NFL shows just how impactful Packers-Bears will be in Week 14 as the rivalry finally gets the respect it deserves
Green Bay and Chicago will play two games in a 13-day span.
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will play twice in a 13-day span, and the NFL is showing how impactful those rivalry games are going to be. On Thursday, the league flexed the Week 14 game from noon to 3:25 p.m. (CT). It’s a much better window in terms of relevance, and a wider audience will have access to it.
Fox switched the NFC North game with Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills, which moves from 3:25 p.m. to noon — with the Bengals going through a lot this season, the game lost some relevance even with Joe Burrow getting back from injury.
Decisive stretch
The Packers played only one divisional game through the first 11 weeks of the season — a win over the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Now, five of the final seven games are against NFC North opponents.
Nothing is crazier than playing the Bears twice in three weeks. Green Bay hosts the Bears at Lambeau Field on Dec. 7, in Week 14, then travels to Chicago on a Saturday, Dec. 20, in Week 16.
The Packers also play the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. The first Vikings game is on Sunday, at Lambeau, and the regular season finale happens on Jan. 3 or 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Bears and Packers are battling for the NFC North first place. Chicago is first with a 7-3 record, and Green Bay is second at 6-3-1. Detroit is 6-4, and Minnesota is 4-6.
The final three games of the season have undefined times. The second Bears game will be on Dec 20., but the NFL will still decide the order of those Saturday games. The Baltimore Ravens game in Week 17 can be on a Saturday or Sunday, and the entire slate of Week 18 is determined right before it happens depending on which games matter and have interconnected dependence.
Green Bay Packers News
Packers create a potential turning point in how the team plans and builds a key unit for the future
Second-round rookie Anthony Belton can be a big part of the Packers’ plans for next season along the offensive line.
