If you look around, it isn't hard to see what Green Bay Packer fans are most worried about with this upcoming Wild Card game against these Chicago Bears. It's everywhere. Packers beat reporters will tell you, blatantly, that the worry is the Packers' defense is going to get throttled in the run game.
This is an area Bears fans watched Chicago excel during different stints in each of the first couple of games. Believe it or not, Green Bay actually out-rushed the Bears in their most recent matchup, nearly surpassing 200 yards themselves.
But if the Bears have their way, at home, they'll be the more physical team. And, as of the most recent weather update, Chicago looks like it will have exactly that.
Current forecast for Bears vs. Packers, NFL Wild Card Weekend
Courtesy of AccuWeather and thanks to Bears beat reporter Chris Emma for pointing out, let's look at the latest forecast for the game.
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Afternoon: 36 degrees, breezy with periods of snow and rain, wind gusts up to 31 MPH
Evening: 27 degrees, breezy with a little snow, wind gusts up to 24 MPH
This is precisely the kind of weather the Bears want. No, this isn't some type of advantage being able to play in cold weather.
Rather, the Bears do have the better run game, on paper, and thus should have the upper hand. Chicago ended the regular season no. 3 on the ground (144.5 yards per game), whereas Green Bay finished near the middle of the pack, averaging 119.8 yards per game.
We have seen this Bears offensive line completely dominate opposing defensive lines this year while both D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai run all over the place.
We've seen some fairly cold matchups between these two teams, already, and how that's impacted the hits taken on both sides.
Kyle Monangai says hello.
If Ben Johnson is able to come out and commit to the run early and never veer from it, then the Bears will have an advantage going into the final minutes. And you better believe this one will come down to the final minutes. There isn't any more likely scenario.
This one is coming down to the wire, as it should, and in the snow, nonetheless.
A chilly night at Soldier Field will feature wind gusts up to over 30 miles per hour, too, which will add a totally different variant for the kickers in this one. Cairo Santos has actually done a great job kicking in spite of the wind, at home, which should put fans at ease if anyone is thinking he'll be at a disadvantage.
Read more: Dennis Allen all but admitted Bears defense isn't ready for a playoff run
Overall, we know the more physical team is going to win this game. We know the Bears have a lethal run game. I think the bigger question is whether the Bears' defense will come to play and show they can stop the Packers' attack.
We'll find out soon enough.