After falling to the Green Bay Packers earlier this month, the Chicago Bears will have a chance at redemption in a highly-awaited rivalry matchup this weekend.
The showdown, set to take place at Soldier Field, won’t be part of the typical Sunday football schedule and will instead be one of two nationally televised games on Saturday.
Though the Bears have a chance to add to their division lead, wins over the Packers are historically rare for the team. In addition, Saturday’s game holds significant implications, with first place in the NFC North on the line and both teams having a chance to clinch a playoff spot.
With the matchup hours away, here’s what you need to know, including where to watch and what time the action is set to get underway.
What time is the Bears vs. Packers game?
The Bears and Packers matchup will take place at 7:20 p.m. CT, marking the second of two NFL games on Saturday. The first game, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, is set to get underway at 4 p.m. CT.
What TV channel will it be on? What about streaming and radio?
Both of Saturday’s games will air on Fox. Fans in the Chicago area can stream the Bears vs. Packers game on NFL+.
Those looking to listen to the matchup can tune into ESPN Chicago (1000 AM, 100.3 FM HD2) or LATINO MIX 93.5 FM for a Spanish version.
Big blow for the Packers
The Packers were dealt a significant setback last week, as star pass rusher Micah Parsons was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury.
Parsons tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos, delivering a massive blow to a team that came into the season with Super Bowl hopes after acquiring the two-time All-Pro from Dallas.
Parsons’ injury means the Packers will need all their healthy pass rushers to raise their games. Perhaps nobody is more equipped to do that than Rashan Gary, who has 46 1/2 career sacks.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Gary, who had 7 1/2 sacks in Green Bay’s first seven games but none in the seven games since.
“I’ve just got to be myself,” Gary said. “You know, when guys are thinking that they need to do more than what they’ve been doing, you start to strain, start to try to find plays that’s not there.”
A tough task for the Bears
With or without Parsons, Bears coach Ben Johnson sees a difficult task.
“It’s a really good football team and a really good defense,” he said. “I know you kind of lock in on one player, because he does garner a lot of your attention when you go against that defense, and yet, they have some high-caliber players throughout, on the defensive line, the linebacking core and on the back end. Just because one player goes down, that doesn’t mean that this is going to change a whole lot for them.”
The NFL’s longest-running rivalry in recent decades, it has long been dominated by Green Bay, which has gone 30-6 against Chicago since the start of the 2008 season.
That includes the 2010 team winning the NFC championship game at Soldier Field en route to capturing the Super Bowl title.
The Packers won 11 straight against the Bears before losing last year’s finale at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has won six in a row in Chicago. But are chances higher for the Bears this year?
The Bears have won five straight at Soldier Field since a season-opening loss to Minnesota. It’s their best home winning streak since a six-game run in 2005.
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