The NFC North Division is coming to an end. A high-stakes Packers-Bears game will take center stage on the NFL’s Week 16 schedule.
The NFL announced Tuesday that the Dec. 20 game between the Bears and Packers in Chicago will kick off in prime time at 8:20 ET. It was a Saturday night.
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The Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles will kick off the NFL’s first Saturday game of the season at 5 p.m. ET. Both games will air on Fox.
The night’s game could ultimately determine who wins the NFC North. The Chicago Bears have been one of the surprise teams of the NFL season, winning nine of their past 10 games to improve to 9-3 after an 0-2 start after Week 13.
That’s a good thing for an interior line that has the best record in the NFC and a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. This is a team led by first-year head coach Ben Johnson that many expect to be well behind the Packers and Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
Caleb Williams and the Bears can carve their own path through the Packers to capture the NFC North crown.
(Associated Press)
The Bears enter Week 13 on a five-game winning streak against teams currently out of the playoff picture. But Friday’s victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles forced the doubters to take notice.
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Meanwhile, the Packers entered Week 13 with an 8-3-1 record, half a game behind their archrival. They’ve won three straight games, including Sunday’s win over the Lions, who won the NFC North last season and are now 7-5. Detroit is still fighting for the division but has ceded important ground to its rivals.
The Packers and Bears will play their first game next Sunday in Green Bay. Then they turn around two weeks later and do it again.
Meanwhile, the Eagles were fading and had lost two straight. They once strangled the National League East and still hold a significant advantage 8-4. But two consecutive losses have opened the door for the Dallas Cowboys, who have 6 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss, to launch a challenge.
Meanwhile, the Commanders, who are 3-9, have completely missed the playoffs. But the opportunity for spoilers and the potential return of quarterback Jayden Daniels could make the football compelling.
