For the third time this season, the NFC's seventh-seed, the Green Bay Packers, will take on the number-two seed, the Chicago Bears. After both teams earned a victory, this rubber match will be for more than just bragging rights because the winner will advance to the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFL Playoffs next weekend.

Despite a 19-16 home loss to the Detroit Lions, the Bears were still able to lock up the number-two seed in the NFC because the Washington Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Listen, excited about the new opportunity here. Turn the page and start this new season that we keep talking about. I think it's a great opportunity in front of our home crowd. Can't wait to see what that looks like on Saturday night,” head coach Ben Johnson told reporters on Monday. “We'll make our corrections, and then we'll quickly turn the page. We don't have time to sulk on what happened yesterday, and they understand that. We talked about that at the end of the game. I think we're going to be good turning the page, but the things that need to get cleaned up, we're going to clean up.”

This will be the 213th all-time meeting between the Bears and the Packers and the third matchup between the two squads since December 7th. Though facing a familiar foe presents unique challenges, it also has some benefits.

“There's certain things that we'd like to highlight, and we'd like to attack,” Johnson explained. “We know them. They know us personnel-wise, scheme-wise at this point. The good news is, in the National Football League - and really anywhere - there's a million different ways you can run plays and a million different types of plays that you can run. I don't think we're gonna have any shortage of ideas here this week on offense, defense, or special teams.”

In the two previous matchups between Chicago and Green Bay, the Bears were held to three first-half points. Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams said that the team was "seeing the ball caught" early when the Bears were getting off to hot starts.

“Seeing the ball caught, whether it's a deep pass, a short pass, whatever the case may be, seeing the ball caught, and then just telling myself the small details,” Williams said on January 6th, “the footwork, keeping my base up under me. All these different things help me get off to a good start. And then, allowing the guys to get into rhythm. Allowing myself to get into rhythm, and then, from there, we’ve got a good shot to win the game.”

Red zone defense had a huge impact on the Bears' 22-16 win over the Packers in Week 16, when Chicago didn't allow a single touchdown on five Green Bay red zone trips. If the Bears can replicate that effort again, they'll likely win this game.

“Obviously, the field is more condensed,” said Chicago Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard III. “I think the reaction and just being able to see things has to be a lot faster. You have to trigger faster. And then, at that point, obviously having better run defense down there, obviously not letting them run in there. But, for quarterbacks - like I said - there's not a lot of space. There's more bodies in there. So, I just think, be able to react, and all those type of things has to be a little bit more accelerated. Your eyes, as a defensive back, have to be really on point because - a lot of times - teams are scheming up different things, whether it's gadgets, quick runs, quick throws to the flats, and things like that. So you have to be really key on your reaction.”

The last time these squads went head-to-head, Packers quarterback Jordan Love had to leave the game early with a concussion. After Love had two weeks off, and with numerous starters resting in Week 18, it feels like Green Bay is the healthiest it has been in a while.

“I think we're in pretty good health right now,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on January 6th. “I think the most important thing - for all those guys that did play - get their bodies back, and then we have to have a great week of preparation.”

Love isn't the only impact player that will be back in the lineup on Saturday. Starting offensive lineman Zach Tom, who hasn't played since Week 15, is expected to play as well.

“I think that'd be a huge get,” LaFleur said. “I mean, he's our most consistent offensive lineman. He's one of the best, I think, in the league at his position.”

Ever since pass rusher Micah Parsons went down with a torn ACL, the Packers' defense has struggled, allowing 26.3 points per game. Matt LaFleur recognizes that the defense has to step up if Green Bay wants to go on a run in the playoffs.

“Certainly, there's been some tough moments and some things that we’ve got to learn from and get better at. But I do like the headspace we're in going into this game,” he said. “Ultimately, it's going to come down to the execution. We’ve got to do a great job, and it's all 11 being on the same page. This is a really talented offense. They’ve got a great offensive line. It's a challenging scheme, so we need everybody at their best.”

Though Chicago and Green Bay have been playing each other for 105 years, these teams have only met twice in the playoffs. Matt LaFleur said that a postseason game between these squads would just add to the intensity of the rivalry.

“It's a tough opponent on the road, a division rival. There's obviously going to be a lot of excitement everywhere about this game,” he explained. “It's a pretty cool deal. I think - anytime you're talking about division rivals, and you're in the playoffs with a lot at stake - I think it just heightens it a little bit.”

Prediction for Green Bay Packers (-1) @ Chicago Bears

The Packers' defense has been exposed as a weak unit ever since Micah Parsons' injury. They're not terrible when it comes to stopping the pass, but they have been absolutely dreadful against the run. Over the last three weeks of the season, Green Bay has allowed 198 rushing yards per game. To put that ineptitude into context, the Cincinnati Bengals, who finished the season with the worst run defense in the NFL, allowed 147.1 rushing yards per game on average. This is a disastrous matchup for the Packers, who have to go against the Bears' third-ranked rushing attack (144.5 yards per game). In all likelihood, Jordan Love will come out a little bit slow and will need time to shake off the rust after missing two-and-a-half games. That sluggish start will probably end up costing Green Bay, which will have to spend most of the game playing from behind and abandoning a balanced offensive approach. Though the Packers will make it close, they won't be able to overcome Chicago's early lead.

Prediction: Bears 24 - 20 Packers

How to watch Green Bay Packers (-1) @ Chicago Bears

Packers @ Bears starts at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday at Soldier Field. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

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