Bears Can Clinch Division, Eliminate Packers With Win Sunday

CHICAGO - The NFL's oldest rivalry has been lopsided in recent years, with the Green Bay Packers dominating the Chicago Bears through much of the Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre eras. But expectations are much different for this Sunday's game, which a Bears victory would mean an NFC North division title and the team's return to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

The 2018 Bears may be on the verge of pulling off a "worst-to-first" season, but they first must take seriously a Packers team that is having a rare off-year. The Packers have been so disappointing in 2018 that they fired their head coach, Mike McCarthy, after a narrow loss to the last-place Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago. The team did defeat the Atlanta Falcons last week under new interim head coach Joe Philbin, however.

The Bears, too, are coming off a win. And the 15-6 triumph over the high-powered Los Angeles Rams Sunday night was as exciting as it gets, complete with a safety and an offensive lineman finding the end zone for a touchdown.

What To Watch For

1. Mitch Trubisky to bounce back. After missing two games to injury and throwing three interceptions against the Rams, the Bears quarterback has a great chance to bounce back this week as the Packers have been among the league’s worst pass defenses.
2. "The Freezer” Akiem Hicks to find the end zone against the Packers like “The Fridge” William Perry did in 1985? - Hicks scored on a touchdown run in a game against the New York Giants two weeks ago and could do it again at home against Green Bay, which would bring back memories of Perry’s iconic Monday Night Football moment 33 years ago.

3. The Return Of 'Club Dub'? "Club Dub," the Bears' post-game win celebration this season, could reach a fever pitch should the team beat Green Bay and clinch a berth in the playoffs. The celebration that garnered national attention after the Bears' dominant win over the Rams may be the best thing since the "Super Bowl Shuffle" was filmed during the 1985 season before the team had even reached the Super Bowl.

Series History

• Green Bay leads the all-time series 97-94-6.
• The Packers have won five in a row in the series. The last Bears' win was a 17-13 decision at Green Bay on Nov. 26, 2015.
• At Soldier Field, the Packers have won eight in a row in the series, including the 2010 NFC Championship Game. The last Bears' win over Green Bay at home came on Sept. 27, 2010.

How The Packers Can Make The Playoffs:

See if you can figure this out: The Green Bay Packers Could Still Make The Playoffs... Really

How The Bears Can Make The Playoffs:

Win and they're in.

How To Watch:

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
When: Sunday at NOON CDT
Where: Soldier Field, Illinois
TV: FOX
Streaming: fuboTV, Fox Sports App

Photo via Patch file / Tim Moran