Bears vs. Packers

                                                                                         

Chicago -4 vs. Green Bay

One of the best rivalries will be renewed this Monday in Chicago as the Green Bay Packers play the Chicago Bears.

Green Bay (5-9) has been eliminated from postseason play and has not won in a month. Their last victory came against Chicago when they totally dominated the Bears 37-3 on November 16 at Lambeau Field. The game was not the turning point in the season that Green Bay had hoped. After the victory, the Packers evened their record at 5-5 and were still very much in the thick of the NFC North Division race. Since then they have lost four straight contests in excruciating fashion.

Immediately following the Bears game, the Packers engaged the Saints in a close battle with much scoring throughout the first-half. But New Orleans blew it open in the second-half and claimed victory 51-29. The next three weeks, the Packers have lost each game by no more than four points.

Chicago (8-6) has had a solid season after dropping to last in the division last season after their Super Bowl season of 2006, however the Bears do not control their own destiny. The Minnesota Vikings have had a very solid second-half and sit in an advantageous position over Chicago. Win just one of their final two games and the Vikings will clinch the division no matter what the Bears do.

Either way Chicago must win and they should be ready to avenge that loss to a Green Bay team searching for answers.

Even if the Bears fail to make the playoffs, they know they will be able to compete with the Vikings in the future as far as talented and young running backs is concerned. Matt Forte is the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award, won last year by Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. Forte needs 69 yards in his last two contests to surpass the Bears' highest rookie running back yardage total of 1183 set by Anthony Thomas in 2001.

Before the season the Packers back Ryan Grant was seen to be in elite company with Peterson, but he has had a tough season. However, he did have his best game against Chicago with 145 yards. Grant loves playing the Bears, as he has garnered 100 yards or more in both of his career starts against them.

Even with the loss earlier this season, the Bears have won six of the last nine over the Packers, but have held home field very well in the series, having split the last four at Soldier Field.

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