Bears-Packers Game Flexed to Late Afternoon Slot

The NFL has announced a significant scheduling change, flexing the Chicago Bears' Week 14 matchup against the Green Bay Packers to a late-afternoon slot. Originally set for a noon kickoff, the game will now take place at 3:25 PM CT on December 7, and will be broadcast on Fox.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, this change reflects the league's confidence in both teams' competitive status, as the Bears currently hold the first place in the NFC North with a record of 7-3, while the Packers are closely following in second place at 6-3-1.

The importance of this rivalry, one of the NFL's oldest, is further highlighted by the Bears' recent success against the Packers; they defeated them in their last encounter at Lambeau Field with a last-second field goal by Cairo Santos.

This late-afternoon slot will allow for a larger audience to witness what is anticipated to be a thrilling matchup. The Bears and Packers are not only vying for supremacy in their division but are also in the playoff hunt, with the Bears currently positioned as the third seed in the NFC playoffs, while the Packers sit in the sixth seed.

The upcoming game is particularly pivotal as it sets the stage for their subsequent meeting just weeks later, when the Bears will host the Packers on December 20, with the kickoff time yet to be announced.

Windy City Gridiron noted that the flexing of this game signifies the NFL's intent to showcase this historic rivalry to a broader audience, and the decision to move the Bengals-Bills game to noon indicates the league's prioritization of this matchup.

As both teams make their final push towards the playoffs, the excitement surrounding this game will undoubtedly elevate the stakes for players and fans alike. With the Bears and Packers both performing well this season, this flexed game is expected to deliver a compelling narrative steeped in tradition and rivalry.