If you're worried about Aaron Rodgers and the Packers as they prepare to face the Bears on a short week, look to Vegas for assurance.
The wise guys gave Chicago eight points on the road in Green Bay for Thursday Night Football, which means they either have zero respect for a Brian Hoyer-led offense, or they know the Packers, even without running back Eddie Lacy, will snap out of their offensive funk against their NFC North rivals.
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Green Bay, 3-2 and coming off a disheartening loss to Dallas, needs a division win not only to keep up with undefeated Minnesota, but also to keep a comfortable cushion on top of emerging Detroit. Chicago, 1-5 and losers of two straight, already can forget about this season and focus more on navigating its complicated quarterback situation.
For the second straight week, the Packers will play at Lambeau Field out of their green-and-yellow uniform comfort zone. This time, with all-white "Color Rush" threads, Green Bay should get it done ... that is, if you ask SN's Vinnie Iyer. SN's David Steele isn't so sure.
Packers-Bears predictions
STEELE: Bears, 19-17 — It was last Thanksgiving, at Lambeau Field — on Brett Favre Night, yet, with aging and ailing Bart Starr on hand — that the world stopped casually dismissing the worries about Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. Last week’s loss to the Cowboys didn’t exactly silence the alarms. The Bears are awful, but this is a genuine rivalry game, and as last year proved, those can tilt logic on its side.
IYER: Packers, 33-17 — In a weird way, not having Eddie Lacy in the backfield will be a spark for the Green Bay offense, because it will let Aaron Rodgers get into a rhythm against an injury-riddled Chicago defense. The Packers will be in full relaxation mode to shake off a bad loss to Dallas in Lambeau with former Bear Julius Peppers providing the prime-time exclamation point.
FANTASY: Week 7 QB rankings | Injury updates
Packers-Bears stats that matter
Bears: Last 1-6 start was 2000 with Cade McNown starting at QB, Curtis Enis at RB
Bears: Last two wins vs. Packers came in Green Bay (2015 and 2013)
Packers: Won 10 of last 12 Bears matchups dating to 2010 season, including NFC championship
Packers: Looking for fourth straight season starting at least 4-2; have three 3-3 starts with Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers: 107.3 career passer rating vs. Bears, best among 27 players with at least 200 pass attempts since 1960
Rodgers: 35-9 career TD-INT ratio vs. Bears; 35 TDs vs. Bears is second only to Brett Favre (60) and Fran Tarkenton (35)
Brian Hoyer: 100.8 passer rating is best by any Bears QB with 100 pass attempts through Week 6 since Rudy Bukich in 1965
Hoyer: One of two QBs with zero interceptions this season (Sam Bradford)
Cameron Meredith: 243 receiving yards and 20 receptions over last two weeks, four more receptions than any other player
Ty Montgomery: 10 catches for 98 yards in Week 6 after not catching a pass all year
Packers defense: NFL-best 3.0 opponent yards per carry
IYER: How to fix the Packers' offense
Packers-Bears live stream, game info
Kickoff time: 8:25 p.m. ET
TV network(s): CBS, NFL Network
Live stream: Twitter
Contributing: Alex Novick