The (3-2) Green Bay Packers are hosting the (1-5) Chicago Bears in what is sure to be another atrocious display of short-week Thursday Night Football. Kick off is at 8:25 PM ST and will be shown on NFL Network and CBS.
The Packers are currently 8.5-point favorites, but the Bears and Packers have combined to cover the spread just twice this year.
Green Bay will not have starting RB Eddie Lacy or back-up RB James Starks. They just traded for Chiefs 4th string RB Kniles Davis. The Packers will also be without TE Jared Cook and their top three cornerbacks Sam Shields (IR), Damarious Randall (groin), and Quinten Rollins (groin).
The Bears have starting QB Jay Cutler, starting RB Jeremy Langford, and starting OG Josh Sitton as doubtful on the injury report, while starting wide receivers Kevin White (IR) and Eddie Royal (toe) are already declared out.
The Patriots truly have no horse in this race, although there are some factors to monitor. Former Patriots QB Brian Hoyer is likely starting for the Bears, along with Bears starting DT Akiem Hicks, so New England could have an interest in watching friends succeed.
On the other hand, the Bears are one of three teams that could be interesting trade partners with the Patriots should they lose and fall to 1-6. So a Chicago loss could mean a more interesting trade deadline.
Have fun trying to enjoy this abomination.