Keys to the Game (Nov. 29)

The Green Bay Packers (7-3) host the Chicago Bears (5-5) at 7:20 p.m Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. NBC televises the game.

Coaches

Green Bay — Matt LaFleur, second season (20-6). Chicago — Matt Nagy, third season (25-17).

History

Packers lead 99-95-6. With a victory, the Packers would earn a 100th victory against the Bears. Green Bay has won 17 of the last 20 matchups.

When the Packers have the ball

After devouring one cupcake after another, Green Bay’s offense will be tested by a high-quality defense for the second consecutive game.

Chicago ranks sixth in the NFL with 20.9 points allowed per game. The Bears are eighth in passing yards per play and ninth in rushing yards per play. Situational football is key and the Bears excel in those areas, with No. 1 rankings on third down (33.3% conversions) and in the red zone (44.1% touchdowns).

Chicago’s 3-4 scheme is powered by its linebackers. On the outside, indomitable Khalil Mack is joined by free-agent addition Robert Quinn. Mack has 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. So, he’s been good but not quite as dominant as in 2018, when he arrived in Chicago and was a game-wrecker with 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles.

In 12 primetime games since joining the Bears, he has 11 sacks, eight forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

Quinn had 11.5 sacks for Dallas last year but only one this year, though he does have two forced fumbles.

The inside linebackers are budding star Roquan Smith and steady veteran Danny Trevathan. Smith is second in the NFL with 96 tackles, first with 15 tackles for losses and has broken up five passes.

“He makes plays in every game that amaze me,” position coach Mark DeLeone told reporters last week.

The starting defensive line features standout Akiem Hicks at end. He’s joined by Brent Urban at the other end and Bilal Nichols at nose tackle. Nichols is playing for Eddie Goldman, who opted out. Hicks has 3.5 sacks and a team-leading 14 quarterback hits.

Kyle Fuller and rookie Jaylon Johnson are the cornerbacks. Big-play Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson are the safeties. Buster Skrine mans the slot. According to Pro Football Focus, 77 corners have played at least 50% of the coverage snaps. Fuller ranks ninth in yards allowed per coverage snap while Johnson is 25th.

Jackson’s nose for the football is remarkable. He intercepted 10 passes in his first three seasons in the NFL (2017 through 2019) and three forced fumbles this year. In his three-plus seasons, he’s scored a league-high six defensive touchdowns, including one this year. Gipson leads the team with two interceptions.

When the Bears have the ball

If only the Bears had an offense. Chicago enters week 12 ranked No. 31 with 19.1 points per game. It is bad in every area, checking in No. 31 in yards per play and rushing yards per play and No. 30 in passing yards per play. It is the worst team in the league on third down and close to it in the red zone.

Nagy had the mini-bye to sort things out. That process started at quarterback. Will he go with Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles against Green Bay? Health might play a role in the decision. Trubisky was inactive the last two games with an injured throwing shoulder. Foles was knocked out of last Thursday’s game against Minnesota.

Neither have been good. Foles has been the more accurate passer with a 65.0% completion rate but he’s thrown 10 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions. Trubisky has completed 59.3% of his passes with six touchdowns vs. three interceptions but at least offers a legit running threat.

David Montgomery is the lead running back. He’s a grinder who is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry but has added 30 receptions. Receiver-turned-running back Cordarrelle Patterson is the No. 2 back but averages just 2.9 per carry.

Allen Robinson is a legit No. 1 receiver. Despite the quarterback problems, he’s caught 63 passes for 755 yards and three touchdowns. Anthony Miller has added 34 catches for 349 yards and two TDs.

Rookie Darnell Mooney, who has contributed 30 receptions for 351 yards and two scores, is a legit deep threat with 4.38 speed in the 40. Jimmy Graham, a bust with the Packers, is second on the Bears with 35 receptions and first with five touchdowns. He didn’t have any catches last week.

The offensive line consists of left tackle Charles Leno, left guard Rashaad Coward, center Cody Whitehair, right guard Germain Ifedi and right tackle Alex Bars. Coward is playing for James Daniels, who is out for the season with a torn pectoral, and Bars is playing for veteran Bobby Massie, who is out with a knee injury. According to PFF, only three offensive lines have allowed more pressures than Chicago’s reconfigured front.

Special teams

Green Bay must get its special teams back on track. Against Houston, it allowed a blocked punt. Against Jacksonville, it gave up a punt return for a touchdown. Against the Colts on Sunday, it was returner Darrius Shepherd’s fumbled kickoff return that set up Indy’s go-ahead score.

Like Indianapolis, Chicago will pose a huge challenge because veterans Dwayne Harris (8.1 yards on punts) and Patterson (30.3-yard average on kickoffs) are proven weapons. Patterson has a 104-yard touchdown this season. That eighth career kickoff-return touchdown tied an NFL record.

“Obviously, we’ve had a couple things happen to us in the last couple weeks and it’s something you don’t want to have happen,” special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga said last week. “We’re going to use it as a learning experience and we do.

“I try to look at each game as, did we do enough in the phases to win the game, and we’ve won the field position battle all but a couple games here. That’s not a sexy thing to talk about. We definitely do need to stop the negative things from happening to us and try to create some positive plays.”

Chicago kicker Cairo Santos has provided some stability. He’s 17 of 19 on field goals. Punter Pat O’Donnell is averaging a robust 46.6 yards per punt but opposing returners are averaging 12.4 yards per runback. Can Green Bay’s feeble return units take advantage?