Bears (5-4) at Packers (4-5) :WagerWeb Entertainment

Bears (5-4) at Packers (4-5)

15 November 2008 144 views No Comment

Chicago and Green Bay, two teams that have met more than any others in the NFL, face off Sunday with first place in the NFC North at stake, with the Packers 3.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.

The Bears are tied with the Vikings atop the division, one game ahead of the Pack. The big news in this game is the return of Chicago QB Kyle Orton from injury. He missed last week’s loss to the Titans with a sprained ankle. Orton had started the first eight games of the season, completing 151 of 244 passes for 1,777 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. His 90.8 passer rating currently ranks ninth in the NFL.

Orton took regular snaps all week but certainly will be limited mobility wise. He is officially listed as probable to start. Orton should have his favorite early-season target back too. Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd is confident about returning to the lineup after missing the last five games with a sprained right knee.

Look for Orton to be handing off a lot to RB Matt Forte as the Packers are weak against the run. They have allowed 178 and 220 yards on the ground over the last two weeks, and now they’ll have to play without middle linebacker Nick Barnett, who tore a right knee ligament in trying to defend Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson (192 yards) last week. Forte is the only player in the league with at least three rushing and three receiving touchdowns.

Green Bay’s pass defense is a strength, ranking third in the league (179.1 yards per game) and has an NFL-best 16 interceptions.

Meanwhile, the Bears are stellar at stopping the run but rank only 30th against the pass, which is good news for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. The past four opposing quarterbacks against the Bears have put up season-high numbers. Rodgers has completed 55.2 percent of his passes with one TD and one interception in Green Bay’s losses the last two weeks after completing 70.5 percent with six scores and one pick in the previous three games.

The Bears have won six of the last eight games vs. the Packers, including four straight at Lambeau Field. It’s Chicago’s longest winning streak at Green Bay since winning five in a row there from 1984-88.

Injury report: Bears

Doubtful
T Fred Miller (shoulder)

Probable
LB Hunter Hillenmeyer (thumb)
QB Kyle Orton (ankle)
CB Charles Tillman (shoulder)