Bears vs. Packers: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

One month ago, the Week 16 matchup between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers looked like it could be one of the biggest of the season. But all that blew up when Jay Cutler and Matt Forte went down with injuries and the Packers blew their shot at perfection with a loss. 

The Bears are trying to find something to get excited about right now. Caleb Hanie is playing so badly that he makes Cutler look like John Elway, which is why it's no surprise that Josh McCown is going to start this game.

The defense is feeling more pressure to perform with the offense struggling, and that has led to a lot of ugly losses and big plays given up.

The Packers may not be able to challenge the 1972 Miami Dolphins' perfect season anymore, but that does not mean that there is all of a sudden something wrong with them. They had a bad week. It happens to everyone.

This game will make them feel much better about themselves. 

Where: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin

When: Sunday, Dec. 25 at 8:20 p.m. EST

Watch: NBC

Listen: WBBM-B 96 (Chicago); WTMJ, Statewide Radio Network (Green Bay)

Live Streaming Audio: NFL.com Audio Pass ($29.99 for year, $27.99 team specific, $9.99 a month) 

Betting Line: Green Bay (-13)

What's At Stake?

The Packers will clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a victory in this game or if the 49ers lose on Saturday. They have been the best team all season long and deserve to play at Lambeau in January. 

It will be fitting if they are able to lock up the No. 1 seed against the Bears, their biggest rivals. The fact that they can do it at home on Christmas is almost too perfect a scenario to cook up. 

The Bears have an outside shot to get into the postseason, but they will have to win out and hope that the Lions and Falcons lose their final two games. It's a tall order, though we have seen stranger things happen in the NFL. 

Bears Injury Report

Out: QB Jay Cutler (Thumb), RB Matt Forte (Knee), WR Johnny Knox (Back), DB Chris Conte (Foot)

Packers Injury Report

Out: T Derrek Sherrod (Leg), WR Greg Jennings (Knee), TE Andrew Quarless (Knee)

Questionable: RB James Starks (Ankle), RB Brandon Saine (Concussion)

Fantasy Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Sleeper

Start 'Em: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

What's left to say about Rodgers that hasn't already been said through 15 weeks? He is the best quarterback in the NFL right now, and has been the most dominant fantasy player since the season started. 

A game against the Bears' defense would normally be a reason to not start someone, but Rodgers isn't someone. He is The Man. 

Sit 'Em: Bears RB Marion Barber

I expected bigger things from Barber when he was inserted as the starting running back, but unfortunately he has been the player that we all thought he was before. He runs hard, but is unable to make defenders miss. 

The Packers have had some problems on defense throughout the year, but they have a solid run defense. They will prevent Barber from being able to get much yardage.

Sleeper: Bears RB Kahlil Bell

Going right back to the Bears backfield, Bell actually got more carries than Barber did last week and had 65 yards on just 15 carries. I did praise the Packers' run defense before, but part of that has to do with the style of runner that Barber is too. 

I think that Bell has a chance to go for a lot of yards if the Bears are able to keep the game close and don't have to rely on the pass to get back in it. 

What They Are Saying

The Bears know that they are on thin ice right now, and Josh McCown is not going to be able to do everything on his own. Running back Kahlil Bell told the Chicago Tribune that the team supports him completely. 

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“Whoever the coaches give the go-ahead to is the guy we’re running with,” running back Kahlil Bell said. “[The Packers] have a lot of guys over there who are really good defensive players, a lot of Pro Bowl players over there, but protecting the football is part of the game, it’s the name of the game. The team that wins the turnover battle is usually the team that is going to win the game. So we’ve stressed it all year, we have to take care of the football.”

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Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't get enough credit for his running ability, and he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he has made a point of using it when he has to. 

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"I wanted to prove that I could be a really effective pocket passer," Rodgers said. "That was important. Any quarterback who has been tabbed as being athletic, you really want to prove you can throw from the pocket."

"That being said, the run is a weapon for myself and our offense to extend plays, make plays outside the pocket. I think my career will be directly tied to how my legs hold up. So, hopefully they hold up for a while."

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Key Matchup: Josh McCown vs. Packers Secondary

The Caleb Hanie experiment bombed, so now the Bears are handing the reins over to Josh McCown. That may not sound like a smart move, but considering how bad Hanie has been, it might be the best thing for this team right now. 

The Packers' secondary has had a lot of problems all season, and if they don't show up for this game, they will give up a lot of yards and points to McCown and the Bears. 

I am skeptical that McCown can do anything against this defense, but we have seen a number of quarterbacks move the ball up and down the field on the Packers, so it's not impossible to envision him putting up a lot of yards in this game. 

Prediction

The Packers lost a game this season. We didn't expect it to come when it did, and they won't let it happen again. 

Packers 35, Bears 13

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