The key for the Bears in Week 4, as the case always seems to be against the Packers, is slowing down the Aaron Rodgers-led passing attack that ranks second in the NFL with 291.3 yards per game through three weeks. Chicago’s defense overall has been solid this season, ranking 12th with an average of 321.7 total yards allowed per game.
PACKERS-BEARS PICKS:Straight up | Against spread
Here is all the info you need to watch Packers vs. Bears on Thursday Night Football.
Packers vs. Bears: Live stream, TV channel, network
Packers vs. Bears: Live stream | Game center
Kickoff time: 8:25 p.m. ET
TV networks: CBS, NFL Network
Thursday night’s game in Green Bay will air nationally on CBS and NFL Network. It’s the first of five Thursday night games that will be televised on CBS throughout the 2017 season as part of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football expansion package for 2016 and ‘17. NBC also will carry five Thursday night games this season, beginning in Week 10 and not including the NFL season-opener. In addition to CBS and NBC, NFL Network broadcasts every Thursday night game of the season.
Both CBS and NBC provide their lead broadcasters for Thursday Night Football, meaning Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will call the Packers-Bears game Thursday night from the booth in Green Bay.
Packers vs. Bears: Will CBS show national anthem?
Yes, CBS will broadcast the national anthem at Lambeau Field before the game, Sporting News has confirmed. Due to expected demonstrations from NFL players in the wake of President Donald Trump’s NFL-related comments, TV networks that typically do not broadcast the pregame ceremony did so last week in order to put on display the unprecedented scenes in NFL stadiums.
As SN’s Michael McCarthy writes, though, one key element of national anthem TV coverage was missing last week: crowd shots, which likely would have included fans booing in anger at players who were demonstrating.
But if fans in Green Bay grant Rodgers’ wish, the network might not be able to avoid panning the crowd before Thursday’s game. The Packers quarterback wants fans to stand and lock arms during the national anthem.
“This is about equality,” Rodgers said Tuesday. “This is about unity and love and growing together as a society and starting a conversation around something that may be a little bit uncomfortable for people. But we’ve got to come together and talk about these things and grow as a community, as a connected group of individuals in our society, and we’re going to continue to show love and unity, and this week we’re going to ask the fans to join in as well and come together and show people that we can be connected and we can grow together.”
Packers vs. Bears: Picks, predictions, odds, point spread
Per Bovada, the Packers opened as 7 1/2-point favorites over the Bears, and that spread remained intact as of Thursday morning. The over/under points total was set at 44 1/2.
SN’s Vinnie Iyer in his Week 4 NFL picks against the spread picked the Packers to beat the Bears and cover the spread, 27-14.
SN’s David Steele in his Week 4 NFL picks straight up also picked the Packers to beat the Bears, but in a much closer game, 33-31.
