The Green Bay Packers will take on the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field in the first home Thanksgiving game since 1923.
Brett Favre's name and retired No. 4 will be unveiled on Lambeau Field's north facade during halftime of Thursday night’s game. He is one of six Packers legends to have their number retired: Don Hutson, 14; Tony Canadeo, 3; Bart Starr, 15; Ray Nitschke, 66; and Reggie White, 92.
Green Bay has won three of the past four games it has played on Thanksgiving.
The Packers have won six of the last seven meetings against the Bears at Lambeau Field.
Thursday will mark game No. 192 in the NFL’s oldest rivalry. The Bears hold a 93-92-6 edge in the series, which includes two playoff games (1-1).
It is the 10th consecutive year that the Packers and Bears will play in prime time. It is the third year in a row that Chicago will play at Green Bay in November.
Dating back to 1970, the Packers’ 19 prime-time games against the Bears are the most they have played against any team.
Under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers are 14-6 against the Bears during the regular and postseason, including wins in 10 of the last 11 games.
In all but one of the 14 wins under McCarthy, Green Bay has scored at least 20 points, including scoring 30-plus points in each of the last four contests (31, 55, 38, 33).
In the 13 seasons of the NFC North (2002-14), the Packers (eight) and Bears (three) have accounted for 11 division titles.
Green Bay is in the midst of a four-game stretch against division opponents, with all four games taking place in the span of 19 days.
It is the first time Green Bay has played four straight games against division opponents in a single season since 2000 (Weeks 14-17).
Green Bay returns to the road in Week 13 to play the Detroit Lions. It will be the first time the Packers have played on consecutive Thursdays since 2007 (Weeks 12-13, Detroit and Dallas).
Rodgers and the Bears
With Aaron Rodgers as the starting quarterback, Green Bay is 13-3 during the regular and postseason against the Bears, with one loss coming in 2013 after Rodgers left the game with an injury after the first series.
In the 16 games against Chicago, Rodgers has an overall passer rating of 108.1 and has thrown for a passer rating over 100.0 in six of the last nine matchups.
In the last three games against the Bears, Rodgers has completed 58 of 78 passes for 806 yards, 13 touchdowns, zero interceptions and a passer rating of 146.7. He has registered passer ratings of 140.0-plus in each of those three contests (140.5, 145.8, 151.2).
WITH THE CALL
NBC will broadcast the game to a national audience. Play-by-play man Al Michaels joins color commentator Cris Collinsworth in the booth with Michele Tafoya reporting from the sidelines.
Milwaukee’s WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since November 1929, heads up the Packers Radio Network that is made up of 50 stations in five states. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (color) call the action. McCarren first joined the team’s broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 21st season calling Packers’ games. McCarren has four times been voted Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 17th season of broadcasts together.
Westwood One Sports will air the game across the country. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Tony Boselli (analyst) will call the action, Laura Okmin will report from the sidelines and Scott Graham will host pre-game and halftime shows.
The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio (WTMJ feed).
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
It will be the first time since 1994 that Green Bay has played a team other than the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
The Packers are 3-0 at home on Thanksgiving, including two non-league games, and have outscored their opponents 43-0. This will be the first time Green Bay hosts a Thanksgiving game since beating the Hammond Pros, 19-0, on Nov. 29, 1923.
Green Bay has won seven of its last eight NFC North games.
The Packers are looking to improve to 6-2 against NFC teams this season.
Green Bay is 14-5 against NFC teams since the start of last season. The Packers’ .737 winning percentage is No. 1 among NFC teams over that span, and the 14 regular-season wins are second only to the Seattle Seahawks (15-6).
Under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers are 78-36-1 against NFC opponents during the regular season. Green Bay’s 78 wins are eight more than any other team over that span (New Orleans, 70-46).
The Packers have scored 39 points in the fourth quarter over the last three games, No. 1 in the NFL over that span.
Green Bay has forced one or more turnovers in every game this season. If they force one on Thursday, it would be the fourth time since 2009 that the Packers forced at least one turnover in each of the first 11 games of the season (2009, 2011, 2014).
Last week, Green Bay posted its seventh zero-turnover game of the season. That is tied for No. 2 in franchise history (since 1933), matching the mark posted in 2014 and trailing only 2009 (eight).
The Packers have allowed a total of nine first-half points over the last two games.
In Week 11, Green Bay scored on six of its first eight possessions (two touchdowns, four field goals), including four of five in the first half.
OFFENSE
If QB Aaron Rodgers throws for 300-plus yards, it will be the 44th 300-yard passing game of his career during the regular season.
Rodgers is tied with New England QB Tom Brady with six games this season with two-plus touchdown passes and zero INTs.
Rodgers has thrown for 914 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception over the last three games.
For his career, Rodgers has thrown 91 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a has a passer rating of 111.8 against NFC North teams during the regular season. His passer rating ranks No. 1 in NFL history against division foes (min. 536 pass att.).
Dating back to 2014, Rodgers has not thrown an interception in 21 of the last 26 regular-season games, including 10 of the last 12. The Packers are 18-3 in those games.
Since the start of the 2014 season, Rodgers has thrown 61 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
WR Davante Adams has 20 receptions for 208 yards over the last three games.
WR Randall Cobb needs one catch to extend his streak of consecutive regular-season games with a reception to 51, which would pass Don Hutson (1941-45) and Paul Coffman (1979-82) and tie him with Greg Jennings (2009-12) for fifth longest streak in franchise history.
WR James Jones has set a career high with 11 receptions of 25-plus yards this season. His previous career best was eight in 2013.
In Week 11, RB Eddie Lacy recorded 100 rushing yards on 22 carries (4.5 avg.). If he records 100-plus rushing yards this week, it will be the first time in his career he has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games in the regular season.
RB James Starks is four receptions away from surpassing his career high of 29 from 2011 (13 games). He has already set new career bests with 251 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions this season.
DEFENSE
Over the last two games, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has 20 tackles (19 solo), an interception and a sack.
DE Datone Jones matched his career high with two sacks against Minnesota in Week 11.
LB Clay Matthews has 13 career games with two or more sacks. He is one shy of tying Tim Harris (14, 1986-90) for No. 3 in team history (Reggie White, 16; Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, 15).
LB Julius Peppers leads the team with 6.5 sacks this season. Dating back to last season (including playoffs), Peppers has 11 sacks in the last 14 games.
Peppers needs one sack to surpass New York Giants LB Lawrence Taylor and San Diego/St. Louis/Kansas City DE Leslie O’Neal (132.5) for 12th most in NFL history (since 1982).
Special Teams
K Mason Crosby tied the single-game team record with five field goals this past Sunday. He became the first player in NFL history to have five field goals of 40-plus yards in a game.
In Week 11, WR Jeff Janis returned his first career kickoff 70 yards. The last Packer to return his first career NFL kickoff 70-plus yards was Dave Hampton on Sept. 28 1969 (87 yards).
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Bears:
Regular season, all-time: 91-92-6
All-time, postseason: 1-1
All-time, in Green Bay: 33-23-0
Streaks: The Packers have won 10 of the last 11 meetings (including playoffs).
Last meeting, regular season: Sept. 13, 2015; Packers won, 31-23, Soldier Field
COACHES CAPSULES
Mike McCarthy: 108-58-1, .650 (incl. 7-6 postseason); 10th NFL season
John Fox: 131-102-0, .562 (incl. 8-7 postseason); 14th NFL season
Head to Head: McCarthy 3-1
vs. Opponent: McCarthy 14-6 vs. Bears; Fox 2-5 vs. Packers
MIKE McCARTHY…Is in his 10th year as the Packers’ 14th head coach.
Joined Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only coaches to guide the Packers to a Super Bowl title with a win over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.
Led the Packers to their sixth consecutive playoff appearance last season, joining New England as the only two NFL teams to do so over that span. Has also led the team to seven playoff appearances in the last eight years (2007, 2009-14).
Has guided the Packers to top-10 finishes in scoring each of the past eight seasons (2007-14), joining the Patriots as the only other team to accomplish the feat; Packers finished first overall in scoring in 2014.
His .659 winning percentage during the regular season (101-52-1) ranks No. 3 among active NFL coaches (min. 50 games)
Was named Packers head coach on Jan. 12, 2006, his first head-coaching job after 13 years as an NFL assistant.
JOHN FOX…Is in his first year as the Bears’ 15th head coach.
Led the Broncos to four division titles, joining Chuck Knox (L.A. Rams) as the only coaches in NFL history to lead their respective team to four division titles in their first four years with the franchise.
Between Carolina and Denver, made seven trips to the postseason, captured six division titles and made three conference championship appearances and two Super Bowl appearances.
One of six coaches in NFL history to lead two different teams to Super Bowl appearances (Carolina in 2003 and Denver in 2013).
His six seasons with at least 11 wins are third most among active head coaches.
Ranks fifth among active NFL head coaches with 131 overall wins.
THE PACKERS-BEARS SERIES
No two teams have met on the gridiron more than the Packers and Bears. Thursday they face off for the 192nd time.
Starting in 1923, the clubs met for 59 straight years until both games in 1982 were canceled as part of a strike-shortened season.
During the 2010 season, the teams squared off in the playoffs for just the second time in the history of the series. With a berth in Super Bowl XLV on the line, the Packers emerged victorious, 21-14, in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field.
The last time Green Bay led the overall series? On the heels of its three straight NFL championships, 1932, when the Packers led 11-10-5.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
Packers LB Julius Peppers played for the Bears from 2010-13...Packers QB Scott Tolzien attended Fremd High School in Palatine, Ill. ...Packers T Bryan Bulaga played at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Ill. ...Packers LB Nate Palmer was born in Chicago and went to Simeon High School and played at the University of Illinois and Illinois State...Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy served as the director of athletics at Northwestern University...Bears TEs coach Frank Smith is originally from Milwaukee, Wis. ...Packers TEs coach Jerry Fontenot was a third-round draft choice of the Bears in 1989 and was a mainstay at center in his eight seasons (1989-96) in Chicago...Green Bay’s OC Edgar Bennett finished his playing career in Chicago (1998-99)...Packers defensive front asst. Jerry Montgomery played for the Chicago Rush...Packers director of player engagement Rob Davis served as Chicago’s long snapper for all 16 games in 1996...Bears NT Bruce Gaston (2014-15) and LS Thomas Gafford (2006, 2008) played for Green Bay...Bears GM Ryan Pace worked for the Saints from 2001-14 while Packers VP of football administration/player finance Russ Ball, assoc. HC/LBs Winston Moss, and special teams coord. Ron Zook were on staff and while Packers RBs coach Sam Gash, Montgomery and Fontenot were players...Bears HC John Fox served in the same role with the Carolina Panthers while Packers DL coach Mike Trgovac and Peppers were with the squad. Fox was the DC for the Raiders from 1994-95 while Moss was a LB...Fox and Packers asst. OL coach Mike Solari played at San Diego State together...Bears OL coach Dave Magazu coached the TEs and OL in Carolina while Trgovac and Peppers were a part of the team...Bears special teams coord. Jeff Rodgers served as the special team’s asst. in Carolina during Peppers last season in 2009...Rodgers served in the same role for the 49ers in 2005 while Packers HC Mike McCarthy was the OC...Bears DC Vic Fangio served the same role with the 49ers while Solari was the OL coach...Fangio and Packers DC Dom Capers worked alongside one another in Houston, Carolina, New Orleans, and with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars (USFL)...Bears LBs coach Glenn Pires also worked alongside Capers when the two were with the Dolphins from 2006-07...Bears DBs coach Ed Donatell coached the secondary with the 49ers while Solari coached the OL...Donatell was the DC for the Packers from 2000-03. Donatell was also the DBs coach for Denver while Packers strength and conditioning asst. Chris Gizzi was on the team as an UDFA in 1998...Donatell coached DBs for the Jets from 1990-94 while Davis participated in training camp during the 1993-94 seasons...Gash was the asst. special teams coach for the Lions in 2007 while Bears OC Adam Gase was the QBs coach...Bears RBs coach Stan Drayton served as the asst. HC offense/RBs from 2012-14 at Ohio State while Packers C Corey Linsley was on the team...Drayton was the off. quality control/special teams coach for the Packers from 2001-03...Packers secondary/CBs coach Joe Whitt Jr. assisted the DBs for the Falcons while Bears asst. OL coach Ben Wilkerson played for them...Packers college scout John Wojciechowski worked with Bears QBs coach Dowell Loggains on the Dallas Cowboys scouting staff in 2005...Bears OLBs coach Clint Hurtt coached at the University of Miami while Packers pro scout Glenn Cook played for the team...Packers RB Eddie Lacy and S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix played at Alabama while Bears WRs coach Mike Groh was on staff there...Zook was the HC at the University of Illinois from 2005-11...Former college teammates include Packers CB Damarious Randall and Bears DT Will Sutton (Arizona State).
LAST MEETING, REGULAR SEASON
Sept. 13, 2015, Soldier Field, Packers won, 31-23
QB Aaron Rodgers completed 18 of 23 pass attempts for 189 yards and three TDs (140.5 passer rating).
WR James Jones hauled in four passes for 51 yards and two TDs.
QB Jay Cutler connected on 18 of 36 pass attempts for 225 yards, one TD and one INT (67.5 passer rating).
RB Matt Forté rushed for 141 yards and one TD on 24 carries (5.9 avg.), adding five receptions for 25 yards (5.0 avg.).
