The Chicago Bears visit the Green Bay Packers for NFL Monday Night Football. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET. Listen to the live radio broadcast HERE (CHI) and HERE (GB), or watch the live stream HERE*.
Chicago, 4-3 and coming off their bye week, will have to beat their division rivals without the help of quarterback Jay Cutler or linebacker Lance Briggs. The task of moving the offense falls again to 34-year-old Josh McCown.
McCown stepped in on Oct. 20 after Cutler suffered a groin injury early in the first half against Washington. McCown kept the game close, completing 14 of 20 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown, before ultimately falling to the Redskins, 45-41.
"We really have to play together more than ever now," Bears coach Marc Trestman said, via ESPN. "And I think that's something that we're capable of doing."
McCown has the support of Cutler, who is expected back in a few weeks.
"Josh is going to do the job," Cutler told the team's official website, via ESPN. "We've got a good game plan coming in. Josh fared well against (Washington). He'll play well again this week."
The injuries on the Bears' roster aren't enough to make Packers coach Mike McCarthy complacent in his game planning.
"We need to prepare and stay focused on our opponent and the changes they've made," McCarthy told the team website. "At the end of the week, we want to make sure we're focused on winning and that our quality of play is as high as possible."
Green Bay, 5-2, is coming off a 44-31 win last weekend against the Minnesota Vikings. Like the Bears, the Packers are also dealing with injuries. Randall Cobb, James Jones and Jermichael Finley are out due to injuries, ESPN reports. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who's quietly passed for over 2,000 yards and has 15 touchdowns, will look to Jordy Nelson and Jarrett Boykin has his primary options.
"We've got a great team, very well-coached," said Rodgers. "Guys are ready to play."