It's Packers week, so the Chicago Bears need to be zoned in and ready to pick up a divisional game against an important NFC North rival.
The Bears enter the game with a 3-1 record and are riding a two-game winning streak without their star quarterback, Caleb Williams, starting. Green Bay is currently 2-2 and barely holding on, without key players like Josh Jacobs, Micah Parsons, and Edgerrin Cooper.
For Chicago, six Bears players would be considered X-factors entering the season's most important game so far. Here's a look at who they are and how they can impact the contest.
X-factors for Bears against the Packers in Week 5 matchup
D'Andre Swift, RB
There's no Kyle Monangai. He can't bail Swift out if he fumbles, so the veteran running back is under pressure to perform.
Aside from two fumbles in the last three games, Swift has had a strong start to the 2026 season. He has 69 carries for 311 yards and three touchdowns, plus 10 receptions for 84 yards.
Roschon Johnson is the backup running back, so Swift has to be the main back. If he can sustain the success of the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack, the Bears will easily cruise to victory.
Dayo Odeyingbo, DL
Odeyingbo wouldn't have been considered an X-factor for the Chicago Bears entering the 2026 season, but here we are. He's been a guy who plays motivated. He's looking to prove to the Windy City that he has a chip on his shoulder, and he's delivered.
This season, he has 13 pressures, eight hurries, and three sacks in four games. Keep in mind, he had only one sack in eight games last year, so this is a drastic turnaround.
Montez Sweat will draw heavy attention from the Packers, so Odeyingbo will face more one-on-one battles against Green Bay's offensive line. If he can win those battles, the Bears could have a very successful day pressuring the quarterback.
Rome Odunze, WR
Odunze was on a hot streak all season, but his play in the Week 4 win over the New York Jets finally broke through. He caught six passes for 94 yards, both season highs for him.
It's clear that quarterback Tyson Bagent trusts Odunze and will keep feeding him the ball. This great game could show that he is officially the WR1 on this Bears team.
Dillon Thieneman, S
Consistently the leading tackler on this Bears team, Thieneman has shown how good of a defender he can be. He plays in the box well to stop the run and pressure the quarterback, but he is just as good in coverage.
Thieneman is currently third among safeties in passer rating allowed with 22.7, but he has also applied two pressures on the quarterback. Pro Football Focus has him graded at a 71.2, ranking 19th out of 89 safeties.
The bears are going to need Thieneman to play well in the secondary and continue to be the play-maker. He's the leading tackler on the team, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Colston Loveland, TE
Slowly but surely, Loveland has improved game by game this season. He's coming off a six-reception, 57-yard game, his season high.
Loveland and Bagent are building some much-needed chemistry on the field and could be in for a breakout after a slow start to the season. A quarterback's best friend is the tight end, and with injuries at the Packers' linebacker position, Loveland's no better target.
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Jaylon Johnson, CB
If there were any game where the Bears could use a vintage Jaylon Johnson game, this would be it. Over the first four games of the season, it has been rough to watch Johnson struggle in coverage after being a Pro Bowler in 2023 and 2024.
This season in coverage, he has allowed 15 receptions and posted a passer rating of 118.8. Pro Football Focus currently ranks him the 87th-best cornerback out of 102 eligible cornerbacks, with a 46.6 grade.
The Bears can't afford to have Johnson struggle against Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, who can create explosive plays. Johnson could make or break this game, sohe'de better be ready to step up.
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