Bet NFC Finals – Bears Look To End Packers Wild Run In NFC Championship

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will renew their rivalry in the NFC Championship game this Sunday, with a lot more than bragging rights on the line this time around.

It will be the 181st meeting between these NFC North rivals, but after splitting a pair of regular season meetings, this one will have a much more significant meaning. Only once have the Packers and Bears met with so much on the line, and that was more than six decades ago. Here’s a preview before you bet NFC finals.

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Bet NFC Finals: Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

Sunday January 23, 2011 – 3:00 PM ET

Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Broadcast: FOX

Football Betting Odds: Packers -3.5, Bears +3.5

Total: 43.5

With Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler airing it out, the feel for this game will be a little different, although both of their regular season games became defensive battles. The Bears allowed Green Bay to clinch the final NFC Wild Card spot by conceding the final game of the season, something they may very well end up regretting.

Bet NFC Finals: What The Packers Will Have To Do To Win

The Bears were one of the best run-stopping teams during the regular season, but that will hardly matter for the Packers with Rodgers under center. After throwing for six touchdowns combined in wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, Rodgers is the first quarterback to toss 10 scores in his first three NFL postseason games.

Green Bay will need him to continue to push the envelope on offense, while it’s 3-4 defense finds a way to make life miserable for Cutler. The Packers have done an excellent job of forcing turnovers, something that Cutler has been known for in his career, and that could be the difference.

Bet NFC Finals: What The Bears Will Have To Do To Win

Just the same way that the Packers will need to pressure Cutler, Chicago will need to get after Rodgers and knock him off his feet a couple of times. The Green Bay line allowed Rodgers to take a few big bumps during the regular season, which resulted in two concussions.

Cutler will need to limit his turnovers and remain poised in the face of pressure, and he could benefit from some help from running back Matt Forte. The Bears do have one area of the game that could make the difference and that is special teams, where Devin Hester remains a weapon. Chicago’s return units have been quiet this year, but that could all change on Sunday.

Bet NFC Finals: Outlook & Pick

There’s an old saying in sports that preaches that you never give an opponent a second chance to beat you, but that’s exactly what the Bears did by conceding that final game of the regular season. The Packers have the better depth on both sides of the ball, and Rodgers is performing on a completely different level. That will be the difference as Green Bay returns to the Super Bowl.

Bet NFC Finals Pick: Packers -3.5