I know I said the Packers will probably lose on Saturday earlier in the week but as I look at this game and I see that some of the injured players might be playing I am now saying the Packers can win. Many fans do believe we cannot win without Parsons. I believe that losing Parsons might help us. This will force the coaches to change their game plan and if they do it correctly the Bears will not be prepared. We just played the Bears two weeks ago so they will game plan but they will have to adjust their game plan now.

Just beat the Indiana Bears. Yes I am looking to the future.

Sorry Tim, but with no OL, bad DB’s and no pass rush I can’t see the Packers doing much the rest of this season.

The bright side? There’s always next year.

"This is the only game the Packers have remaining against playoff-caliber competition."

Since when has that mattered? Remember that we played Cleavland too? I'm sure that regardless of Saturdays' game that the players and coaches won't take the Ravens and Vikings for granted.

Winning Saturday is all about the O-line. No if, ands or buts about it. For the offense and Love to take control and help the defense they'll have to win the line of scrimmage. It's not complicated or guessing it's all right in front of them.

Tim thank you for choosing to educate our youth and doing your part to molding them into good adults. I hope some of them will thank you in future years for helping them.

I respect teachers. It is a profession I thought about after retiring from the military. I decided against it when I found out the only reason I wanted to teach was to have a job. That was the wrong reason to teach.

Teachers should be treated as professionals. They should be paid as professionals but they should also be required to prove they are professionals by ratings and continuing their education. Yes, I know many school districts or states require this.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and enjoy your time off.

Cheers to the many teachers and school administrators throughout the country. A much under appreciated profession.
The pain of losing to the Broncos is still lingering, but I am becoming more confident about the Bears game—I believe we’re going to win. Can Love drive us to Disneyland?
I got excited when the Packers activated Lloyd, and then realized it wasn’t likely long term.
Go Packers!!!

Mr Backes, this is HERESY!! Sledding is better than skiing?!? These children do not know how to ski. Fake Christmas trees do not compare to real ones, but this pales in comparison.

“The Packers managed to put together pretty solid defensive numbers last year with a worse unit with a lot of these guys having had one year less of development. “

This is one of the brighter comments. Many of us don’t give enough credit to development of a player, whether that’s be from their own and or thru coaching. We have so many examples where players progress from one year to the next. IE: Jordy, who came into his own the latter part of year 3. So, a player can actually get better during the year. I think both LVN and Cox could be guys to pressure the QB consistently. That’s important, but I believe against da bears the most important will be containment and run defense. If we do that well and don’t turn the ball over we win!

I can't believe that we are currently favored by a point over the Bears this Saturday.

Hopefully, we can win the game but I am just not very confident in our chances.

I'll echo the well-deserved praise from Cheesehead72. Thanks for changing lanes and choosing education for your career.

My loins are girded for a loss on Saturday, BUT this team is not going to roll over for the Bears. I'd love to see these guys who have been disregarded and disrespected battle and come out of Chicago with the W. It's good to be a Packers fan, and it's good to have so much to play for this late in the season.

GPG

"The real barometer is going to be the Bears game this weekend. This is the only game the Packers have remaining against playoff-caliber competition."

With the Bears being the first week "post Parsons", the Packers are likely to be throwing out some wrinkles and emphasizing things that will essentially be unscouted looks. They need to capitalize on that. If the Packers can start fast--which they did against the Broncos--and put 7s up instead of 3s, they'll put a lot of pressure on the Bears to try to keep up and take a lot of pressure off their run defense.

Three games left and while the Bears might have the best record of their remaining opponents, the Packers better not take the Ravens or Vikings lightly. They need to win 2 of their remaining three to lock up a playoff spot on their own. Losses by the Bears and Detroit impact that calculus. I don't want the Packers' season hinging on a road trip to Minneapolis in the final week.

There are several Bears fans lurking (WorstWisconsin, StinkyCheese, etc.) who are waiting for post-game Saturday to break out and troll like crazy if the Bears win. Let's keep them quiet.

BEARS--
They tend to play better in the first and fourth quarters, and that was borne out against a Cleveland team that didn't want to be there. If you watched that game, the Bears' O was really not all that good for the middle two quarters and put 17 points up off TOs, mostly at the end when Sanders had no choice but to throw.

LIONS--
The Lions' playoff hopes are on life support and they will be chasing whichever of the Packers/Bears game loses. If the Packers win and the Bears lose to the 9ers, that final game is an elimination game, and I can't see Dan Campbell losing to Ben Johnson in that scenario. If the Packers lose to the Bears, they'd better be winning the next two weeks.

VIKINGS--
They played arguably their best game of the year against Dallas in a game where Dallas pretty much outplayed them on paper in except for the final score. Dallas can't get out of their own way at this point. The Giants aren't very good, but the Vikes will need to play outside against them. Their record in games played outside: 1-3.

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. H.E.Lucock

Just like a chain is not stronger than it weakest link it is not as strong as its strongest link.

Just go win the game.

The Packers have to play 60 minutes of mistake-free football to win in Chicago without Parsons. No procedure penalties. No offsides. No illegal shifts. No pass interference. No unnecessary roughness. Make sure to get the play called and run before there is :01 on the play clock. AND no missed tackles, interceptions, wasted time outs or ridiculous challenges.

Can the Packers players (and Coaches) deliver this kind of performance? It is what they are being paid to do, but so far this season it has been an unattainable goal. I don't see how this changes on Saturday.

"It’s time for Jordan Love to be the guy"

This team will go as far as Love takes it. Its that simple. Love is the guy, he is one of the best QB's in the league. It is time for him to take over and overcome any flaws on the team. To make a run, you need your best to take over. It is time for Love to take over!

"Around the NFC North"

The CHICAGO BEARS -
The Bears beat the Browns who are onto their 3rd? starting QB of the season. And it sounds like they won the Super Bowl. The Bears have improved. But lets see how they finish when they play GB, 49ers and Lions.

The DETROIT LIONS -
Wouldn't it be interesting if Lions and Bears in week 18 decided who made the playoffs. But either way considering everyone was crowning the Lions, they have really fallen this year.

The MINNESOTA VIKINGS -
Vikings have played better the last few games. McCarthy has looked better (from what I have seen). McCarthy may be the QB of the future. A lot has to be determined for that. But either way they really messed up the position in the offseason.

The Packers need their OL to dominate the LOS. If they can do that and play with a lead they will make the Bears one dimensional. As for Love being the guy he can't be the "guy" unless the OL protects him and gives him time to make good throws.

On defense it will be key for the Packers to get off the field on third down. Bet the ball back to the offense keep the Bears offense off the field. Run the ball plus quick passing game to move the chains is the best way to protect Love and enable him to become the "guy". The Packers must minimize their penalties in this game, especially the pre-snap penalties. Needless to say no turnovers by the Packers offense. It would be great if the Packers defense can generate some turnovers in this game.

Play with a lead to enable the Packers to generate a pass rush even without Parsons. It's time for Rashon Gary to take over a game. He needs to show up big time this week along with LVN and Cooper. GPG! Thanks, Since '61

We should have the horses to beat the Bears. Our run D is essentially unchanged by Parsons loss. We already knew we needed a change in approach from Hafley with respect to stopping Williams running right and covering the back field when he does.

They will run as they did last time and last week. We need to look at who we activate on the IDL and play Williams smarter while paying attention to running on them ourselves. It’s against more balanced teams and QBs with less significant traits that the losses will start to be more significant.

Tim: While I am a regular follower of the articles youse guys submit for our reading pleasure, there are only a couple of writers whose posts I look forward to reading. Yours is one of them. Your comments are upbeat, regardless of how awful the Packers looked the previous game. It appears your (beer) glass is always "half-full." And from my experience, those people whose view of the world is not doom and gloom but opportunity, make the best teachers. Cheers! Go Packers.

This current situation should be time of reckoning and honest appraisal of the current make-up of the O-line, D-line and corner-room. Sometimes we need to have our backs against the wall before we agree to face the truth.

I think there will be valiant efforts made by Hafley, Cooper, perhaps, Oliver, Sorrell, Love, Watson (I hope he's not coming back too early), Doubs, Wicks, etc.

Every team has injuries by this time. GB has to stop whining and excuse-making. My hope is they take a long, hard look @ their weak trenches, TE and CB rooms and honestly evaluate how they can assemble better players, add more depth and not rely on 1 person in each group to save the team---Love, Parsons, Tom, Williams, Kraft, Watson. Now, all I hear is 'Love has to save the team'. He could get seriously injured in the next few games with that expectation while receiving little protection by the OL.

For the Bears game, I think the defense needs to keep Williams in the pocket and stop the run. Parsons was the only edge who could keep up with Williams when he broke the pocket. He's dangerous rolling to his right. Offensively, I think the O Line just needs to give Love time. The Bears got burned blitzing Love last time so the strategy might change. Also, When we had the rash of injuries, I felt like Hafley didn't flinch and he kept his defense on track. I don't think the offense faired quite the same and it looked to me like LaFleur panicked a little ( remember that ridiculous challenge) LaFleur needs to channel some of that Hafley energy for himself and put his guys in position to make plays. Lots of ifs, but it can be done.

Curl up in a ball or ball out against the Bears?
It seems to me that there were good hopes for the Packers before we obtained Micah.
I favored the Micah trade because it moved up the Packers from contenders to the Super Bowl to elite contenders.
We gave up a lot to get Micah, but I thought it was worth it to try to push the Packers to the very top of the NFL.
It was a good risk.
The opportunity to get a proven difference-maker like Micah in the prime of his career doesn't come along all that often. Actually, it happens very rarely.
I liked the trade for Parsons, and still do. He was great this season, and was a main reason why we've gotten as far as we are, in the thick of the playoff picture.
I'm hopeful he'll be great for us for a few years to come.
***
As mentioned, it seems the Packers were contenders for the Super Bowl before Micah.
At that time, we were already among a pack of teams that had a plausible opportunity to win it all. It wasn't likely the Packers would win it all on February 8th, but we were in the hunt.
We still are, even without Micah. Our chances aren't as good, but we still have a decent chance.
So, it would be silly to give up the season, and it would be sad.
Just as Wyatt has stepped up this season before his injury, let's see who else can step up from here on out.
We saw Wicks star in a game last month; let see if he can continue to step up, and if others will join him.
Let's see if the coaches can put our talented players in the best positions to succeed.
It's good drama, because we're less certain of triumph, but we still have reason to hope.
We have that underdog thing going for us, too, the challenge of overcoming adversity.
***
In any case, beating the Bears this Saturday is a huge game in itself. Whatever else happens this season, it would be highly satisfying to beat the Bears as they are in their ascent, and just when the Packers have been dealt some tough blows.
So, let's just go out and try to beat the Bears. Let's have some fun with that in the spotlight of a national game on Saturday night.
Then we'll go from there.

why would anyone think that the Ravens will be an easier win than the Bears?? King Henry rumbling through the line...they won't be an easy win...Lambeau field is not an infallible place to play anymore, sadly....

"So far in his career, Jordan Love has not necessarily HAD to be *the guy* for the Packers to succeed. But now, not only is he going to have to be, but he’s also CAPABLE of being exactly that".

This says it's been fine for Love to have played in a 'subdued' manner. Why hasn't he played to 'the guy' level? Certainly there have been games that warranted such adaptation, and over three starting seasons he hasn't come close to donning the cape in games as had the true elite QB's in the league.

Love is a product of his HC's Offense, and the benefactor of many a Defensive win. Love will never be the force to rally a team as Allen did last week, or even close to that level, he simply isn't that guy. He'll get his stats, and with averaging, he'll look better than he actually is, but he isn't bringing you back, on his shoulders, from anything of what true elite QB's can deliver.

We haven't seen it because he hasn't done it, and we haven't seen it because he can't do it. His entire three-year status has been nothing more than a half to half QB, just as the team has been. If you're a QB wins stat guy, he doesn't have the numbers to make him look elite, but possibly below average.

GO PACK GO!

If Love has any 'the guy' in him, here's a perfect time to see it on the field, if not, stop making him more than he is.

Many of the QB 'heroes' such as Allen, Rodgers, Mahomes, Stafford, have had powerful O-Line protection.

GB's OL is profoundly weak and they currently do not have their only decent player, Tom. After Tom left the game last week, the right side collapsed completely. Before criticizing Love, please compare apples to apples.

The QB doesn't operate in a vacuum.

Take a look @ a phenomenal QB, Joe Burrow. His frequent injuries are the result of a terrible o-line where he was constantly pressured.

I think the Pack has a good chance to win this game. That said I am not thrilled about the 8:30 start time. What's next; midnight football?

I mentioned the catastrophic result of a weak O-Line on a QB--Joe Burrow.
Joe Burrow had the advantage over Love with elite receivers-J'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

I would bet Jordan Love would be amazing with a reliable WR#1 and #2 and a good O-Line-just like other elite QBs have at their disposal. Because he has operated with a poor supporting cast (in comparison to elite QB's)-I will not judge him.

Joe Burrow may be a great Qb, but he is rarely available due to injuries-many of which are the result of his poor O-Line.

Before: the Bears were kicking your butts in the second half @ Lambeau. If that game were 5 quarters, the fudge packers would have lost.

After: Game at Soldier Field + a weaker Packers squad + a QB ascending. Da Bears are the better team. I can't wait to come here on Sunday and read the despair and excuses as to why you lost. Sad Cheesehead's bring me great joy.

Bears 34 Packers 27

P.S I do think the Bears are the better team but have PTSD of you guys whooping us through the years. Looking forward to a better rivalry and future trash talking #FGB