NFC Championship Game: Green Bay Packers v Chicago Bears Preview and Prediction

January 18, 2011 By 6 Comments

The Green Bay Packers head to Soldier Field this Sunday to take on The Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game, which will decide who will represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.

The most epic rivalry in NFL history will occur in a playoff game for the first time since 1941. The teams have played each other 182 times total, more than any other two teams have played eachother in the history of the NFL.

I couldn’t think of a better way to start Conference Championship Sunday. This game will be a true Black & Blue Division battle between two teams who know eachother well and two quarterbacks who both still have a lot to prove.

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears Game Info

  • Bears-Packers Date: Sunday, January 23rd
  • Bears-Packers Kickoff Time: 3:00 PM ET
  • Bears-Packers TV: FOX
  • Bears-Packers Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
  • Bears-Packers Point Spread: Packers -3.5 (as of Tuesday)
  • Bears-Packers Over-Under Odds: 43.5

aaron-rodgers-bears-packers-predictionGreen Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers come into this game rolling, with victories over a high-scoring Philadelphia Eagles team and then a dominating performance over the NFC’s #1 seed Atlanta. The Packers beat the Eagles in the wild card round 21-16, and handed Atlanta a 48-21 loss in last week’s divisional round.

The Packers offense had a great showing in Atlanta, in the controlled elements of the Georgia Dome, with Aaron Rodgers racking up 366 yards passing. They dominated the Falcons in time of possession, third down conversions, and red zone efficiency. To beat the Bears, they will have to do all those things again.

Green Bay’s defense also played big, intercepting two Matt Ryan passes and recovering two fumbles. Tramon Williams had the play of the game, returning one of the interceptions 70 yards for a touchdown. That play changed the tone of the game, giving Green Bay a 28-14 lead and all the momentum.

Chicago Bears

Last weekend, the Chicago Bears defeated the Seattle Seahawks, who upset the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints the week before, with an impressive performance. The Bears jumped out to a 21 point lead going into halftime and eventually won 35-24, with most of the Seahawks’ scoring coming after the contest was decided.

The Bears’ offense scored on their first possession, in quick fashion, on a three play drive that ended with a 58-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to tight end Greg Olsen. They scored again on their third and fourth possessions, with touchdown runs by Chester Taylor (1 yard) and Jay Cutler(6 yards), giving them the 21-0 lead.

Cutler threw for 274 yards, had 2 TD passes, and had an additional running touchdown, giving him two for the game. Running back Matt Forte contributed 134 yards of offense (54 rec.), Greg Olsen lad all receivers with 113 yards and a TD. Tight End Kellen Davis scored on the other Cutler TD pass, a 39-yard strike that sealed the game in the fourth quarter.

Chicago’s defense held Seattle to 276 total yards for the game, with most of the yards coming late in the fourth quarter. The Bears only sacked Matt Hasselbeck two times, but were in the backfield more often then not, causing him to throw early before wide receivers could get into their routes. The Bears also shut down the Seahawk running game, only allowing 34 total yards.

    Bears v Packers Prediction

    This game between the two long-time rivals will have more at stake then ever before. This will be Hinkle vs. Nagurski, Lombardi vs. Halas, Nitschke vs. Butkus, all rolled into one. This is what football is all about.

    This game won’t be decided by home field advantage, weather, or who wants it more than the other. It’s going to come down to execution, offensive production, and which team’s defense disrupts the opposing offense more.

    The way both teams are playing, it could come down to one play. It could happen at any time, on either offense or defense. It could be a special teams play, a penalty, a field goal or even a coach’s challenge. Everybody, from coaches to players, have to be on top of their game.

    Here are my picks:

    • Bears-Packers Prediction: Packers 20-18
    • Bears-Packers Spread Pick: Bears +3
    • Bears-Packers Over-Under Prediction: Under

    I see the Packers pulling this game out by the slimmest of margins, in back and forth battle, which will make every fan of the game wish these two teams could play again.

    I just think the Packers coaches will have their players ready, and they are better at the most important position: quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is just in a different class than Jay Cutler right now. He is playing at a higher level, as high as anyone in the league, and will be headed to Dallas for the chance to become a Super Bowl Champion.

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    Filed Under: NFL Tagged With: aaron rodgers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, nfc championship game, nfl playoffs
    • jeff

      The Bears are at their best when they are the underdogs.
      Packers had a hard time in the last game playing a bears team that had nothing to play for
      Hester will put the bears in good field position often / forte will be the xfactor
      bears 20 pack 17

    • GoPackGo

      You obviously didnt watch that game in week 17, the Bears tried to eliminate Green Bay, and now it could come back to haunt them. Let it be a lesson learned.

    • Sooze

      This is going to be a nail bitting game for sure. I agree that it will come down to one play which will start the mommentum for either team. The Pack are on FIRE, not sure I have seen this in a while, if they just keep in stride they will definately pull off a WIN!

    • Robert

      I don't know who will win (I was born in WI and raised Milwaukie). Both are conditioned for cold weather so only field conditions may play a factor on the run or the wind making the throwing yards shorter. Although the Bears are #2 seed, most of their loses were by a good margin while GB's was fairly small which means the Packs are a little more stingier of giving point away, and if the passing routes are not on time with Culter's passing then interception more than likely will happen causing more turnovers for Bears. Rogers is playing an almost impeccable game with a great read on defense and is illusive avoiding the sacks for loss of years. Special teams goes to Chicago which is weak area for GB which hopefully are working on right now with their special teams coach. Both the defenses are good so it comes down to who can penetrate the offensive line the fastest getting to the QB before the receivers are in their route position(s).
      Again, Rogers is better on the reading the defense (this is weak point for Cutler who has to (for the most) rely on his offensive line) and is accurate with speed which puts him on an advantage having receivers like Jennings, Driver and Jones.
      The penalties are always are factor in "Any given Sunday". So both team will need to tread carefully in that region which can make or break the game as we saw in week 3 (20-17 to Chicago).
      I will give it to the Packs not because they are my team but without the penalties they are a better suited team with a loss record of low point margin. As far as playing in Soldier Field, I means nothing because they have dealt with playing on the road in the playoff season and are used to the noise of the crowd and proved it in Atlanta and Philly.

    • sami

      mo sirprise bears37 pack 21

    • DaPackRules2010

      There wont be 37 points in the game, Cutler is the QB. Packers 17-Bears 6. Chew on that…………