Can Jordan Love Lead The Packers To The Playoffs?
Our Bears vs Packers Expert Picks Include a Total Pick
The Green Bay Packers are currently the 7th seed in the NFC. With the top seven seeds making the NFL playoffs in each conference, the Packers must defeat the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The Packers are in a win-and-in scenario after a dominating win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. However, beating the Bears won’t be easy.
Chicago is playing its best football in the late portion of the season. The Bears won’t be playing for the playoffs. But they’re one win away from finishing the season one game below .500.
Nobody would’ve guessed that after Chicago’s loss to Detroit in mid-November. The Bears were 3-8 and have only lost one game since.
At 3-8, the Chicago Bears and their fanbase discussed next year’s plan at quarterback. Nobody really wanted Justin Fields back as the quarterback. However, Fields has not solidified himself as the franchise quarterback. Even fans are chanting that they want Fields back after the Bears have won four of their last five games.
The one loss came on the road against the Bears, 20-17.
So, while the Packers are in a must-win game, they are only -3.5 favorites against the Bears at home for Week 18.
The total is 44, and you can buy the Packers at -180 odds on the moneyline.
Read about our Bears vs Packers expert picks below.
Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers 
Day/Time:
Location: Lambeau Field
Stream CBS
Bears vs Packers Trends
Let’s look at the trends before we get to our Bears vs Packers expert picks.
The Bears have won against the spread in five of their last six games. Therefore, they’re now 8-6-2 against the spread this season.
Meanwhile, the Over has hit in eight of 16 games. But the total has pushed in one Chicago game this year.
On the other hand, the Packers ended a three-game losing streak against the spread on Sunday with a 33-10 win over the Vikings as a 1-point favorite. The Packers are now 8-8 against the spread this season and have hit the Over in 10 of 16 matchups.
Green Bay has gone 4-3 at home, while the Bears are just 2-6 on the road. Earlier this year, the Packers added a 38-20 win as a 1-point favorite against the Bears in Chicago.
Justin Fields Here To Stay?
The Chicago Bears will have the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
It’s not their NFL pick. It’s Carolina’s who traded that pick away for the 2023 NFL No. 1 pick. The Panthers added Bryce Young in a blockbuster trade and didn’t improve with Young under center.
There are a couple of significant quarterback prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. Many scouts have compared USC’s Caleb Williams to a future Patrick Mahomes. However, fans and teammates are sold on Justin Fields at quarterback.
Fields has turned things around for the Bears in the second half of the season. Chicago went from 3-8 to 7-9, which has given fans and teammates hope for the future.
Meanwhile, the defense is in the top five in interceptions this season and has improved in the second half of the year.
The Bears can fix many holes with different trades and other acquisitions by keeping Fields.
Jordan Love’s Rolling
The Packers took a chance on Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft. Love was a quarterback out of Utah State and wasn’t ready for game action in his first season.
He learned behind Aaron Rodgers and finally got his opportunity this year.
While he was a bit inconsistent early on, he’s been incredible over the second half of the season. Love has already thrown for 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions despite his No. 1 receiver being injured for half of the year.
Love’s QBR of 61.5 is 10th best in the NFL, and he’s thrown for 3,843 yards this season. His 30 passing touchdowns are third in the NFL.
Now, a win against the Bears at home would clinch the Packers another playoff spot.
Consistencies On Offense
While the Packers scored 33 points in each of their last two games, the Bears added at least 27 points in three of their previous four games.
Justin Fields doesn’t just lead the Bears in passing; he also has the most rushing yards on the NFL team. Fields has accumulated 20 touchdowns and has only thrown nine interceptions this season.
He’s completed 61% of passes and has rushed for 5.4 yards a carry. Fields is a dynamic player who is truly hard to stop.
Meanwhile, Khalil Herbert rushed 18 times for 124 yards on Sunday with one touchdown. He averaged 6.9 yards a carry and is now sharing attempts with Roschon Johnson.
Fields also has a great connection with D.J. Moore, who added nine catches for 159 yards on 13 targets against the Falcons. Moore scored his eighth touchdown of the season and has 1,300 yards receiving this year. That’s good for 7th in the NFL, which is impressive for an offense that runs a lot.
On the other hand, the Packers have a healthy Aaron Jones back. Jones returned to the field after a month on the injured list. He’s added 120 or more yards on the ground in back-to-back games and has also seen at least 20 carries in those two games. His presence has helped Jordan Love over the last two games. Love has thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the three games where Jones has been back.
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