Packers-Bears: Week 11 Preview

In Week 11, the Green Bay Packers travel to Chicago for their 209th matchup with the Chicago Bears. This storied rivalry sees the 6-3 Packers as the Bears' first NFC North divisional opponent of the season, with Green Bay leading the all-time series by 12 games. The Packers have won their last 10 meetings against the Bears and are aiming to set a new series record with an 11-game win streak. Head Coach Matt LaFleur holds a perfect 10-0 record against the Bears and will seek to maintain this dominance on Sunday. The Packers opened as 6.5-point favorites, although the line has since narrowed to 5 points.

Packers’ Injury Report and Key Returns
The Packers appear to have benefited from their bye week, as every player on the 53-man roster participated in practice on Wednesday. Key contributors Jaire Alexander, Josh Myers, and Evan Williams are expected to return after missing the Week 9 game against the Lions. Rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd is also set to return from Injured Reserve. The Bears, on the other hand, will be without safety Jaquan Brisker, a significant loss

that may weaken Chicago’s already challenged defense. Notably, quarterback Jordan Love is no longer on the injury report after dealing with a groin issue in his last outing.

Comparing Packers and Bears Performance
In 2024, the Packers have shown stronger performance metrics than the Bears. Green Bay has posted a 4-1 record over the last five games, whereas the Bears have struggled at 2-3. Statistically, the Packers hold the edge: Jordan Love, despite missing two games, leads Caleb Williams by 35 passing yards and 6 touchdowns. Josh Jacobs has outgained DeAndre Swift on the ground by 198 yards, and Jayden Reed has outpaced Rome Odunze by 206 receiving yards. While stats don’t tell the entire story, Green Bay’s superiority in several categories highlights their potential advantage in this matchup.

Recent Performance and Divisional Standing
The Packers head into Week 11 following a 24-14 loss to the Lions before their bye, while the Bears are coming off a 19-3 defeat against the Patriots. Green Bay has struggled in divisional play, with losses to both the Lions and Vikings. Meanwhile, this game will mark Chicago’s first divisional test. A victory here would improve the Packers' divisional record to 1-2 as they approach the season’s final stretch.

Keys to Victory for the Packers
Eight of the last 12 games at Soldier Field have been decided by 9 points or less, likely due to Chicago’s consistently strong defensive play over recent seasons. However, the Packers will look to capitalize on a weakened Bears defense to offset what has been, at times, an inconsistent offensive performance. Despite this, Green Bay ranks as the league’s third-most productive offense, averaging 390.6 yards per game. Much of this production is thanks to Josh Jacobs, who ranks fourth in the league with 762 rushing yards.
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Prediction
As is often the case, this rivalry game will likely be hard-fought. However, the Packers appear to be the more complete and competitive team, while the Bears are mired in several issues. Caleb Williams has not delivered the expected results, Chicago recently fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, and player frustration is visible – notably when DJ Moore walked off the field mid-play during Week 9 against the Cardinals.
While the Packers have every reason to expect a win, the adage "any given Sunday" rings true; the Lions game underscored that Green Bay still has areas to refine, particularly reducing mental mistakes and penalties. Hopefully, these areas were prioritized during the bye week to help Green Bay capitalize on their edge in this matchup.