Venue/Stadium: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Time/Date: 8:25 PM ET – Sunday December 25, 2011
NFL Odds from Bovada
Money Line:
Spread (ATS): Packers -12.5
Over/Under: 44
There really is no better rivalry to be played on Christmas Day than another installment between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, even if one team has slowly faded away in what was once a promising season early on.
The Bears won seven of their first 10 games to tread behind the defending Super Bowl champion Packers early on, but after injuries to both quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte, Chicago has lost four straight and have all but mathematically been eliminated from postseason contention.
In fact, by the time the ball is kicked off at Lambeau Field on Christmas Day the Bears could already be eliminated if both the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons win their games. The tale is a sad story for a promising team oozing with playoff potential, and it won’t be a surprise if head coach Lovie Smith gets called out for the team’s collapse. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
After all, it was Smith who endorsed Caleb Hanie as the team’s starter when Cutler was injured, and despite their being some big names hanging around, Smith continues to turn back to Hanie. With just three touchdown passes compared to nine interceptions in four starts, to say that Hanie has been a major disappointment might actually be an understatement, and with Forte out and the defense giving up a ton of points to teams like the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago could be in really big trouble.
While the Packers did suffer their first loss of the season a week ago, many around the organization feel that this may be a good thing for the defending Super Bowl champs, which have now felt what it means to be vulnerable and can correct the mistakes that they made when pushed around by the Kansas City Chiefs. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get back in a rhythm with wide receiver Greg Jennings and his offensive line returning to health, and that will play a key role in Green Bay’s performance overall. The defense was simply too soft up front trying to stop the run against the Chiefs, and there will be no excuses for another loss with thousands spending their Christmas Day at Lambeau Field.
NFL Betting Pick: Packers
