Bears vs. Packers Week 14 Preview: Kickoff Time, Stakes, and Matchups for the NFL’s Oldest Rivalry

The NFL’s oldest rivalry returns to center stage this Sunday as Bears vs. Packers takes over Lambeau Field with division leverage and playoff seeding on the line. Chicago enters at 9–3, Green Bay at 8–3–1, turning a classic matchup into a true December measuring stick with bye tiebreakers and home-field implications in play.

Bears vs. Packers game time and how to watch

• Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025

• Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET / 1:25 p.m. PT / 9:25 p.m. GMT

• Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

• Forecast at kickoff: Mid-to-upper teens (°F) with a wind chill near or below 10°F; light winds possible. Conditions favor ball security and field position.

Note for planners: A second Bears vs. Packers meeting is slated for Week 16 in Green Bay on Saturday, December 20, flexed to 7:20 p.m. CT / 8:20 p.m. ET (1:20 a.m. GMT, Dec. 21). Schedules remain subject to change.

Why Bears vs. Packers matters in Week 14

• Division swing: A Green Bay win narrows (or flips) the NFC North race; a Chicago win strengthens its lead and conference standing.

• Tiebreakers: Head-to-head and common-opponent results loom large in December. This game could become the first or second tiebreak layer if the teams finish within a half-game.

• Seeding race: With multiple NFC contenders clustered within a game of each other, a single loss can knock a team from a bye trajectory to wild-card traffic.

Betting and form snapshot (as of midweek)

• Spread range: Green Bay favored by roughly a touchdown in early markets.

• Total: Mid-40s, reflecting respect for each defense and the temperatures.

• Recent form: Chicago rides a five-game win streak built on defense and situational offense; Green Bay has stabilized behind efficient quarterback play and better early-down success.

Lines move throughout the week; check your preferred book for updates.

Injuries and availability to monitor

Both teams enter December with typical attrition. Chicago has navigated extended absences on the offensive line and at linebacker; special-teams adjustments continue as depth pieces cycle. Green Bay’s skill group has dealt with nicks at receiver and backfield, while the interior line remains a watch item. Midweek practice designations—questionable vs. doubtful—will shape red-zone packages and personnel groupings. Treat any late-week upgrades or downgrades as materially impactful for props and totals.

Keys to the game: Bears vs. Packers matchups

1) Third down, two philosophies

• Chicago offense vs. Green Bay defense: The Bears have leaned into a controlled passing menu—RPOs, slants, and designed checkdowns—aimed at staying out of 3rd-and-7+. Against a Green Bay unit that disguises pressure and spins late into two-high shells, the Bears must win on early downs with quick-game timing and a stable interior pocket.

• Green Bay offense vs. Chicago defense: The Packers’ quarterback has thrived when the script stays ahead of the sticks. Chicago’s surge has been powered by four-man rush wins and tighter coverage on outbreakers. If the Bears force 3rd-and-medium, simulated pressures can bait hurried throws.

2) Explosives vs. tackling discipline
Green Bay’s shot plays—crossers off play-action, slot fades, and deep over routes—test safeties who peek into the backfield. Chicago has cut down explosives during its win streak with cleaner tackling angles and better leverage outside the numbers. One 40-yard swing play might decide field position in cold weather.

3) Red-zone chess
In the low teens (°F), route timing compresses. Chicago’s heavier personnel near the goal line has produced efficient play-action leaks; Green Bay counters with length at corner and safeties who pass off routes well. Conversely, Green Bay’s condensed bunch sets stress communication—if Chicago’s linebackers pass routes crisply, they can force field goals.

4) Turnovers and field position
Cold balls sail and bounce unpredictably. Punts that check inside the 15 and clean operation on holds/snaps become hidden yards. The team that steals a possession—via a tipped-ball pick or forced fumble on a perimeter run—will own the script.

Tactical wrinkles to watch

• Chicago motions: Expect jet and yo-yo motion to declare coverage and soften edges for perimeter runs, with occasional wheel routes to punish over-rotation.

• Green Bay tempo pockets: Short bursts of no-huddle after chunk gains can trap base personnel and simplify reads.

• QB keepers in the low red zone: With footing at a premium, designed keepers and zone-read looks can beat perfect coverage.

Prediction and confidence band

In a frozen, possession-squeezing environment, Bears vs. Packers tilts toward the home side’s comfort at Lambeau and marginally deeper explosive profile. If Chicago’s pass rush shortens the field and wins the takeaway battle, the door opens for an upset. Baseline script: Green Bay by one score, with a total landing near the low-to-mid 40s.

Projected range: Packers by 3–7; live-bet angle on unders if early drives stall inside the 30.

What’s next after Bears vs. Packers

The loser remains firmly in the playoff hunt but cedes valuable tiebreak ground with only three games left. The winner exits Sunday with a cleaner path to the division crown—and a chance two weeks later to validate it under the primetime lights in the flexed rematch.

Bundle up, secure the ball, and expect a classic: Bears vs. Packers in December still decides real stakes.