The Green Bay Packers enter their regular-season finale in a familiar situation.For a second straight season, a lopsided victory over the Minnesota Vikings in their second-to-last game has put the Packers in position to reach the playoffs by defeating an NFC North team at home.Theyre hoping the similarities end there.Green Bay blew a chance to earn a fourth straight postseason berth last season when its four-game winning streak ended with a to the Detroit Lions that was four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers .ADVERTISEMENT The Packers (8-8) have overhauled their roster in the year since, but they still have plenty of players who experienced that heartbreaking finish. It remains very much on their minds as they prepare to host the Chicago Bears (7-9) on Sunday.We know what it felt like last year to come up short, Packers running back Aaron Jones said after Green Bays Sunday night at Minnesota. It was one of the worst feelings. Youre right there and you lose to a team who cant get into a playoffs. So were not going to let that happen again.The Packers have a remote chance of reaching the playoffs even if they lose to Chicago.Disappointing finales at Lambeau Field have become all too common the past few years. The Packers have ended each of their past three seasons by losing at home. They in the 2020 NFC championship game and in the 2021 divisional playoffs on a field goal as time expired before coming up short against the Lions last season.Of course, most of Green Bays current players werent around for either of those playoff lo ses. Many of them werent even major contributors last season.The Packers have won six of their past nine games, including two straight. In his first year as a starter, has been one of the leagues hottest quarterbacks the second half of the season Robbie Gould Jersey . They already at Chicago on the seasons opening Sunday.Then again, Green Bay also entered last season's finale on a roll with four consecutive victories. The Packers understand all too well there are no guarantees at this time of the season.I think Chicago is as improved as any team when you look at them from Week 1 to where they are now, Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. Obviously theyve done a really, really good job the last few weeks in particular, kind of gotten on a roll, so we know its going to be a great challenge."WHATS WORKINGThe Packers have had two of their three highest-point totals of the season over the past two weeks, as the latest win followed a at Carolina. The Packers had their highest scoring output since their season-opening win at Chicago. The defense bounced back from by getting four sacks and allowing just one touchdown, on a drive that began at the Green Bay 7-yard line.WHAT NEEDS WORKGreen Bay continues to make mistakes on special teams. The Packers mi sed an extra-point attempt, and a fumbled punt set up Minnesotas lone touchdown.STOCK UPLove has thrown 16 touchdown pa ses and only one interception over his past seven games. WR Jayden Reed scored twice Sunday and has 10 touchdowns (8 receiving, 2 rushing) this season. Reed has 60 catches this season to break Sterling Sharpe's 35-year-old Packers rookie record. ... WR Bo Melton was signed from the practice squad after catching six pa ses for 105 yards Sunday. OLB Preston Smith has 2 sacks over his past two games. Smiths strip-sack late in the second quarter set up a touchdown. CB Corey Ballentine had his first career interception. OTs Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker performed well enough to prevent the Vikings from getting a single sack. Jones has rushed for more than 120 yards in back-to-back games.STOCK DOWNK Anders Carlson mi sed an extra point for the fifth time this season.INJURIESWR Samori Toure went on injured reserve Monday after getting hurt late in Sundays game. Reed didnt play the second half because of a chest injury. RB AJ Dillon left with a stinger in the second half. WR Christian Watson (hamstring) has mi sed four straight games and LB DeVondre Campbell (neck) has been out for two consecutive games. WR Dontayvion Wicks (chest/ankle) also didnt play Sunday.KEY NUMBER23 The 23-point margin made this the Packers most lopsided road victory since their 48-21 NFC divisional playoff triumph in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 2011, during their run to a Super Bowl title.NEXT STEPSThe Packers attempt to beat the Bears for the 10th consecutive time. The Bears havent defeated the Packers since a 24-17 decision at Soldier Field on Dec. 16, 2018.___AP NFL: Ronnie Bell Jersey