The Green Bay Packers picked up a much-needed win last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While not the most inspiring, the win got them to 2-2. Now, they'll look to build on it as they head home to face off against the Chicago Bears.
The Packers haven't met the Bears since their infamous playoff meltdown. A new year brings new games, though, and the teams will now kick off the NFL's longest rivalry all over again. The Packers look to move to 3-2, while the Bears aim to improve to 4-1 and win their third straight game without Caleb Williams at quarterback.
Ahead of Week 5, we'll look at the biggest things to watch, including the Packers' X-factors, what they must do to win, and more.
- Three things to watch in Packers vs. Bears in Week 5
- Biggest X-factors for Packers in Week 5
- Packers' keys to winning against the Bears in Week 5
Three things to watch in Packers vs. Bears in Week 5
1. Offensive line reinforcements
Another week, another discussion about the Packers' offensive line. Last week, Green Bay introduced yet another iteration of the offensive line, with new signing Laken Tomlinson joining the group. The Packers' offensive line actually held up, with Jordan Love getting hit just once, despite some of the sloppy offensive play happening outside of that.
This week, the offensive line could get another boost. Kevin Zeitler, who signed with the team ahead of the game against the Bucs, could be in line to make his debut. If so, he'll slot in at right guard.
The Bears, much like the Bucs, don't generate a ton of pressure with their defensive line and edge group like the Vikings, Jets, and Falcons did, which could mark a great chance to slide Zeitler in and see how he performs.
2. An age-old rivalry
The Packers-Bears rivalry is the greatest in the NFL, and it recently got reignited in a big way. After a decade and some change of dominating the Bears, Chicago's last two wins have flipped the rivalry on its head.
The inclusion of Ben Johnson and his very vocal antics has turned what had become a tepid back-and-forth into a game in which both teams, and their respective fanbases, desperately want to win.
For the Packers, that desire is rooted in how the last two games went. After winning the first 2025 matchup on a game-winning interception, the Packers actually seemed primed to sweep the Bears all season last year.
Instead, they blew a Week 16 game in Soldier Field and then spiraled in the playoffs. After being up big in both games but failing to get the job done, it'll be interesting to see how Green Bay looks this week.
3. Can the Packers run the ball?
The Packers have been unable to get any semblance of a running game going through four weeks. MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson have been ineffective, and Chris Brooks has been more or less a "passing downs only" type of back (and he's out due to injury in Week 5).
Green Bay is averaging a league-worst 58 rushing yards per game and just 3.2 yards per carry, which ranks 31st.
After four weeks of poor play, the Packers have activated Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad, in part due to Brooks' injury. Strong could deliver a spark this offseason desperately needs.
Biggest X-factors for Packers in Week 5
Pierre Strong Jr.
We just touched on it, but Strong will be a huge factor in this game. Not only is he coming in to help bolster a running game that's been atrocious, but he's stepping in for Brooks.
Brooks has handled many of the Packers' pass-blocking reps at running back, so Strong will need to step in and make some contributions early. He is coming off an impressive preseason.
"Don't be surprised if he gets a good amount of playing time against the Bears. He has played in 46 games and has 99 career carries. A 5.0 average," writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Kevin Zeitler
Zeitler's inclusion on the offensive line, on paper, would be massive for the Packers. Despite not signing with a team until the season had started, Zeitler was a legitimately great guard last year for the Tennessee Titans. He was PFF's 13th-ranked guard.
Whether he makes his Packers debut remains to be seen, but the offensive line would welcome the help.
Javon Bullard
Bullard has quietly developed into one of the brightest young slot defenders in the NFL, and the Packers will need that in a big way on Sunday. Regardless of whether it's Tyler Bagent, Case Keenum, or Caleb Williams playing on Sunday, the Bears have a litany of high-profile offensive talent, including Luther Burden, Colson Loveland, Rome Odunze, and Kalif Raymond.
With linebacker Edgerrin Cooper out for the year after tearing his Achilles, the Packers' secondary is going to need to be on point on Sunday. Bullard's play will determine a lot of that.
Packers' keys to winning against the Bears in Week 5
Keep up the pressure
The Packers' defensive line has done a great job generating pressure so far, and it must continue on Sunday. Regardless of who the Bears start at quarterback, the Packers will need to keep pressure on the quarterback.
Per Pro Football Reference, the Packers rank No. 9 in pressure percentage and No. 7 in hurry percentage.
Ben Johnson is as good a play-caller as there is, so the Packers' best chance at winning will come down to whether they can disrupt things enough to not let the Bears get set in their ways.
Force long down and distances
The Bears can convert when it matters most. They have moved the chains on 47.4 percent of third downs this season, ranking No. 6 in the NFL. That's why it'll be key to keep the Bears' offense as far back from the first-down marker as possible.
Johnson will go for it on fourth down on any chance he gets, and the skill players the Bears have are good enough to succeed on shorter down-and-distances.
Keeping Chicago's offense behind the sticks will be a huge key to swinging this game. It will also lead right into the very next, and most important, key.
Don't fall apart
It's simple, it's hurtful, but it's honest: the Packers will have to do all they can to not choke when it matters most. They held huge leads in the previous two meetings against the Bears, with the first regular-season game in Soldier Field essentially over at one point, and the team leading by as much as 18 in the playoffs.
It wasn't enough, though, and the Packers ended up losing both games in embarrassing and shocking fashion.
Who knows whether they take a big lead this year against the Bears? Regardless, the Packers will need to stay composed and finally figure out how to finish close games. Right now, it's their ultimate boogeyman, and only they have the ability to change it and fix it.
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