Packers-Bears: Five Matchups To Watch

It's the start to the home-stretch in the NFC North , and each game's importance will begin to be magnified for the remainder of the season. The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings currently sit atop the division at 5-4, but the Green Bay Packers are still lurking around at 4-5. For Green Bay to get back in the title hunt, they will need to beat Chicago Sunday in the 176th installment of this heated rivalry. The Bears have owned the series recently (5-1 in their last six games against the Packers), and have won six of eight since coach Lovie Smith was hired in 2004. Both teams are coming off tough losses last weekend, so emotions will be running high on the frozen tundra.   Five matchups to watch Sunday 1. Packers' run-defense vs Bears' running back Matt Forte The Packers' run-defense this season has been a consistent disappointment. The unit ranks 28th in the NFL, and are coming off a game where the Vikings' Adrian Peterson gashed them for 192 yards. If Green Bay ... (link)