Thursday Sports 12/13/14
13 December 2018 Sports
Sports from Wayne Mausser
The Packers were back on the practice field Wednesday getting ready for another must-win game in Chicago against the Bears if they are to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
The Packers have won eight straight games at Soldier Field putting the total tally of the NFL’s oldest rivalry at 97-94-6 in the series (including playoffs).
A win for the Bears will clinch an NFC North Division championship for the first time since 2010. The last time the Bears beat the Packers at Soldier Field was also in 2010.
The Green Bay Packers will be without starting right guard Byron Bell for the reminder of the season. The team placed Bell on injured reserve on Wednesday. Bell injured his knee in week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Meanwhile, four Packers players did not practice on Wednesday: They were
CB Bashaud Breeland (Groin/not injury related)
T Bryan Bulaga (Knee)
DL Kenny Clark (Elbow)
TE Jimmy Graham (Knee/Thumb)
Bulaga has missed the last two games with a knee injury. His status will be key to watch this week with the Packers playing in Chicago. The Packers were without three starting offensive lineman against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons sacked quarterback Aaron Rodgers four times last Sunday.
The Chicago Bears have one of the top defenses in the NFL and one of the best pass rushers in defensive end Khalil Mack.
The Bears have the no. 3 ranked defense and lead the league in takeaways and Aaron Rodgers has been intercepted just once this season.
Three Packers were limited during Wednesday’s practice:
WR Randall Cobb (Hamstring)
LB Clay Matthews (Ankle)
G Lane Taylor (Foot)
Thaddeus Young had 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and Myles Turner added 23 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to their fifth straight win — 113-97 over Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
Indiana seized control early, never trailed and pulled within a half-game of the Central Division-leading Bucks.
Eric Bledsoe scored 26 points and Malcolm Brogdon finished with 15 to lead Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a season-low 12 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dealt out seven assists after missing Monday’s game at Cleveland with a sore neck.
But even with the return of Milwaukee’s best player, the NBA’s highest-scoring team struggled against the No. 1-ranked scoring defense. As a result, Indiana took control early and was never seriously challenged after retaking a double-digit lead early in the second quarter. Milwaukee drops to 18-9, 3 ½ games behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks play at Cleveland Friday night.
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