Eberflus taking over as defensive coordinator and pass rusher Montez Sweat arriving at the trade deadline. The Bears lead the NFL in run defense and have an NFL-leading 22 interceptions.
Now that defense gets another shot at Love, who has thrown 16 touchdown passes with only one interception over his last seven games. Both teams are playing well, as the Packers have won two straight and six of nine while the Bears have won two in a row and five of seven.
“You play for these moments, these opportunities to play in the competitive games,” Love said. “You want to be playing in these games to have a chance to go to the playoffs. That’s exactly where we’re at, and I think everybody’s excited for it. It’s going to be fun.”
FIELDS’ FINALE?
Fields heads into the final game with an unclear future.
The Bears own the No. 1 pick in the draft thanks to a trade with league-worst Carolina in which they also received star receiver DJ Moore last March. They could decide to move on from their QB and go with Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.
Fields is coming off one of his most complete performances. The former Ohio State star threw for 268 yards with a touchdown pass and a rushing TD in a 37-17 win over Atlanta and even had fans at Soldier Field chanting his name.
“I’m just doing my job at the end of the day,” Fields said. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. In my eyes, I could’ve played better. Didn’t play good enough, but like I said, good team win and everybody played well on all three phases of the football.”
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