The 3 questions that will determine the outcome of Packers vs. Bears

The Packers and Bears will meet for the third time in the playoffs. The outcome of this "rubber match" will likely hinge on just a few key factors.

On Saturday, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will face off for the third time this season, the rare football “rubber match.” The game will mark only the third instance in which the two franchises have met in the playoffs. And just like the previous two times the Packers and Bears linked up for a third contest in the same season, the teams split the two earlier matchups.

As for this weekend’s edition, another one-score decision seems like the most probable result. The oddsmakers originally favored the Bears by 1.5 points, but the line has since shifted toward the Packers, now favored by 1.5 points in most places. Barring an unforeseeable development, the line will remain within a field goal.

Accordingly, neither team has much margin for error, meaning small edges can tilt the contest one way or the other. How the Packers answer these three questions will determine whether they take the season series or begin their offseason early.