NFL Week 16 picks include Chargers, Eagles and Panthers
Lorenzo Reyes explains why he’s picking two underdogs from Sunday’s slate of games.
The NFC North race heats up in the depths of December when the Green Bay Packers travel to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears this Saturday.
The Bears (10-4) sit atop the NFC North in a season that’s been almost all about new head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson has taken a talented roster – and a supremely talented passer in Caleb Williams – and has turned them into a winner this season.
While it hasn’t always been pretty for Chicago, it’s not about how it looks as much as what the record looks like. The Bears are on track for their best finish since their 12-4 2018 season that ended bitterly in a wild-card round loss.
For the Packers, a tie against the Cowboys looms large as their Week 16 matchup vs. Chicago approaches. At 9-4-1, Green Bay will have to navigate the rest of the season and potential postseason run without Micah Parsons, who suffered an ACL injury in Week 15.
Saturday night’s all right for fighting – or playing some hard-nosed divisional football. USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates from the Week 16 matchup below. All times are Eastern.
The Bears have tied the game. On a fourth-and-4, Williams launched up a prayer to Walker, an undrafted rookie, amid heavy pressure from the Packers. Williams’ throw was perfect and fell right into Walker’s arms in the back corner of the end-zone.
Ben Johnson decided to go for the extra point rather than a potential go-ahead two-point conversion. Cairo Santos’ kick was good.
Bears 16, Packers 16
Chicago decided to attempt an onside kick with just under two minutes left in regulation and trailing by a touchdown. Cairo Santos’ attempt was successful, as Romeo Doubs wasn’t able to corral the low bouncer.
The Bears managed to jump on it, and they will have just under two minutes and two timeouts to mount a game-tying 53-yard touchdown drive.
Once again, the Bears have cut the Packers’ lead to a single possession. Santos made his third field goal of the day, a 43-yarder, to cut Green Bay’s lead to 16-9.
The bad news? Chicago’s drive took 3:04 off the clock and just 1:59 remains in regulation. The Bears will need to get a quick stop to have a chance to mount a game-tying or game-winning touchdown drive.
The Packers, once again, stalled out in the red zone and decided to attempt a chip-shot field goal. McManus tucked it a little too close to the left upright for comfort, but it stayed true and allowed Green Bay to extend its lead to 16-6.
The Bears now have 5:03 remaining in regulation and two timeouts to overcome the two-score deficit.
Both Santos and Brandon McManus continue to show an impressive ability to navigate strong winds at Soldier Field on Saturday. Santos’ 51-yard kick was the most impressive of the night, as he hit the kick from distance despite the wind blowing it significantly from right to left.
Santos’ kick cut the Packers’ lead to one possession. With 10:52 remaining in regulation, Green Bay is leading 13-6.
It took until 33 seconds remained in the third quarter, but we have our first touchdown of Saturday’s game.Â
Willis managed to find Doubs breaking open on the left side of the field, as the veteran wide receiver got behind safety CJ Gardner-Johnson. Willis was able to perfectly feather the ball to Doubs, who glided into the end zone with ease.
Brandon McManus made the extra point – which was blown from right to left by a howling wind – to put Green Bay up 13-3.
Neither the Packers nor the Bears have been able to punch the ball into the end zone yet. Green Bay came close on its first drive of the second half, but Nahshon Wright forced Jacobs to fumble on a first-and-goal carry from the 4-yard line.
The Bears recovered and will now get the ball back on their own 2-yard line.
Willis attended both Auburn and Liberty during his college days, but was best known for his time with the Flames. He played two seasons at Liberty and completed 62.4% of his passes for 5,122 yards, 47 touchdowns and 18 interceptions while leading his team to a 17-6 record.
Willis played well enough during his college career to become a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Chicago scored on its first drive of the second half after failing to get on the board in the first half. Santos made a long-distance field goal despite the windy conditions at Soldier Field. The ball curled right all the way to the uprights but just managed to stay inside the right post.
The Packers are now leading 6-3 as Green Bay prepares to get the ball for the first time in the second half.
The Packers have ruled out Love for the remainder of the game with a concussion.
The Bears added the “VMH” jersey patch to honor their former owner, Virginia Halas McCaskey, who died in February at 102.
McCaskey inherited ownership of the Bears from her father, George Halas Sr., following his death in 1983. She oversaw the team when it won Super Bowl 20 following the 1985 NFL season and was the longest-tenured owner at the time of her passing.
Like her father’s patch in 1983, McCaskey’s patch features a permutation of her initials, which were “VHM.” The “VMH” patch places McCaskey’s last name at the center of the logo, while her maiden name-turned-middle initial appears on the right.
Malik Willis is the Packers’ backup quarterback. The 26-year-old is in his second season with the Packers and his fourth in the NFL in total since being a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Liberty.
Willis has a 3-2 record across five career starts and has completed 63.4% of his career passes for 913 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 301 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 55 carries.
The windy conditions at Soldier Field in Chicago have created a low-scoring Saturday night battle. The Packers have managed a couple of field goal drives, but neither team has yet been able to get into the end zone.
The biggest story of the game thus far is Jordan Love’s injury. The 27-year-old quarterback was hit hard, helmet-to-helmet, by Bears defensive lineman Austin Booker and exited the game to be evaluated for a concussion. If he can’t return, Malik Willis will be tasked with leading the Packers to a key road win over their divisional rival.
Meanwhile, the Bears have been outgained 178-126 while Caleb Williams has completed 5 of 9 passes for 65 yards. They will need to be a bit more efficient as they look to mount a comeback against the Packers.
Willis did well replacing Love after the 27-year-old quarterback had to exit Saturday’s game to be evaluated for a concussion. The Packers traveled 91 yards over 16 plays but could not get into the end-zone.
Brandon McManus made the 22-yard attempt to give the Packers a 6-0 lead.
Love was injured in the second quarter. The Packers announced Love is being evaluated for a concussion. He is officially considered “questionable” to return to the game.
He was injured after a helmet-to-helmet hit that was flagged for a 15-yard penalty. Love remained down on the ground after the play and was unable to get up. The Packers’ medical staff quickly came out to tend to Love.
Love was able to run off the field under his own power but went straight into the blue medical tent. He was replaced in the game by backup quarterback Malik Willis.
The Packers get on the board first at Soldier Field. They capped off a 14-play, 70-yard drive with a 26-yard chip shot by Brandon McManus, who made the kick on a windy night in Chicago with ease.
Green Bay now leads 3-0 with 12:45 left in the second quarter.
The Bears tried to have Cole Kmet line up under center on fourth-and-inches, bluffing as if they were going to run a “Tush Push.” Instead, Chicago snapped the ball through Kmet’s legs and over the head of running back Kyle Monangai, resulting in a loss of 18 yards and a turnover on downs.
Bears team president Kevin Warren wrote in an open letter to season-ticket holders that Chicago is planning to expand its search for a new stadium site. The team is exploring “opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region” from a property the team already owns in Arlington Heights, Illinois, to territory “including Northwest Indiana.”
Even so, the Bears aren’t guaranteed to leave Chicago. This may just be a negotiating ploy as the Bears look to upgrade Soldier Field with a more modern stadium.
Green Bay got into the red zone on its opening drive but wasn’t able to score. The Packers decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the 7-yard line, but Jordan Love couldn’t connect with Christian Watson on a pass to the end zone.
Chicago will get the ball after the turnover on downs. The game remains scoreless.
That acronym is a reference to the team’s founding owner, George Stanley Halas Sr. It has been incorporated into Chicago’s uniforms since 1983, following his death at age 83.
The temperature at tonight’s kickoff is 37 degrees in Chicago at Soldier Field.
What TV channel is the Bears vs Packers game tonight?
The Bears-Packers matchup will be broadcast on Fox.
What time is the Bears vs Packers game tonight?
The Saturday night matchup between the Bears and Packers kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Packers travel to Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois
Bears vs Packers live stream
Cord-cutters looking for Saturday night football can tune to Fubo. Fubo carries Fox, CBS, ABC, the NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action all season. Fubo also offers a free trial.
Watch Bears vs. Packers with Fubo (free trial)
Bears vs Packers picks, predictions
Here’s how the NFL experts at USA TODAY feel the Bears vs. Packers game will shake out:
Jarrett Bell: Bears, 29-26Nick Brinkerhoff: Bears, 28-24Chris Bumbaca: Packers, 32-29Nate Davis: Bears, 23-20Tyler Dragon: Packers, 25-21Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bears, 28-27Bears vs. Packers odds, moneyline, O/U
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 3:23 p.m.
Moneyline (ML):Â Green Bay -115 (Bet $115 to win $100) | Chicago -105 (Bet $105 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS):Â Green Bay -1 (-105) | Chicago +1 (-115)Over/Under (O/U):Â 46.5 (O: -118 | U: -110)S Evan WilliamsOT Zach TomDL Quinton BohannaTE Josh WhyleDL Nazir StackhouseWR Rome OdunzeWR Luther Burden IIILB Ruben Hyppolite IILB Amen OgbongbemigaDL Jonathan FordQB Case Keenum (emergency)
The Packers running back was added to the injury report again this week, but Jacobs is officially active for tonight’s game and is expected to start.
The Bears enter Week 16 with a half-game lead in the NFC North over the Packers. This is what the standings look like:
Chicago Bears (10-4, 1-3 NFC North)Green Bay Packers (9-4-1, 4-0)Detroit Lions (8-6, 1-3)Minnesota Vikings (6-8, 2-2)
Chicago has one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NFL, according to Tankathon, with the fifth-hardest trio of matchups. Chicago faces three teams in the playoff hunt, including two divisional matchups.
Week 16: vs Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers (10-4)Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions (8-6)
Green Bay has a slightly easier slate of games remaining this season thanks to an NFC North game against fourth-placed Minnesota. Despite losing Parsons in Week 15 to a season-ending injury, Green Bay could hold on for the division title.
Week 16: at Chicago Bears (10-4)Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)Week 18: at Minnesota Vikings (6-8)Seattle Seahawks (12-3, NFC West leaders)*Chicago Bears (10-4, NFC North leaders)Philadelphia Eagles (10-5, NFC East champions)*Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, NFC South leaders)Los Angeles Rams (11-4, wild card No. 1)*San Francisco 49ers (10-4, wild card No. 2)Green Bay Packers (9-4-1, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Detroit Lions (8-6), Carolina Panthers (7-7)
* Denotes team that has clinched a playoff berth.
Denver Broncos (12-2, AFC West leaders)*New England Patriots (11-3, AFC East leaders)Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4, AFC South leaders)Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6, AFC North leaders)Los Angeles Chargers (10-4, wild card No. 1)Buffalo Bills (10-4, wild card No. 2)Houston Texans (9-5, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (8-6), Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
* Denotes team that has clinched a playoff berth.
Do you like football? Then you’ll enjoy receiving our NFL newsletter in your inbox. 📲 Â
Get the latest news, expert analysis, game insights and the must-see moments from the NFL conveniently delivered to your email inbox. Sign up now!Â