Packers face road test at Bears

The Green Bay Packers head to Chicago to take on the Bears in primetime.

• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Saturday will be the 18th primetime meeting between the Packers and the Bears over the past 20 seasons, tied for the second most since 2006 behind only Cowboys-Eagles (19). The teams had a streak of playing each other in a primetime game in 17 straight seasons (2006-22).
• Green Bay faces the Bears for the second time in three weeks. It is the first time since 1998 (Weeks 15 and 17) that the Packers and Bears will meet twice in the regular season in a three-game span.
• It is only the second Saturday game between the Packers and Bears (Dec. 5, 1964, at Chicago).
• The Packers are 55-53-2 at Chicago (including the postseason).
• Including a 2010 playoff victory at Chicago, Green Bay has won 26 of the last 31 meetings between the rivals at Soldier Field, including 14 of the last 15.
• Nine of the last 13 games between the two clubs at Soldier Field have been decided by single digits, including a one-point Green Bay victory last season.
• The Packers have won nine of the last 10 December games against the Bears.
• This will be the 212th Bears-Packers matchup including playoffs (most in NFL history). The Packers hold the all-time series lead at 109-96-6. Green Bay's 109 wins against the Bears all-time (including playoffs) are the most victories by one team against another in NFL history (108, N.Y. Giants over Washington is No. 2).
• Overall, the Packers have won 12 of the last 13 games against the Bears. The 11-game winning streak that was broken in Week 18 last season was the longest winning streak by either team in the history of the series (No. 2 is 10 straight by Green Bay from 1994-98). The 10- and 11-game streaks are the longest any team has against the Bears. Green Bay's 11-game streak against Chicago was its second-longest winning streak against any franchise (15 games, Chicago Cardinals, 1937-46).
• Since realignment in 2002, this is just the second time (2012) the Packers will play five of their last seven games against NFC North foes.
• This marks the second of three road games in four weeks to finish the regular season for the Packers. Green Bay last finished a regular season with three away contests in the last four games in 2017.
• Back-to-back Saturday games for Green Bay in Weeks 16-17 marks the first time the Packers have played on back-to-back Saturdays since 1963 (Dec. 7-14).

WITH THE CALL

FOX Sports, now in its 32nd season as an NFL network television partner, will broadcast the game.

• Play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt joins analyst Tom Brady and sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
• All Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which is made up of 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and North and South Dakota. 95.7 BIG F.M. – WRIT-Milwaukee begins its run as the flagship station of the Packers Radio Network. For a map and full listing of radio affiliates, go to packers.com/video/radionetwork. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst), and three-time Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn (sideline reporter) call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 31st season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 27th season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
• The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio on channels 85 or 226 and through the app (Packers Radio Network feed).
• Westwood One will be broadcasting on radio to a national audience with Nate Gatter (play-by-play) and Ryan Leaf (analyst) on the call and Josh Stashower hosting pregame and halftime shows.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:

Packers at Bears:

• All-time, regular season: 108-95-6
• All-time, postseason: 1-1
• All-time, at Chicago (regular season): 54-52-2
• Streaks: Green Bay has won 17 of the last 19 regular-season matchups. Last meeting, regular season: Dec. 7, 2025, Lambeau Field, Packers won, 28-21

COACHES CAPSULES

• Matt LaFleur: 76-37-1, .671; (3-5 postseason); 7th NFL season
• Ben Johnson: 10-4, .714; (0-0 postseason); 1st NFL season
• Head to Head: LaFleur 1-0 vs. Johnson
• vs. Opponent: LaFleur 12-1 vs. Bears; Johnson 0-1 vs. Packers

MATT LaFLEUR…In his seventh season as the Packers' 15th head coach.

• Is in his 17th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
• In his first six seasons leading the Packers, has authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 67 wins are the second most in league history by a head coach in his first six seasons in the NFL, trailing only George Seifert (75 in 1989-94). Green Bay's 76-37-1 regular-season record since 2019 is No. 3 in the NFL and ranks No. 1 in the NFC.
• Became the first coach in NFL history to post 13-plus wins in three straight seasons and his 39 wins from 2019-21 passed Seifert (38) for the most wins by an NFL head coach in his first three seasons in the league (Elias). His 39 wins are also tied for the second most by a coach over any three-season span in league history, trailing only Andy Reid's 40 wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020-22 and Mike Ditka's 40 wins with the Chicago Bears from 1985-87 (Elias).
• Led Green Bay to the playoffs last season for the fifth time in six years (tied for No. 3 in the NFL over that span), guiding the two youngest playoff teams in the NFL over the past 45 seasons in 2023 (weighted age of 25.25) and 2024 (25.72).
• In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to guide the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).

BEN JOHNSON…In his first season as the Bears' 18th head coach.

• Has 13 years of NFL experience, having previously spent six seasons with the Detroit Lions (2019-24), where he most recently served as the offensive coordinator from 2022-24, and seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2012-18), where he served as the WRs coach in 2018.
• In his final season with Detroit in 2024, helped the Lions win a team-record 15 regular-season games and secure a second consecutive NFC North title.
• In 2024, helped guide a Lions' offensive unit that set a franchise record with 409.5 yards per game and led the NFL with 32.4 points per game and 68 offensive touchdowns.
• Detroit finished in the top five in the NFL in total offense in each of his three seasons as the offensive coordinator.
• Was named a finalist for The Associated Press' Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2023 after Detroit finished No. 2 in the NFL in total offense and passing offense, and reached the NFC Championship for the first time since 1991.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE PACKERS-BEARS SERIES

• These two franchises have met 211 times (regular season and postseason), which is the most in NFL history. Green Bay's 108 regular-season wins over Chicago are the team's most over any opponent.
• The teams have only met twice in the postseason with the most recent meeting following the 2010 season. The Packers beat the Bears, 21-14, at Soldier Field to earn a berth in Super Bowl XLV.
• Green Bay is 12-1 against Chicago since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach in 2019.

CONNECTIONS

Packers players and staff from Illinois: WR Jayden Reed was born in Chicago and attended Naperville Central (Ill.) High School as a senior...DL Lukas Van Ness was born in Elgin, Ill., and attended Barrington (Ill.) High School…S Xavier McKinney was born in East St. Louis, Ill. …OL coach Luke Butkus was born in Steger, Ill., and attended Bloom Trail (Ill.) High School…Special teams quality control coach Cory Harkey was born in Chicago...Packers players and staff who played college football in Illinois: CB Nate Hobbs played at the University of Illinois for four seasons (2017-20)…Butkus played at the University of Illinois from 1999-01…Senior personnel executive Lee Gissendaner played wide receiver at Northwestern from 1990-93…Assistant director of college scouting Patrick Moore played at Illinois Wesleyan…Packers coaches who have coached in Illinois: Butkus served as an offensive line coach at the University of Illinois in 2012 and from 2016-18…Strength and conditioning assistant Todd Hunt was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Illinois in 2018…Defensive line/run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington was on the coaching staff at Eastern Illinois in 2016…Packers staff with connections to Illinois: Vice president of player health and performance Bryan Engel is from Hanover Park, Ill., and attended the University of Illinois…Moore was the OL coach at Illinois Wesleyan in 1997…Coaching operations coordinator Joe McKillip worked in football operations and recruiting at Northern Illinois from 2011-12…Bears with connections to Wisconsin: LB T.J. Edwards played at Wisconsin from 2014-18…Assistant strength and conditioning coach Mark Philippi is from Menomonee Falls, Wis., where he attended Menomonee Falls High School…Former Bears: Butkus attended training camp with the Bears in 2002 and served as an offensive assistant/assistant OL coach from 2007-09… TEs coach John Dunn was a football assistant for the Bears in 2016 and an offensive assistant for the team in 2017… Senior assistant Luke Getsy was the Bears' offensive coordinator from 2022-23…Former Packers: DL Jonathan Ford was selected by the Packers in the seventh round (No. 234 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft and spent time on Green Bay's active roster and practice squad in 2022-24…DB Jonathan Owens played in all 17 games and both postseason contests for the Packers in 2023…Assistant DBs/safeties coach Matt Giordano played for the Packers in 2009…Pass game coordinator/DBs coach Al Harris played for the Packers from 2003-09 and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2021…Notable NFL connections: Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was the Atlanta Falcons' QBs coach for two seasons (2015-16) when Bears' LBs coach Richard Smith was the defensive coordinator…Bears DL Grady Jarrett played for the Falcons when LaFleur was on the coaching staff…LaFleur was on the Houston Texans' coaching staff and Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich played for the Texans when Smith was the defensive coordinator from 2008-09…LaFleur and Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower were both on the Washington Redskins' coaching staff for four seasons (2010-13)…LaFleur was the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator in 2017 when Bears senior defensive assistant Bill Johnson was on the coaching staff…LaFleur was the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator in 2018 when Bears DB Kevin Byard played there…Byard was teammates with Packers QB Malik Willis, TE Josh Whyle and LS Matt Orzech during his time with the Titans…Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and DBs coach Ryan Downard were on the Cleveland Browns' coaching staff with Hightower in 2014…Bears TEs coach Jim Dray played for the Browns when Hafley and Downard were on the coaching staff from 2014-15…Bears head coach Ben Johnson was on the Miami Dolphins' coaching staff when Packers WRs coach Ryan Mahaffey spent the offseason there in 2012 during his playing career…Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was on the New Orleans Saints' coaching staff from 2006-07 when Packers executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball was the Saints' vice president of football administration…Packers DL Arron Mosby and Bears WR DJ Moore played together with the Carolina Panthers in 2022…Harris, Bears defensive assistant/nickels coach Cannon Matthews and senior director of coaching operations Justin Rudd were on the Dallas Cowboys' staff when Packers DL Micah Parsons and DL Quinton Bohanna played there…Bears DB Nahshon Wright was teammates with Parsons and Bohanna with the Cowboys…Harkey crossed paths with Bears C Ryan Bates, QB Case Keenum and DB Nick McCloud during his time on the Buffalo Bills' coaching staff from 2022-24…Packers T/G Darian Kinnard and Bears DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson played together with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024…Harkey played for the St. Louis Rams and Packers RBs coach Ben Sirmans served in the same role when Giordano played there in 2013…Keenum was teammates with Packers QBs coach Sean Mannion with the Rams in 2016 and with Harkey from 2014-16… McKinney overlapped with Bears assistant special teams coach Anthony Blevins and DB Nick McCloud during his time with the N.Y. Giants…McCloud was also teammates with Packers DL Jordon Riley with the Giants...Hightower and Dray were on the San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff when Hafley and Packers assistant DL coach Vince Oghobaase coached there…Hightower also overlapped with Stenavich during his time with the 49ers…Bears OL Joe Thuney played for the New England Patriots when Covington was on the coaching staff for four seasons (2017-20)…Bears general manager Ryan Poles worked in player personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs when Packers S Zayne Anderson played there in 2021…Bears RBs coach Eric Bieniemy was the Chiefs' offensive coordinator and Thuney played for the Chiefs when Anderson and Kinnard played there in 2022… Smith was on the Las Vegas Raiders' coaching staff in 2021 when Packers assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, assistant special teams coach Byron Storer, CB Keisean Nixon, RB Josh Jacobs and Hobbs were with the Raiders…Notable college connections: Parsons and Packers T Rasheed Walker played with Bears DB Jaquan Brisker and Bates at Penn State…Giordano and Storer were teammates at California in 2004…Moore played at Maryland in 2015 when Dunn was on the coaching staff…Getsy coached at Mississippi State when Bears DL Montez Sweat played there in 2018…Johnson played at North Carolina when Dunn was on the coaching staff from 2004-07…Hafley and Packers LBs coach Sean Duggan were on the coaching staff at Ohio State in 2019, where they crossed paths with Bears OL Jonah Jackson and assistant strength and conditioning coach Noble Landry…Bears LS Scott Daly played at Notre Dame when LaFleur and Mahaffey were on the coaching staff… Bears TE Cole Kmet, TE Durham Smythe and McCloud were teammates with Packers G Aaron Banks at Notre Dame… Williams played at Fresno State when Giordano was on the coaching staff in 2022…Mahaffey and Bears director of pro scouting D.J. Hord played together at Northern Iowa for two seasons (2008-09) and were on the coaching staff together for two seasons (2013, 2016)…Johnson and Poles were on the coaching staff at Boston College when Sirmans was the RBs coach from 2008-11…Hafley, Duggan, Oghobaase and McDuffie overlapped with Bears OL Ozzy Trapilo at Boston College…Bears RB D'Andre Swift crossed paths with Packers defensive quality control coach Wendel Davis, assistant OL coach Eddie Gordon, TE John FitzPatrick and LB Quay Walker at Georgia…Bears DB Tyrique Stevenson also overlapped with Gordon, FitzPatrick, Walker, Packers DL Warren Brinson and DL Nazir Stackhouse at Georgia…Other notable connections: Butkus is the nephew of Hall of Fame former Bears linebacker Dick Butkus.