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Green Bay Packers: 3 X-Factors in Pivotal Week 17 Matchup

By Paul Bretl

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 23: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers gestures at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 23: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers gestures at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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Here are three X-Factors for the Green Bay Packers when they take on the Chicago Bears in Week 17.

Talk about a crucial game for the Green Bay Packers and a game that is probably going to be a bit more difficult than what we all would have guessed about a month ago. With a win, the Packers will be the NFC’s top seed, and the playoffs will go through chilly Lambeau Field. But a loss, and well, things get a lot less favorable.

New Orleans plays Carolina while Seattle plays San Francisco; if both teams win and Green Bay loses, then the Packers are all of a sudden the third seed. They don’t get a first-round bye, and then in the Divisional and Championship rounds, they could very well have to travel to Seattle and New Orleans if they want to get to the Super Bowl. Now, obviously, there is some projecting there, but regardless, it’s not ideal.

Meanwhile, after winning their last four games, the Chicago Bears can get into the playoffs with a win on Sunday or an Arizona Cardinals loss. The Chicago offense has exploded in recent weeks — granted, it’s been against some of the NFL’s worst defenses — but they have a lot to play for as well and are carrying a lot of momentum into this matchup.

So when it comes to Sunday’s game, who besides the star players have to step up for the Green Bay Packers? This week instead of picking out three specific players, I’ve chosen three units on this Packers team that will need to perform.

Green Bay Packers Kick Return Unit

Through the first five games of the Green Bay Packers’ season, we didn’t really notice their special teams unit. However, a blocked punt by the Houston Texans in Week 7 started a downward spiral that this unit has been unable to get out of. And that is the last thing you want to have happening when you’re facing an opposing kick return unit with Cordarrell Patterson.

Patterson has perhaps been the NFL’s best kick return specialist this season. With one week left, he has recorded 964 kick return yards, which is the most in football, and his kick return average of 29.2 is the second most. He also had a 104-yard kick return — which is tied for the longest in the NFL this season — against Minnesota.

On the flip side, the Packers’ kick return unit has given up the second-most kick return yards this season. And on a December day at Soldier Field, chances are that kicking the ball through the end zone won’t be easy, so that means a few return opportunities for Patterson.

This is certainly a game that the Packers should win, but one way that they can let the Bears hang around or even take the lead is by giving up a big kick return to Cordarrell Patterson.

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