National Football League 2015 Season: Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers, Preview, Prediction

Minnesota and Green Bay are now tied in the NFC North at 7-3 and even if the Vikings can’t catch the Packers in the division, a wild card spot is definitely still in play. The Colts beat Denver in likely Peyton Manning’s last regular-season visit, went on a bye, then rallied in a big way to take down the Falcons in Atlanta. “The way our offense performed today is what we’re looking for”, McCarthy said in capsule assessment of the Packers’ resolve in overcoming a three-game losing streak.

The Thanksgiving game will mark the fifth time this season the Packers have been favored by more than a touchdown.

“Big picture? We play here Thursday night”.

Boy, did it ever. “It’s from the coaches on both sides, and the players”. The Packers defense looks like it’s finally ready to step up and Rodgers always has the advantage over Cutler.

The Vikings are off to their best 10-game start since they were 9-1 in 2009.

“It was definitely something different in the air”, wide receiver Randall Cobb said.

“You can’t keep giving Aaron Rodgers opportunities-or all of a sudden he’ll burn you”, he said. “We can’t have pass interferences, can’t do those things and beat a good football team”.

The win puts the Packers back on track and in control of their own destiny in terms of the division.

MASON’S MAKES: After shanking a 52-yard try on the game’s final play last week that would have given Green Bay the win, Mason Crosby bounced back by making all five of his field-goal attempts, all from 40-plus yards. Besides Rivers’ fourth pick-six of the season, tight end Antonio Gates was seen jawing at the quarterback on the sideline in the first half. The Packers have beaten the Vikings in 10 of their last 12 meetings, and Peterson has been around for most of those. When you add the short rest and the home field, Green Bay should be able to win this by double digits. This was an important week for us, we stuck together.

On defense: Rodgers sliced and diced an improved secondary, buying time with his legs and firing darts down the field, and Lacy rushed for more yards than he had in the previous four games combined.

“I hope when Bart walks on the field that it will bring back a lot of really nice thoughts and experiences”, Cherry told ESPN.com Monday night.

Jones was certainly not effected(at least not negatively) by the long sleeved hooded sweatshirt catching six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown but I can’t remember anyone ever playing in a hoodie.

Bridgewater took quite a bruising, leaving the game briefly with an injury to his left shoulder but still finishing 25 for 37 for 296 yards and a touchdown without any turnovers.

Optimism was sky-high in Minnesota this week as fans rallied around Zimmer, his hard-nosed defense, which had not allowed an opponent to score more than 23 points all season, and a rejuvenated Peterson. That bit of Lacy running was just enough to prevent the Vikings from focusing all their resources on Rodgers, as other teams have recently done.

Minnesota also helped the Packers with uncharacteristic penalties.

Minnesota’s seven wins have come against teams that are a combined 22-38.

“Knowing that we have another shot to play (the Packers) again and everything that we want is still within reach, I think the mood is better than obviously it was (Sunday)”, Barr said. The way we practiced, I’m happy they had success today, because they’ve been putting out the whole time. “Everybody knows the division goes through there”. McCarthy’s message to the team reflected that.