With Minnesota's loss to Atlanta yesterday, the Chicago Bears still have a postseason to play for when they host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field tonight in Monday Night Football action. The Packers meanwhile are just playing out the string.
This game kind of reminds me of the 70's, when the two teams weren't really going anywhere, but they played some bruising physical football anyway. The question is tonight, with little to play for, how long with the Packers hang in there and fight the fight?
The Packers have dropped 4 straight games and played themselves right out of the playoffs. They haven't been able to stop anybody and their offense has cooled off quite a bit from early in the season. It'll be cold and windchills will go well below zero, which means weather will play a factor as well. Last season, it was the Packers, despite a 13-3 regular season record, that caved in the cold. Who will it be this time?
The Packers do have the chance to ruin things for the Bears. A Green Bay victory would eliminate the Bears playoff chances.
One other factor could be the playing surface. It's not pretty in Chicago and the Bears could have an edge. Mike McCarthy has decided that his team will not practice outside because the practices aren't as productive. Lovie Smith believes practicing outside in the cold, at least once a week, helps prepare his team for the cold weather and the playing conditions. I would tend to give the advantage there to the Bears. But the Packers still have a chance to prove their leader right tonight.
Who do you like in this one.
I'll take the Bears, 17-13 over the Packers.