The Green Bay Packers will finish the 2024 regular season with a visit from the Chicago Bears, who have lost 10 straight games since starting 4-2. Gone is coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired after 12 games. In is interim coach Thomas Brown, who is 0-4 since taking over.
Under Brown, the Bears have scored under 20 points in all four games and have a point differential of -63. But Chicago will be motivated to end a lost and disappointing season on the right foot at Lambeau Field, where the Bears haven’t won since 2015.
Here’s a closer look at the Bears in Week 18:
Last week (Loss, 6-3 to Seahawks)
Jason Myers hit a 27-yard field goal, Cairo Santos hit from 42 and Myers connected from 50 just before the half to wrap up the scoring in a drab, nearly unwatchable battle of teams now eliminated from postseason contention. The Bears finished with only 179 total yards, including 76 net passing yards, and Caleb Williams threw a late interception to seal the deal. The rookie quarterback took seven sacks losing 46 yards. D’Andre Swift created 81 total yards, while D.J. Moore caught six passes. The Bears sacked Geno Smith three times and limited the Seahawks passing game to just 143 total yards. Incredibly, the highlight video of the game below is somehow eight minutes long.
Quarterback play
First overall pick Caleb Williams is about to end a disappointing rookie season. He’s been sacked an NFL-high 67 times, in part due to issues up front but also because of a harsh adjustment to playing the quarterback position at the pro level. His improvisational style gets him into trouble more often than not. His passer rating is 87.7 despite throwing only six interceptions, and his success rate of 40.5 percent ranks 31st out of 34 qualifying quarterbacks. Williams has a big arm and the creativity to attempt and make any throw, but his completion percentage is just 61.7, and he has 18 turnover-worthy plays. He is athletic and gifted as a scrambler, as the Packers found out in the first meeting. Making Williams play from the pocket will be key.
Line of scrimmage
Despite all the sacks allowed, the Bears rank ninth in pass-blocking grade at PFF — highlighting how important the quarterback position is to avoiding sacks. Chicago won’t have left tackle Braxton Jones, arguably the team’s best blocker, after he suffered a season-ending injury. The Bears are piecing together the starting five to end the season. Chicago averages only 4.1 yards per carry on the ground, including a 3.8-yard mark from running back D’Andre Swift. Defensively, the Bears are giving up 4.7 yards per carry and have just 37 sacks in 16 games. Chicago ranks near the middle of the pack in both run defense grade (18th) and pass-rush grade (14th). The Bears have four players with at least 30 pressures: Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter, DeMarcus Walker and Darrell Taylor. Sweat and Taylor had sacks of Geno Smith last week.
Turnovers
The Bears are actually plus-8 in turnover differential, ranking ninth overall. They have only 14 giveaways, and Caleb Williams has thrown only six picks, but the Bears do have a giveaway in four straight games. The defense has 22 takeaways, including 11 fumbles recovered. The Bears are good at punching the ball out, and Jordan Love must protect the ball under pressure. During their 4-2 start, the Bears produced 13 takeaways. They have just nine since.
Injury situation
Defensive lineman Andrew Billings, safety Jaquan Brisker and left tackle Braxton Jones are on injured reserve. Starting guard Teven Jenkins didn’t play last week due to a calf injury. Safety Elijah Hicks and backups Travis Homer and Tarvarius Moore also didn’t play.
Players to know
DL Gervon Dexter: The second-year interior pass-rusher has 38 pressures and 22 stops. He’s disruptive inside.
CB Kyler Gordon: The slot corner has three fumble recoveries, five pass breakups and nine total pressures. He was great against the Seahawks and can impact the game in multiple ways.
WR D.J. Moore: The veteran receiver leads the team in targets (89) and receiving yards (880), but he’ll need a big game Sunday to get to 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth time in his career.
RT Darrell Wright: With Braxton Jones out, Wright is probably the Bears’ best available blocker. He’ll have battles with Rashan Gary on Sunday.