Still, fans expect the Packers to beat the Bears comfortably this Sunday.
The Green Bay Packers as a team are not going to be satisfied with just another playoff appearance, and based on recent survey results, it seems the same can be said for the team’s fan base.
Two weeks ago after the Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, SB Nation’s Reacts surveys of Packers fans here at Acme Packing Company saw the fan base expressing a 95% confidence rating in the team. That was just before the team clinched a playoff berth with a dominant 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints.
But last Sunday, the Packers again came up short in a big game against one of the NFC’s elite teams, losing 27-25 to the Minnesota Vikings. The unrest and frustration that has been brewing over the Packers’ inability to beat one of the conference’s top teams has spilled over into the confidence results, with the rating taking a massive plunge before the final game of the regular season.
Yes, just 38 percent of surveyed fans now are confident in the team’s direction. This likely takes a few factors into account, from the team’s struggles against the Vikings and the Detroit Lions to them now slipping behind the Washington Commanders in the race for the #6 seed in the NFC.
If the Packers do end up with the 7th seed, that sets up a Wild Card matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, something that most cheeseheads would prefer to avoid. Combined with the team’s consistently slow starts against good teams, it’s easy to see why fans are feeling a little down right now, particularly if they see the Super Bowl as this season’s one true goal.
Thankfully for the Packers, they have a chance to finish the season on a high note. They will host the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon in week 18, a team that they have consistently dominated over the last several years. The Bears nearly upset the Packers in week 10 as Green Bay escaped thanks to Karl Brooks’ last-second blocked field goal, but that win extended the Packers’ winning streak to 11 games over their rivals.
This week, Fanduel has the Pack installed as double-digit favorites, with the line swelling up to 10.5 points after starting the week at 9.5. Fans of all teams widely expect the Packers to cover, picking Green Bay to cover by a four-to-one margin in this week’s survey:
Keep it here at APC later this weekend as we reveal our picks for Sunday’s game.