The last time the Packers played the Bears was opening day. They went into Chicago on Jordan Love's first game as the starter and spanked the Bears 38-20, earning their 9th straight win in the series.

Jordan Love had his first 3 touchdown, 0 interception game of his career and Quay Walker got a pick 6.

The Bears have improved on offense and defense since Week 1... but so have the Packers.

WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL

Jordan Love is fresh off his fifth 3 touchdown, 0 interception game of the season and he's looking like a star in the making as he continues to improve every week.

He's been successful with a rotation of unheralded receivers, throwing to whoever happens to be healthy each week.

Luke Mugrave, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks are all questionable to play today. This leaves a lot of questions (see what I did there) in the passing game. The good news is that this offense doesn't depend on one specific receiver the way they used to lean on Davante Adams or Jordy Nelson.

Guys like Bo Melon, Tucker Kraft, and Malik Heath have all come up big.

Today, whichever receivers are healthy, will be facing a beat-up Chicago secondary,

Jaylon Johnson, who is a developing into a premier cornerback for the Bears, and is arguable their best player, is doubtful to play with a shoulder injury. On the other side, Kyler Gordan was limited in practice with a calf injury and is listed as Questionable. Reserve cornerback Josh Blackwell should see a lot of snaps today, as will rookie Tyrique Stevenson. Stevenson has been developing into a good player in his own right, and came up with a couple interceptions against the Falcons, giving him 4 in his last 5 games.

Turnovers have been a big part of Chicago's recent hot 4-1 streak.

The Bears have 18 takeaways in their last 6 games. They have been aggressively going after the ball. Linebacker Tremaine Edwards is tied for the team lead with 4 interceptions and linebacker TJ Edwards has 3 of his own.

Protecting the ball will be critical, and Jordan Love will need to be careful with shallow routes in the middle of the field. Recent Packers gameplans have really stretched the short routes horizontally with Tucker Kraft. These routes should be a staple today, as should screens to Aaron Jones, who led the team with 86 receiving yards the last time they played. Keeping passes away from the linebackers will be important.

If Christian Watson (6'4) is able to play, he could be a tough matchup for Gordon (6'0), Stevenson (6'0), and Blackwell (5'11). Blackwell, however, has 4.3-range speed to keep up with guys like Christian Watson and Bo Melton. However, if Watson and Melton both play, the Packers could stretch the field in a way the Bears can't cover with guys like Jaquan Brisker (who never was a speed guy) and Eddie Jackson (who's speed is not what it used to be). 

For any of that to work, the Packers will need to give Love time. Elgton Jenkins is listed as questionable, which could create an issue if the Packers can't contain defensive lineman Justin Jones, who has 4.5 sacks.

On the edge, Montez Sweat, who the Bears traded for mid-season, has had an immediate impact and has 6 sacks in his 8 games since joining the team.

Green Bay can limit Sweat's effectiveness with a solid run game. However, the Bears rank number 1 in fewest rushing yards allowed (1,344) and number 4 in yards per carry allowed (3.7).

Aaron Jones has been hot for his last two games, racking up back to back 120+ yard outings, with at least 20 carries each time. He's averaged 6.0 yards per carry in each of the last two games. However, Jones is at his best reading zone blocks and slicing through seams. If Elgton Jenkins can't go, or isn't 100 percent, his impact could be limited.

The Packers will need Jones to shoulder the bulk of the carries today, because AJ Dillon is out with a neck injury.

Green Bay might need to get creative with their game plan if the run game fizzles, and hopefully will have something better than a half-dozen Jayden Reed end-arounds.

Matt LaFleur might actually be the most important person in the Packers offense today. His pencil-whipping of Brian Flores last week was just the latest in a hot string of gameplans that has launched this offense to one of highest rankings in the league over the last couple of months.

With the offense banged up, he'll need to find some weaknesses to exploit - which may not be easy given how well the Bears have played lately.

WHEN THE PACKERS ARE ON DEFENSE

Justin Fields has been, at best, an inconsistent passer throughout his career.

But he's coming off what might be his best game ever against Atlanta. He was patient in the pocket and had a lot of nice touch passes that displayed accuracy he hasn't previously shown.

DJ Moore is a real weapon. As the season has progressed, he's developed a strong rapport with Fields. They are a dangerous combination and are both playing better than they did when the Packers held Moore to 2 catches for 25 yards in their first meeting.

The Packers will have Jaire Alexander back this week, but it remains to be seen how effective he will be. 

Deep threat Darnell Mooney is out with a concussion, but tight end Cole Kmet is a unique challenge and is second on the team with 678 yards and 6 touchdowns.

De'Vondre Campbell, who is returning to the lineup, and Quay Walker, will have to take turns covering Kmet and spying on Fields. Isaiah McDuffie, who has played well in Campbell's absence, is listed as Doubtful.

Preston Smith has been coming on strong lately, but is questionable with an ankle injury. As good as he's been playing, Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness, who both have superior speed, may be a better line up today. Justin Fields is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the game and the Packers will have to do more than just hold the edge to contain him. They need to pursue without overpursuing.

They'll also need to be active in plugging holes on run defense against a team that ranks 2nd in the league in rushing yards.

Justin Fields leads the team in rushing yards, but Khalil Herbert is their top back and, while he's been inconsistent, he's been hot the last two week. He has 236 rushing yards combined in his last two games, after back to back weeks with 8 yards each.

The Packers limited Khalil Herbert to 27 yards on 9 carries in Week 1. He's dealing with a back injury, but still may play. Either way, part-time starter D'Onta Foreman and changeup back Roschon Johnson should be expected to get carries and both have proven serviceable in a running back committee that serves as a complement to the quarterback's running.

Even without Mooney (and potentially Herbert), this is a group that can create explosive plays. Over the last two games, Justin Fields has ben doing a better job finding checkdowns, as well.

This is a confident offense and they are not going up against a very good defense.

The Packers looked inspired last week against a team with a 3rd-string quarterback, but they'll have a tougher time against a hot Justin Fields.

Jaire Alexander and De'Vondre Campbell are both returning to the lineup and should be playing with attitude given the chatter around their situations.

Hopefully, they provide a spark in front of what should be a very energetic home crowd.

OTHER NOTES

The Packers are 1-6 when Jordan Love throws an interception.

The Bears defense leads the NFL with 22 interceptions.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Bears may not be a good team, but they are a confident team - and they're coming off their best game of the season.

Justin Fields is starting to look like an NFL quarterback and the Packers have shown a knack for letting opposing quarterbacks produce well above their baseline.

The Packers, for all their faults, have been gelling lately and the offense has become a unit that can take over a game.

And their leader, Jordan Love, has shown that he does not get rattled and no stage is too big for him. If they have all their receivers today, it will be hard for the Bears to cover them without Jaylon Johnson.

Whether or not the Packers defense will play like the Joe Barry units that play like their lives depend on it... or like a group that routinely gives XFL-level quarterbacks career days remains to be seen.

Either way, I think Jordan Love leads the Packers offense to the playoffs today with a bookend performance to go with Week 1.

Packers 38, Bears 33