The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears are slated for another clash on Sunday and both sides have already started the back and forth trash talk leading up to this game, with the exception of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur who opted to take the high road.

However, this first matchup between the NFL’s oldest rivalry is not the must-watch game many should normally expect. The NFL already told you how they feel about this game when it got flexed from the afternoon slate to the early slate. The reason why is because both teams will be without their star players (DE Micah Parsons for the Packers and QB Caleb Williams for the Bears) in this game.

And yet, this is still a massive game for both sides. These two teams have made it known they don’t like each other and it’ll be a chippy contest. Both teams are also looking to avoid an 0-2 start in the divisional play.

Here’s how our NFC North experts see this game unfolding:

Bears 32, Packers 14

For a little history lesson going into this one, the Bears are favored over the Packers going into a game at Lambeau Field for the first time since 2006. The Bears haven’t beat the Packers in three straight games since 2005-2006. The last Bears backup QB to win in Lambeau was Josh McCown in 2013. I see all of those happening again on Sunday.

Not only that, but in the words of WR Luther Burden III, I see the Bears beating the Packers “real bad” to the point they “make them quit” in this game. The Bears will be looking for more explosives this week to score more points and have the run game needed to keep the ball away from Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love. This might get ugly.

– Kole Noble, A to Z Sports Chicago

Bears 31, Packers 21

The Packers are at a point now where I’ll believe it when I see it. Sure, they are 2-2 and are coming off a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But it was certainly not an impressive performance. The offensive line showed signs of improvement and it can get materially better with Kevin Zeitler at right guard. However, Jordan Love’s environment couldn’t be any worse as the Packers are 32nd in pass block win rate, 32nd in rush EPA, and their pass-catchers are leading the NFL in drops.

If they execute better, the Packers can win. But we’ve said similar things since last year. The Bears’ rushing offense is simply too strong, and Ben Johnson built some sort of QB-proof unit.

– Wendell Ferreira, A to Z Sports Green Bay

Bears 31, Packers 20

I love a good old fashioned black-and-blue game between two teams that genuinely hate each other. Luckily for the Bears, the Packers are decimated by injuries right now and have one of the worst offensive lines we’ve seen in ages.

It’s also wild how Ben Johnson, at least in the short-term, has made the offense quarterback proof. I don’t think that the Packers have enough to overcome the Bears, unless Jordan Love goes God mode in this one.

– Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Minnesota

Bears 24, Packers 13

If there’s one team in this division that seems definitively on the downturn, it’s the Packers. They have been dealing with injuries non stop and it’s wildly effecting their play. The Bears, on the other hand, have shown that they can still play even without their starting quarterback. With that in mind, I have to take the Bears here.

– Mike Payton, A to Z Sports Detroit

Final Thoughts

All four beat writers are predicting a two-score win for the Bears on Sunday, even with Tyson Bagent at quarterback. It’s a mix of confidence in Ben Johnson’s ability to get the most out of this team regardless of who’s at quarterback and a sign of how bad things really are in Green Bay right now.

If this comes to fruition, it would be a major cause for concern for the Packers and Matt LaFleur if they get humiliated at their home stadium by their biggest rival.