Nov. 25--1. Reloaded offense
The Bears offense could get its top two playmakers back for its rematch against the Packers. Running back Matt Forte said he'll play, and receiver Alshon Jeffery (groin) hopes to join him. Forte has missed the last three games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Rookie Jeremy Langford had two standout games during Forte's absence. "I felt like we had a great rhythm going when (Forte) was in there," offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. "Jeremy did a great job ... stepping in and keeping that momentum going, and now we have a chance to have a really interesting one-two punch."
2. Progress report
Thursday's game is the first in which the Bears' new coaching staff is playing an opponent for the second time. Some Bears view the rematch as a measure of their progress since the 31-23 loss in the opener. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said his unit has "been a little bit of a revolving door" since then, adding: "We've been able to maintain some competitiveness and get better as we go." The Bears possessed the ball for more than half of that game and rushed for a season-high 189 yards. That was the product of some well-timed runs against pressure by the Packers defense.
3. Dead zone
The Bears' red-zone struggles surfaced again Sunday in their 17-15 loss to the Broncos. Jeffery's presence might've helped, but the Bears have scored a touchdown on only 41 percent of their trips inside opponents' 20-yard line this season, which ranks 29th in the league. That prompted Gase to re-examine the play-calling. "Our guys need to get some better calls on first and second down," he said, "and then I need to allow them to make plays on some of those third-and-5 plays or less." The Packers defense is tied for 19th in the NFL in red-zone efficiency (56 percent).
4. The ol' gunslinger
Bears-Packers. Lambeau Field. Thanksgiving night. What more do you need? Oh, how about the Packers retiring Brett Favre's No. 4 in a halftime ceremony at which Hall of Famers Bart Starr and Ron Wolf will also be honored. "It's truly the rivalry that I have the most respect for and appreciate," Packers coach Mike McCarthy told Chicago media Tuesday. "It's special, and then on top of that you have Brett coming back and having his number retired. It's obviously a once-in-a-lifetime, special deal." Said Jay Cutler: "I don't think we'll be out there at halftime to witness that, so I think we should be OK."
