The 3-9 Chicago Bears will play the 4-8 Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in a Week 13 matchup. Here’s what it’s worthwhile to know.
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Halftime: Bears 16, Packers 10
Justin Fields didn’t look like held again by his left shoulder damage within the first half in opposition to the Packers.
After lacking the Bears’ Week 12 sport with the shoulder damage, Fields returned to throw for 126 yards and run for 70 yards and a landing within the first half because the Bears took a 16-10 lead into halftime.
Fields broke for a 56-yard landing run on the Bears’ second drive of the sport for a 10-0 lead. First, Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon missed a sort out. Fields then shot via a gap and simply outran Packers defenders Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Adrian Amos and De’Vondre Campbell to the tip zone.
Kicker Cairo Santos made a 40-yard area purpose on the Bears’ opening drive for a 3-0 lead.
The Bears confirmed they nonetheless had been prepared to run Fields on the opening drive. He had carries of 9, 1 and 6 yards. The latter got here on a damaged play on third-and-8, and the Bears turned to Santos.
Later within the first half, David Montgomery ran for a 7-yard landing for a 16-3 lead after Santos missed the extra-point try. That capped a two-play drive, with the landing arrange by Fields’ 56-yard move to Equanimeous St. Brown.
The Bears protection was robust on the Packers’ first three drives.
Safety DeAndre Houston-Carson had a giant sort out for a loss, and linebacker Jack Sanborn had a third-down cease on the primary drive. The Packers received to the Bears 11-yard line on the second drive. But Sanborn had a sort out for a loss, Aaron Rodgers ran for six yards and Rodgers threw incomplete whereas below strain.
Kicker Mason Crosby then made a 24-yard area purpose to chop the Bears result in 10-3.
The Packers received a takeaway when Bears large receiver Chase Claypool fumbled after a 17-yard catch, and the Packers received the ball at their very own 40. But Rodgers threw incomplete on three straight performs to finish the drive. On the third play on fourth-and-8 from the 37, Houston-Carson defended Randall Cobb in the long run zone.
But late within the second quarter, Rodgers hit Christian Watson with a 14-yard landing move on fourth-and-4 to chop the Bears result in 16-10.
Claypool was injured on the play throughout which he fumbled. He limped off the sector on his personal and went into the damage tent. He later was seen working on the sideline.
Inactives introduced
The Bears secondary will likely be lacking a number of key gamers Sunday in opposition to the Packers.
Cornerbacks Kyler Gordon (concussion) and Kindle Vildor (ankle) and security Jaquan Brisker (concussion) are all inactive. Those absences are on prime of security Eddie Jackson happening injured reserve this week with a Lisfranc damage in his foot.
Also inactive for the Bears are quarterback Tim Boyle, fullback Khari Blasingame and offensive linemen Ja’Tyre Carter and Larry Borom. Blasingame was dominated out with an sickness this morning.
For the Packers, left sort out David Bakhtiari, large receiver Romeo Doubs, security Darnell Savage, linebacker Krys Barnes, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles and defensive lineman Jonathan Ford are inactive.
History lesson
Except for 2 years — 1922 and 1982 — the Bears and Packers have performed one another each season since 1921.
They are the 2 oldest groups in steady operation within the National Football League with a rivalry spanning 203 video games, together with two playoff conferences. The Packers maintain a slight lead within the sequence with 104 wins to the Bears’ 95, with six ties.
Here’s a glance again, decade by decade, at how the groups have fared and the highlights — and lowlights — of their matchups.
The Bears have began 20 quarterbacks for the reason that Packers since 1992. That quantity will tick as much as 21 if anybody aside from Fields begins Sunday. On the flip facet, simply three quarterbacks have began for the Packers in opposition to the Bears since ‘92 (Brett Favre began 32 video games. Rodgers has began 29).
Read extra eye-catching numbers earlier than the Week 13 matchup right here.
QB updates — on each side
Bears quarterback Justin Fields was restricted in follow Wednesday however returned in full Thursday and Friday as he continues to get better from a separated left shoulder.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is recovering from a proper thumb fracture from earlier within the season and a ribs damage that knocked him out of the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12.
The final time Rodgers performed at Soldier Field, he was yelling “I own you!” to bird-flipping Bears followers in a 24-14 Packers win. It was one in every of Rodgers’ 24 wins as a starter in opposition to the Bears with simply 5 losses. He has a 108.1 profession passer ranking within the rivalry, together with a 125-plus ranking in every of his final 5 video games in opposition to the Bears.
Fields mentioned Wednesday that it’s not about being 100% however having the ability to carry out as much as his requirements.
“There’s a few people in this league that are quote-unquote 100% (in Week 13),” Fields mentioned. “So I’m just going to go out there and if I feel like I can help my team win … and put points on the board, then I’m going to go out there and play.”
The Bears have misplaced 5 consecutive video games and eight of 9, however with solely 5 video games remaining, they’re working out of alternatives for Fields and the offense to make enhancements with an eye fixed towards subsequent season.
The Bears averaged 29.5 factors in a five-game stretch via the Falcons loss when Fields was injured, so issues had been trending upward. The passing sport stays very a lot a piece in progress, however the working sport with Fields concerned has been dynamic and dominant.
Injury information
The Bears positioned Eddie Jackson on injured reserve, chopping brief a resurgent season from the sixth-year security.
Jackson suffered a noncontact left foot damage within the second quarter of a 31-10 loss to the Jets. On Mike White’s 54-yard landing move to Garrett Wilson, Jackson was backpedaling when he slipped with no one round him. He limped off the sector with out placing weight on his leg.
Jackson, who will likely be 29 in December, was having his best season since 2018. He had 4 interceptions, six passes defended, two pressured fumbles and 80 tackles in 12 video games.
The Bears additionally positioned large receiver Darnell Mooney, who wants season-ending ankle surgical procedure, on injured reserve.
His damage leaves the Bears with out one in every of their most necessary gamers as they attempt to make strides of their still-quiet passing sport. The 2020 fifth-round pick of Tulane had 81 catches for 1,055 yards and 4 touchdowns final season. He had 40 catches for 493 yards and two touchdowns this yr.
“When you lose the production of those guys, number one, that always hurts and also the leadership part of it,” coach Matt Eberflus mentioned of Jackson and Mooney. “Those guys have been great in the locker room. They are great teammates. They really are encouraging to others and they really model the behavior we wish to see.”
Cornerback Kyler Gordon and security Jaquan Brisker haven’t practiced the final two weeks whereas within the concussion protocol and are out for Sunday. With Jackson out, the Bears once more will likely be skinny at security, at which veteran DeAndre Houston-Carson and rookie Elijah Hicks will begin. Cornerback Kindle Vildor additionally has been was restricted this week by an ankle damage and is listed as questionable.
Right sort out Riley Reiff was restricted in practices Thursday and Friday as he recovers from a again damage. But Eberflus indicated that Reiff remains to be in line to begin Sunday. Fellow offensive sort out Larry Borom, in the meantime, missed each practices didn’t follow this week with ankle and knee accidents and has been declared out.
Wide receiver Dante Pettis, who missed two practices this week with an sickness, was again as a full participant Friday and is obvious to play.
For the Packers, left sort out David Bakhtiari underwent an appendectomy Friday and was dominated out for Sunday.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com