National Football League

Mancini and Rivard predict Green Bay Packers versus Chicago Bears

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Green Bay Packers fans are on pins and needles tonight as they await the showdown with the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football … a rivalry that goes back more than 90 years and is revisited at Lambeau Field once again.

Though the Bears come into this game with a pathetic 1-5 record, this is, after all, the NFC North Division where anything and everything usually does happen.

And with the Packers in such disarray these days … including an offensive backfield without running backs and Aaron Rodgers seemingly a mess of himself … this team is nowhere near where most people thought they would be six weeks into the season.

At 3-2, the Packers haven’t had the offense to beat anyone this year and the defense has been a Jeckyl and Hyde version of itself.

So, how does this game turn out?

Well, your guess is as good as ours … so we take that challenge and a couple of us over here at Lombardiave provide you with this quick look at the game, as well as our predictions.

So, as you settle into your favorite chair with some snacks and a beer, check out how we see this only playing out … and don’t be shy about providing your own prediction – with a final score.

Here are ours …

Ralph Mancini: The Packers are a mess right now. Between Aaron Rodgers doing his best Tim Couch impersonation, an unsettled backfield and an injury-ravaged secondary, this team has serious issues that won’t all be solved within a week or two.

The one positive about tonight’s matchup is that they get a rebuilding Bears team that hasn’t been able to stop anyone this year. The Packers offensive line should do enough to give their quarterback ample time to hit on a number of big plays to pull this one out.

Holding the Bears to field goals instead of touchdowns will be vital. Look for Green Bay to force a late turnover and seal a hard-earned victory that should see plenty of offense generated on both sides.

Packers 28 Bears 25

Ray Rivard: So, it’s the 1-5 Bears against a Green Bay Packers team that was supposed to compete for a berth in Super Bowl 51.

Sounds like a wipeout, right?

Not quite.

The Packers are in a tailspin that nobody anticipated heading into the mid-section of the season. Coming off a drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys just four days ago, the Packers are trying to find even a little bit of mojo to help propel them toward the end of the season. Could this be the beginning of a multi-game win streak? Packers fans can only hope.

But with Eddie Lacy gone and James Starks gone by injury the Packers look at ways to move the sticks. Could Rodgers put the ball up 60 times tonight? Gosh, I hope not.

That said, I feel the Packers, with the backs up against the wall, will come out and put some points on the board. Will the defense be up to the task of containing the Bears? I think so.

Packers 28 Bears 17