This Saturday, the Green Bay Packers head to Chicago for the second time in a month to take on Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears for a place in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The two fierce rivals traded wins in the regular season, and for many, this one has as much to do with pride as it does playoff progression.
The Bears have already made a huge statement by winning the NFC North and would love nothing more than to beat Green Bay on the road to further success. The Packers, however, will be looking to make a point of their own by humbling their rivals at Soldier Field after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory during their last visit.
After early reports suggested a high chance of snow on Saturday night, here is an updated preview of the likely weather and its potential impact on how the game unfolds.
Frosty Conditions in Chicago, But Will There Be Snow?
When it comes to the weather, nothing impacts an NFL game quite like snow. Teams typically see a significant uptick in rushing efficiency, while passing accuracy tends to take a hit, along with the reliability of those tasked with catching the ball.
With two talented offenses on show, the conditions could make all the difference. However, as of 11:00 p.m. ET on Friday night, the forecast suggests that the snow should be long gone by the time the game kicks off.
- Kickoff: Saturday, January 10, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Expected Temperature: 0 degrees
- Showers: 3%
- Wind: 15 mph W
The forecast predicts snow throughout the morning in Chicago, but it should clear up by midday. That’s too close for complacency, though, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see worse conditions than anticipated.
Run-Friendly Conditions and Two Fearless Quarterbacks Should Keep Defenses Guessing
Regardless of the snow, or lack thereof, the freezing temperatures should help both offenses in the run game, and both teams have the players to make it count. Josh Jacobs hasn’t appeared on the Packers’ injury report this week, which is the first time that’s happened since Week 11, and which is great news for the visitors’ chances.
Meanwhile, D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai will continue to share work for Chicago. Swift registered 15 touches to Monangai’s 12 the last time these teams met, but it was the rookie who led the duo in total yards (93-70).
The Packers defended the run well to start the year, but couldn’t keep it up as the season progressed, punctuated by a 216-yard battering by Derrick Henry in Week 17. The Bears have struggled to stop the run all season and are one of only four teams to have allowed five or more yards per attempt over the course of the campaign.
Both offenses are run by their head coach, and both can be expected to be aggressive from the outset. Despite the colder conditions, the teams can be expected to lean on their quarterbacks to land knockout blows. The Packers often look to start these games quickly, and an opening-drive deep shot from Jordan Love is one for the bingo card.
The Bears have more than enough firepower of their own, though, and with the added needle between the head coaches this year, things are set up perfectly for drama. Run-friendly conditions, explosive passing games, and buckets of genuine animosity make this game a must-watch, with so much potential for fireworks.