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To get yourself in the right mood for tonight’s Packers – Bears clash, here’s a fantastic new video on the Packers – Bears Rivalry and history by Dale Decker, who is one of the best Packers video creators I’ve seen on Youtube. You can see more of his Packers videos here.

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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.

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Jermichael Finley has been at his best against the Bears

Packers tight end Jermichael Finley is perhaps the most scrutinized player on the Packers’ roster.

As a former Division I basketball recruit, Finley possesses as much athletic ability as any tight end in the league, but dropped passes and mental lapses seem to overshadow his on-field production. However, the 6’5″ 247-pound freak always seems to be at his best against the Packers’ top rival, the Chicago Bears.

Finley’s best regular season game as a professional came last season at Chicago, catching a season-high seven passes for 85 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Of Finley’s eight total touchdowns last season, four came against the Bears. Oh, and of Finley’s fourteen drops last season, zero came against Chicago.

In the Packers’ Super Bowl season in 2010, Finley torched Chicago on Monday night for nine catches and 115 yards without dropping a pass. Finley missed the Bears game at Lambeau Field after suffering a season-ending knee injury against the Washington Redskins, but going back to the final Packers-Bears game a season earlier, Finley again brought his best, catching five balls for 70 yards.

There’s been an obvious theme for Finley against the Bears lately–consistent production, and more importantly, no dropped passes.

In his last four appearances against the Chicago Bears, Finley has posted 24 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns, all without a single drop. Over a 16-game season, those numbers would equate to 96 catches for 1,160 yards and 16 touchdowns. Now, that’s the level of play Packers fans have been hoping to see from No. 88.  Read more... (986 words + 1 image, estimated 3:57 mins reading time)

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Clay Matthews sacks Jay Cutler

To quote the Black Knight from Monty Python, “It’s only a flesh wound.”

The Green Bay Packers (and to an extent their fans) took one right in the chops during the season opener last Sunday at Lambeau, losing to the San Francisco 49ers 30-22.  The Packers made a game of it late in the second half, but thanks once again to putrid play by the Packer defense and some assists from the replacement officials, the Packers start the season 0-1 for the first time since Mike McCarthy’s rookie year as head coach in 2006.

Thankfully, the time for licking wounds and taking heat from rival NFC North fans is very brief this week as the Packers face their archrival Chicago Bears Thursday night at Lambeau Field. The Bears are 1-0 after a 41-21 blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts at Soldier Field.  They are currently tied with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions at 1-0 atop the NFC North.

While no Week 2 game is truly a “do or die” proposition, starting 0-2 with two conference losses and one loss to a divisional foe is not a hole the Packers want to be in. With the Lions already dangerous and the Bears showing marked offensive improvement, the last thing the Packers want is to play a game of catch-up when their defense is already suspect.

Let’s take a look at the Bears

Scouting the Bears  Read more... (1294 words + 1 image, estimated 5:11 mins reading time)

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Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears:

Here is my unfiltered game day blog post of comments, observations and first impressions.

The Packers “welcome” the Bears to Lambeau Field on Christmas Day with visions of NFC overall first seed dancing in their heads. The Packers are hurting in the trenches on both sides of the ball, but still hope to dominate the Bears, who have lost four straight since losing Jay Cutler. The Packers’ offense will be looking to recapture it’s Rhythm with a re-arranged offensive line. TJ Lang moves to right tackle for Bryan Bulaga an Evan Dietrich-Smith takes over lang’s usual left guard spot. If the offensive line can give Aaron Rodgers some decent  protection, he should be able to shred the Bears’ weak secondary.

Inactive for the Packers today are:

Graham Harrell, Davon House, Frank Zombo, Bryan Bulaga, Chad Clifton, Ryan Pickett and Greg Jennings.

Packers are in much better shape at the running back position, as James Starks and Brando Saine return to give the Packers their full compliment of four running backs

Davon House, after a surprise appearance on the active list last week, returns to his usual spot on the sidelines in street clothes.

A surprise to see Zombo inactive and So ‘oto active. Can this be the night Vic gets some meaningful snaps on defense?

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Mike McCarthy Pregame Show on 620 WTMJ:

   Read more... (1305 words + 3 images, estimated 5:13 mins reading time)

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Packers vs. Bears

After giving their fans a lump of coal last week in Kansas City, the Green Bay Packers look to make amends and stuff Packer Nation’s stockings with home field advantage for the playoffs as well as beating their despised archrival.

A week after suffering their first loss of the season, the Packers return to the friendly confines of Lambeau Field to take on the Chicago Bears Christmas night on national television.   Should the San Francisco 49ers lose on Saturday to the Seattle Seahawks, the Packers will have home field wrapped up before they take the field and there is the possibility Mike McCarthy could rest his starters.

Should the 49ers win, the Packers can secure the NFC number one seed with a win over the Bears.  The game plan could go one of two ways depending on Saturday’s outcome.

Regardless, the Packers come into the game with a battered offensive line.  Bryan Bulaga is out this week with an ankle injury and Derek Sherrod, Bulaga’s replacement, broke his leg in gruesome fashion and is out for the remainder of the year.  Throw in an off day by Aaron Rodgers and his receivers in Kansas City, and the Packers have plenty of motivation to play well even if they have the top seed locked down.  Read more... (1282 words + 1 image, estimated 5:08 mins reading time)

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