Week 14 delivers one of the biggest games of the season as the Bears and Packers meet at Lambeau Field with the top of the NFC North, and possibly the NFC playoff picture, up for grabs. Chicago enters at 9-3, leading the conference, while Green Bay sits just a half-game back. A Packers win would flip both the division and NFC standings as these longtime rivals begin a crucial two-game stretch against each other.
Packers vs. Bears
Packers
After a rocky midseason stretch, the Packers have won three straight, stabilizing their playoff position and quieting the noise around Matt LaFleur’s job security. The charge has been led by Jordan Love, who’s playing at an elite level with 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions, including a four-TD Thanksgiving performance against Detroit. His efficient command of the offense has helped Green Bay become the NFL’s best team on third down.
Defensively, the Packers have found their identity thanks to Micah Parsons, who has been a game-wrecker since arriving in Green Bay. Parsons is fresh off a 2.5-sack outing and recently became the first player in NFL history to record 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons. With six sacks over his last three games, he’s peaking at the perfect time for a defense gearing up to face Caleb Williams.
The Packers know they’ll see Chicago again in Week 18, but with a chance to take the division lead now, the urgency is real.
Bears
The Bears have flipped their season after an 0-2 start, winning nine of their last ten and entering Sunday on a five-game winning streak. Much of their success stems from a defense that leads the NFL with 26 takeaways, including 10 during the current streak. Safety Kevin Byard has become the league’s interception leader with six, spearheading a unit that relies heavily on opportunistic play.
While turnovers have masked some defensive shortcomings, Chicago ranks in the bottom third of the league in points allowed, rushing yards allowed, and red-zone defense. The Bears excel on third down (7th in the NFL) and continue to win tight games. A major reason: Caleb Williams, who already has five fourth-quarter comebacks, tied for the league lead. Chicago is 6-1 in one-possession contests, thanks in part to Williams’ poise and a steady ground attack powered by D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai (1,365 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns combined).
With another matchup against Green Bay looming in Week 18, Chicago enters Lambeau looking not just to protect first place, but to solidify its claim as the NFC’s most complete rising contender.
Stats to know
Bears
- 6th in total offense / 15th in passing offense (220.4 ypg) / 2nd in rushing offense (153.8 ypg)
- 27th in total defense / 22nd in passing defense (225.2 ypg) / 28th in rushing defense (133.8 ypg)
- 26.1 points per game / 25.6 points allowed per game
- 383.4 ypg / 369.2 yards allowed per game
- 8-4 ATS / 5-2 SU on the road / 5-2 ATS as away team
- 6-2 ATS after a win / 5-2 ATS as the underdog / 4-2 ATS as a road underdog
- Bears have won 5-straight games
- Bears are 95-107-6 vs the Packers all time in the regular season
Packers
- 13th in total offense / 13th in passing offense (223.4 ypg) / 16th in rushing offense (117.2 ypg)
- 14th in total defense / 6th in passing defense (186.5 ypg) / 7th in rushing defense (98.3 ypg)
- 24.5 points per game / 18.8 points allowed per game
- 351.1 ypg / 301 yards allowed per game
-5-7 ATS / 4-2 SU at home / 3-3 ATS as home team
- 4-3 ATS after a win / 4-6 ATS as the favorite / 3-2 ATS as home favorite
- Packers have won 3-straight games
- Packers are 53-43-5 at home vs the Bears all-time
- Matt LaFleur is 20-4 SU in the month of December
Odds per DraftKings Sportsbook: Packers -7 / Total O/U 43.5 / Bears ML +260
Best bets
- Packers -7
- The Green Bay Packers seem to have regained their swagger from the beginning of the season after going into Detroit and beating the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The Packers are on a win streak, as well as the Bears who have had an unexpected season and are top of the NFC North. While the Bears are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, I like the Packers and the points due to how dominant Matt LaFleur is in the month of December. His straight up record in the last month of the year is insane and covers the spread in this month at almost 66%. 75% of bets placed are on the Bears to cover which makes me like Packers spread even more. The Bears defense is too reliant on turnovers and if they cannot force any their defense is a bottom defense in the NFL. Josh Jacobs should have a dominant game as the Bears get gashed by running backs every week. Lambeau Field is one of if not the toughest stadiums to play in, in the winter and the Bears will be coming back to Earth Sunday afternoon.
- Jordan Love 2+ passing touchdowns (-127)
- Jordan Love is the proverbial engine to the Packers offense and he is set up to have a big game against the Bears Sunday if the Packers establish the ground game early and often. If Josh Jacobs and the Packers offensive line can dominate the run game from the jump, Love will be able to settle in and run play action. Jordan Love is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL when he has a clean pocket and when the defense is only rushing three when they commit to the run then Love should have clean pockets to throw out of. Love is coming off a four touchdown performance against the Lions and it seems like the Packers offense is finally meshing after struggling the past couple of weeks to stick to an identity. If the Packers are going to want to stay in the hunt for the division, Love will have to have at least two passing touchdowns for the Packers to improve to 9-3-1.
Injury Report
Packers
This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 76.5
Last 4 weeks’ BUS:
Week 10: 76.4
Week 11: 78.9
Week 12:76.8
Week 13: 77.7
Player
Position
Injury
Wed
Thu
Fri
Game Status
G
NIR - Rest
(-)
(-)
LP
(-)
DL
Ankle
LP
LP
FP
(-)
S
Ankle
LP
DNP
DNP
ques.
LB
Shoulder
LP
FP
FP
(-)
DL
Groin
LP
LP
LP
ques.
WR
Wrist
LP
LP
LP
ques.
CB
Knee
LP
LP
LP
ques.
RB
Knee
LP
LP
FP
(-)
RB
Calf
LP
LP
LP
out
QB
Left Shoulder
FP
FP
FP
(-)
DL
Hamstring
LP
LP
LP
out
WR
Foot / Shoulder
LP
LP
LP
ques.
DL
Ankle
LP
FP
FP
(-)
OL
Back
LP
LP
LP
(-)
DL
Foot
DNP
DNP
DNP
out
LB
Neck
LP
FP
FP
(-)
WR
Ankle
LP
LP
LP
(-)
WR
Foot
DNP
DNP
DNP
out
DL
Ankle
DNP
DNP
DNP
out
The Packers’ weekly injury report boasted a daunting 19 players this week. The updated version as of Saturday includes 5 players who are questionable and another 5 who have been ruled out for a key divisional showdown against the Bears. It’s not all bad news though, as one of the questionable players is WR Jayden Reed who was activated from IR and is nearing a return from the collarbone fracture he sustained earlier this season. More good news is that LB Quay Walker and DE Karl Brooks have no designations going into the game after missing two and one games respectively (neck and ankle). On a less positive note, DE Lukas Van Ness will miss a seventh game with a foot injury, eating into the Packer’s depth on the D line, particularly with DE Devonte Wyatt getting placed on IR with an ankle injury as of Friday. Another position group worth keeping an eye on is the defensive backs with S Javon Bullard questionable with an ankle injury and backup CB Nate Hobbs questionable with a knee injury.
Bears
This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 72.5
Last 4 weeks’ BUS:
Week 10: 78.7
Week 11: 80.6
Week 12: 72.2
Week 13: 69.8
Player
Position
Injury
Wed
Thu
Fri
Game Status
Rome Odunze
WR
Foot
DNP
DNP
DNP
out
Tyrique Stevenson
CB
Hip
DNP
DNP
DNP
out
Ruben Hyppolite II
LB
Shoulder
DNP
DNP
LP
out
Andrew Billings
DT
Concussion
FP
FP
FP
(-)
T.J. Edwards
LB
Hand/ Hamstring
LP
LP
FP
(-)
Jaylon Johnson
CB
Groin
FP
FP
FP
(-)
Kyle Monangai
RB
Ankle
DNP
LP
FP
(-)
Dominique Robinson
DE
Concussion
FP
FP
FP
(-)
Noah Sewell
LB
Elbow
FP
FP
FP
(-)
Joe Thuney
G
NIR Rest
DNP
FP
The Chicago Bears’ BUS is trending upward this week. While the Bears have a much shorter injury report from this week than the Packers do, they will be without some key pieces on the field. WR Rome Odunze has been ruled out with a stress fracture in his foot. He has appeared on the injury report a few times this year for the foot, and his production has decreased over the past few games so it’s likely this has been worsening for a while. With Odunze out, expect QB Caleb Willams to lean on WR DJ Moore and their elite run game led by RB D’Andre Swift. Receiving targets who may step up in Odunze’s absence also include WR Luther Burden III, TE Colston Loveland and WR Devin Duvernay, who is a strong special teams player. Defensively, LB Ruben Hyppolite II will miss the game with a concussion.
Sunday Night Football
Chiefs vs. Texans
Week 14’s edition of Sunday Night Football brings major AFC playoff stakes as the Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City enters at 6-6, fighting to keep its postseason hopes alive, while Houston comes in at 7-5, riding a four-game winning streak and finally back to full strength with C.J. Stroud under center. For both teams, this primetime matchup sets the tone for the stretch run and could determine who’s still playing meaningful football in January.
Chiefs
The Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory. After a Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas and a stretch of three defeats in their last four games, Kansas City sits in 10th place in the AFC, facing the real possibility of missing the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid era. With five games remaining, the margin for error is essentially gone. A 5-0 finish might be required; 4-1 might give them a shot.
Kansas City’s late-season challenge is made tougher by severe offensive line injuries. Both starting tackles, Josh Simmons (IR) and Jawaan Taylor, are out, and guard Trey Smith is uncertain after missing practice with an ankle issue. Protecting Mahomes has become a major concern, especially against a Houston defensive front that specializes in pressure.
The schedule ahead includes matchups with playoff hopefuls like the Chargers, Broncos, and Raiders, making this home game against Houston a borderline must-win. For Kansas City, survival mode starts now.
Texans
For Houston, climbing back into the AFC playoff mix has been all about resilience. After falling to 3-5, the Texans have now won four straight to move to 7-5, and last week’s divisional win over the Colts kept them firmly in the race. Not only are they pushing for a wild card spot, they’re just one game behind Jacksonville and Indianapolis in the AFC South, giving them multiple paths to the postseason.
The key difference now: C.J. Stroud is back, stabilizing an offense that flashed top-tier potential earlier in the year. But the Texans’ biggest advantage heading into Sunday night is their defense. Houston’s front, led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, has been overwhelming opponents, dominating the line of scrimmage and forcing quarterbacks into mistakes. Their surge has been complemented by consistently tight secondary play, helping form one of the league’s hottest defensive units at the perfect time.
With matchups against the Cardinals, Raiders, Chargers and Colts still on the horizon, Houston’s path won’t be easy, but a win at Arrowhead would give DeMeco Ryans’ team a massive boost in a crowded AFC playoff race.
Stats to know
Texans
- 18th in total offense / 16th in passing offense (219.1 ypg) / 23rd in rushing offense (107.7 ypg)
- 1st in total defense / 4th in passing defense ( 174 ypg) / 4th in rushing defense (91.7 ypg)
- 21.9 points per game / 16.5 points allowed per game
- 386.5 ypg / 313.4 yards allowed per game
- 6-6 ATS / 3-3 SU on road / 2-4 ATS as away team
- 3-3 ATS after a win / 2-3 ATs as underdog / 1-3 ATS as away underdog
- Texans have won 4-straight game
- Texans are 2-7 SU at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs
- 5th in total offense / 2nd in passing offense ( 256.5 ypg) / 15th in rushing offense (188.3 ypg)
- 9th in total defense / 12th in passing defense (205.8 ypg) / 9th in rushing defense (100.9 ypg)
- 25.4 points per game / 19.3 points allowed per game
- 386.5 ypg / 313.4 yards allowed per game
- 5-6-1 ATS / 5-1 SU at home / 4-1-1 ATS at home
- 2-2-1 ATS after a loss / 4-5-1 ATS as favorite / 3-0-1 ATS as home favorite
- Chiefs have lost three-out-of-the-last-four-games
- Patrick Mahomes is 26-6 SU in the month of December all-time
Odds per DraftKings Sportsbook: Chiefs -3.5 / Total O/U 41.5 / Texans ML +164
Best bets
- Under 41.5 points (-108)
- I like the under in this game due to how good both of these team’s defenses are. The Texans defense is the best in the league statistically and the Chiefs still have plenty of all-pro players as well. The Chiefs offense is too inconsistent and the Texans are welcoming back C.J. Stroud from injury. Since Stroud is coming off an injury, I feel like he will have some rust to shake off and with the Chiefs pass rush coming at him all night, I think the Texans offense might have some trouble putting up a lot of points. The Texans defense speaks for themselves and I think the Chiefs will win this low scoring affair by a last second field goal.
- Rashee Rice anytime touchdown (+115)
- Rashee Rice has been absolutely electric after missing the first six games of the season due to suspension. Rice has scored five touchdowns in the six games he has played in this season and is the betting favorite to get into the endzone on Sunday night. Rice and Mahomes have great chemistry and the pure speed and agility that he possesses is unmatched no matter how good the Texans defense is. I assume Derek Stingley Jr. will be covering Rice the majority of the night which will be a tough matchup for Rice but this wide receiver has a nose for the endzone and will need to score if the Chiefs want to get above .500.
Injury Report
Texans
This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 73.7
Last 4 weeks’ BUS:
Week 10: 69.6
Week 11: 71.8
Week 12: 72.0
Week 13: 76.3
Player
Position
Injury
Wed
Thu
Fri
Game Status
LB
Hamtring
DNP
DNP
DNP
out
S
Forearm
DNP
DNP
DNP
out
CB
Foot
DNP
DNP
LP
ques.
LB
Knee
LP
FP
FP
(-)
DE
Chest / Shoulder
DNP
LP
FP
unspecified
DE
Knee
DNP
LP
FP
unspecified
T
Hand
DNP
LP
FP
(-)
RB
Ankle
DNP
LP
FP
** (-)**
The Texan’s BUS is rolling forward as the team is getting healthier down the stretch. That’s not to say there aren’t some bumps in the road, as starting S Jaylen Reed was placed on IR after falling on a forearm that was previously broken in college and breaking the plate for that injury. Also on the defense, LB Jamal Hill is out with a hamstring injury and CB Kamari Lassiter is questionable with a foot injury. The Texans’ defense is further littered with players on IR which limits their depth and may cause problems if more players get hurt in the final few weeks of the season as they fight for a playoff berth.
Chiefs
This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 84.6
Last 4 weeks’ BUS:
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: 85.3
Week 12: 84.8
Week 13: 85.1
Player
Position
Injury
Wed
Thu
Fri
Game Status
CB
Back
DNP
DNP
DNP
out
G
Ankle
DNP
DNP
DNP
doubtful
T
Triceps / Knee
DNP
DNP
DNP
doubtful
S
Ankle
FP
FP
FP
(-)
TE
Concussion / Shoulder
FP
FP
FP
ques.
DB
Shoulder
FP
FP
FP
(-)
DE
Thumb
FP
FP
FP
(-)
QB
Knee
FP
FP
FP
(-)
RB
Knee
FP
FP
FP
(-)
WR
Shoulder / concussion
FP
FP
LP
out
WR
Hamstring
FP
FP
FP
** (-)**
The Chiefs go into the Sunday Night Football game after a strong week of practices for many of the players on the injury report including star QB Patrick Mahomes, DE George Karlaftis and S Bryan Cook. Sadly this was not the case for WR and special teamer Nikko Remigio who was looking good with two full practices before being downgraded to limited practice and ruled out for the game after sustaining a concussion during practice. There will also likely be some shuffling on the O line with G Trey Smith (ankle) and T Jawaan Taylor (triceps and knee) both doubtful. Both these players typically protect Mahomes’ right side, so we might see players like OL Wanya Morris stepping up to the line. CB Christian Rolland-Wallace was placed on IR after missing week 13 with a back injury he sustained in the week 12 game against the Colts, so he will miss at least 4 games.
