Morning Buzz: Packers taking on Da Bears

Welcome to your game-day Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee (or brew some English breakfast tea, if that’s your thing) and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers as they prepare to take on the Bears.

We’ll start with Tom Silverstein’s "5 Things To Watch" for tonight’s Bears-Packers game.

From Tom:

Both teams are coming off overtime games played in 80-degree temperatures. They were able to hold two scaled-down practices because the priority is getting the players' bodies prepared to play two games in five days.

McCarthy is 8-2 in short weeks, including 2-1 against the Bears. The Packers have more injuries to deal with and could be down to a pair of undrafted free agents at both tackle positions on the offensive line. McCarthy held a very short practice focusing mostly on drills on Tuesday and an hour-long unpadded practice on Wednesday.

“We’ll be ready to play Thursday night, I can promise you that,” McCarthy said. “Yeah, they played a hot game, they played in the sun. We had the sun behind us for three-quarters of the game, I’m hoping that they’re extremely dehydrated.”

Tom joins Michael Cohen on the latest Packers Podcast to talk injuries and Bears-Packers:

Tom writes on the tough start for Martellus Bennett and the opportunity it presents for Lance Kendricks:

I chatted with readers and answered their questions to preview tonight’s game:

Nick Perry could carry on his tradition of playing with a club:

Pete Dougherty looks at the Bears' quarterback situation:

Some Packers fans are upset at Aaron Rodgers and the players’ call for unity:

Martellus Bennett points out how some fans are missing the point:

Elsewhere, Good Morning Football previews tonight’s game:

The NFL is ready for tonight’s game:

NFL Films features Rodgers to Allison from last Sunday:

The Titletown District is ready:

USA Today looks back at the week of protests leading up to tonight’s game:

Rich Gannon breaks down tonight’s matchup:

Some great old-school Packers-Bears programs:

Cheesehead TV looks at the banged-up offensive line:

The Power Sweep takes a look at the State of the Packers:

NFL Media has a preview of tonight’s game: