Given where they were a few weeks ago, the Chicago Bears' odds of grabbing a share of the NFC North lead seemed about as long as a Hail Mary pass.
Back-to-back wins have them in a position to do just that. The problem is they're facing a big obstacle with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers standing in their way.
The Bears will try to clear it and move into a first-place tie with Green Bay when they host their rival Sunday.
For the Bears, wins over Rodgers and the Packers (4-1) have been few and far between. Green Bay has won 19 of the past 22 meetings counting the playoffs, and the Packers are 21-5 against Chicago in games Rodgers has started. In one of the losses, he left with an injury after the opening series.
The Packers have won four straight since getting trounced by New Orleans 38-3 in the season opener in Jacksonville. They escaped in overtime at Cincinnati last week, 25-22.
Injuries have forced the Packers to play without 2020 All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee), 2020 Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder) and 2020 Pro Bowl outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith (back).
Bakhtiari hasn't played all season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 31, though he's getting closer to a return. Smith hasn't played since the season opener. Alexander will be missing a second straight game.
The Bears are also banged up.
They could be without their top two rushers, with David Montgomery (sprained knee) on injured reserve and Damien Williams placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday. RT Germain Ifedi (knee) is on IR.
Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (groin) did not play last week. Fields suffered knee and rib injuries and missed a few plays against the Raiders.
Linebacker Khalil Mack (foot) and receiver Allen Robinson (ankle) were also dealing with injuries.
Green Bay's Davante Adams leads the NFL in catches (42) and yards receiving (579), and he's coming off a performance in which he caught 11 passes for a career-high 206 yards.
Adams has nearly 2 1/2 times more catches and over three times as many yards receiving as any of his teammates. Running back Aaron Jones ranks second on the team in catches with 17, while Randall Cobb ranks second in yards receiving with 157.
Game time is noon Sunday.
