Rogers' NFL Thursday DOMINATOR
(NFL) Chicago vs. Green Bay,
Total: 46.00 | -105.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The Packers' 30-16 home loss to the Cowboys has Green Bay fans very nervous, especially with North Division rival the Minnesota Vikings sitting at 5-0 (the NFL's lone unbeaten team). The 3-2 Packers now host the 1-5 Bears Thursday night at Lambeau, with both teams playing on a short week. These two legendary NFL teams have met 192 times (including two postseason games), with the Chicago Bears winning 94 games, the Green Bay Packers winning 92 games and the teams tying six games. However, Green Bay has won 10 of the past 12 meetings between the teams, including the 2010 NFC Championship Game.

Chicago: QB Jay Cutler remains doubtful with a thumb injury but at this point, that almost has to be considered good news for the Bears. Brian Hoyer became the first QB in Chicago history to record four consecutive 300-yard passing games, after he passed for 302 yards in last Sunday's 17-16 home loss to the Jaguars. He anticipates that he may very well be going up against a Green Bay secondary that could be without three of its top CBs, Sam Shields (concussion, injured reserve), Damarious Randall (groin) and Quinten Rollins (groin). Cameron Meredith, as second-year WR from Illinois St. caught 11 passes as a rookie but matched that total against the Jags by hauling in 11 receptions for 113 yards (giving him 26 receptions this season), while fellow WR Alshon Jeffery added 93 yards receiving on seven catches. Chicago is also getting production from rookie RB Jordan Howard (Indiana), who has run for 330 yards on 5.0 YPC on the season (he has 335 yards from scrimmage and two TDs in his first three career starts).

Green Bay: While Hoyer's putting up never-before-seen numbers for a Chicago QB, the Packers have had shockingly little success throwing the football. Aaron Rodgers' numbers didn't look bad after the game was over in the loss to Dallas (31-of-42 for 294 yards and a 90.8 QB rating) but he turned the ball over twice (one INT & one lost fumble) and the Packers scored just one TD in four trips inside the red zone. Injuries have left a mess of Green Bay's RB depth chart, as starter Eddie Lacy played through a sprained ankle last week and backup James Starks had knee surgery on Sunday. Green Bay acquired Knile Davis from the Chiefs in a trade on Tuesday and another option could be Don Jackson, an undrafted rookie who's on the practice squad. The Packers are averaging only 22.8 PPG, to rank 17th in the NFL.

The pick: While Hoyer is putting up ‘pinball-like numbers,' the Bears are averaging just 16.8 PPG to rank 31st, overall. In fact, they've topped 20 points only once in six games! Then you have Aaron Rodgers, who owns the NFL's best career QB rating and ranks among the all-time best in completion percentage and yards per attempt. However, he ranks 20th, 26th and 26th, respectively, in those categories in 2016! Yes, Rodgers has thrown 14 TDs and only one interception for a 127.0 QB rating in his last four games against the Bears, but we haven't seen that version of Rodgers in quite some time. He's gone 12 games since last throwing for 300 yards. The Under is a 10* play.