Each NFL season, there’s a part one and a part two when the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears renew the league’s oldest rivalry.
But a triple feature almost never takes place.
For only the third time in the long history of the series, Green Bay and Chicago will meet in the playoffs. Though the wounded Packers limp into the postseason with four straight losses, finding any way to win the rubber match Saturday night, Jan. 10 at Soldier Field in an NFC wild-card game would be absolute cinema for the both franchise and the fan base.
It’ll help that quarterback Jordan Love will return after missing the last two games while recovering from a concussion sustained in the 22-16 overtime loss to the Bears last month.
Love could have played Jan. 4 against the Minnesota Vikings, but coach Matt LaFleur chose to rest almost all of his starters. That decision appears to be the right one with the Packers now having one less day to prepare for an elimination game.
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Getting off to a good start in a win-or-go-home game is important, and Green Bay has outscored Chicago, 20-3, in the first halves of the two games. But the Packers haven’t closed strong. The Bears have outscored them, 40-24, in the second halves and overtime.
While Malik Willis filled in admirably for Love before injuring his shoulder in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Packers have only had two touchdown passes since Love left the field in Week 16 against the Bears.
Love was in concussion protocol when the Packers collapsed late in the fourth quarter just three weeks ago at Soldier Field. Will payback give the Packers a needed edge? Or do they just have too many key injuries?
Here’s an early look at the game:
What time is Packers vs Bears game on Saturday?
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. CT.
What channel is Packers vs Bears game on Saturday night? How to watch Packers vs Bears
The game will be streamed live on Amazon Prime Video nationally. It’s also available locally in the Milwaukee market on WITI-TV (Channel 6) and in the Green Bay market on WGBA-TV (Channel 26).
Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analysis) and Kaylee Hartung (sideline reporter) will call the game.
How can I stream Packers vs Bears on Saturday night?
The game can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video with a subscription.
Packers vs Bears odds; who’s favored, Packers or Bears?
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Jan. 6
ESPN is giving the Packers a 56.1% chance to win the game.
Green Bay Packers’ record
The Packers ended the regular season at 9-7-1. The Bears are 11-6.
Packers injury report, update
Almost every starter on the Packers that could rest did in the meaningless game against the Minnesota Vikings. In addition to Love not playing, running back Josh Jacobs, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, tackle Zach Tom and safety Xavier McKinney were among the key players who were inactive. The Packers made 23 roster moves in Week 18 in an effort to keep as many players healthy for this week as possible.
Receiver Bo Melton and safety Javon Bullard suffered knee injuries in the Vikings game but neither appeared to be serious. Melton, Bullard, Tom (back), Willis (shoulder) and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) were listed as questionable Jan. 5.
Bears injury report, update
The Bears are hoping to get Rome Odunze (foot) and cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin) back from injury this week. Cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson sustained a concussion in the Jan. 4 loss to Detroit and is in concussion protocol.
Odunze, Gardner-Johnson, tackle Ozzy Trapilo (knee), defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (concussion) and cornerback Nick McCloud (illness) were listed as questionable Jan. 5.
NFC playoff picture
Here are the seven NFC playoff teams and their seeds (the top four are division winners; the No. 1 seed gets a bye in the first round):
NFL playoff bracket
Here is the complete NFL playoff bracket:
NFC
First-round bye: Seattle Seahawks – they play the lowest-seeded team in the divisional round that advances from the wild-card round.
AFC
First-round bye: Denver Broncos – they play the lowest-seeded team in the divisional round that advances from the wild-card round.
When do the NFL playoffs continue?
The divisional playoffs are Jan. 17-18 and the conference championship games are Jan. 25.
When is the Super Bowl?
Super Bowl 60 is at 5:30 p.m. CT Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Packers 2025 schedule
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When do Packers play next? Bears playoff game Saturday
Reporting by Emmett Prosser, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
