Packers, rival Bears square off at Soldier Field on a bitterly cold Sunday; Pack WINS 30-27!

CHICAGO -- The Green Bay Packers opened the 2016 on the road at Jacksonville, where the kickoff temperature was 90 degrees. Depending on the kickoff temperature Sunday, December 18th (it was -2 degrees at 9:00 a.m.) -- the Packers could set a new franchise mark for the biggest temperature differential within one season.

According to the Packers, kickoff temperatures have been officially recorded since 1959, and the biggest differential in one regular season occurred in 1978, when the Packers played a 102-degree game at San Diego on September 24th and a 15-degree game in Chicago on December 10th. That's a differential of 87 degrees.

Including postseason, the biggest differential is 91 degrees, from 1967. Green Bay opened with a 78-degree home game on September 17th, and on December 31st, the Ice Bowl was played at minus-13.

A kickoff temperature of 2 degrees or less Sunday would set a new regular-season mark, and if it's minus-2 it would exceed the differential involving the Ice Bowl year.

It was 2 degrees at kickoff at Soldier Field Sunday, FOX Sports reported.

Cold at Soldier Field



The Packers said the official game-time temperature was 11 degrees (minus four wind chill).



The following players would not play in Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears:

Green Bay Packers
11 WR Trevor Davis
28 CB Josh Hawkins
44 RB James Starks
53 LB Nick Perry
58 LB Jordan Tripp
68 T Kyle Murphy
73 C/G JC Tretter

Starting lineup changes: #56 Julius Peppers will start at linebacker for Perry, #88 Ty Montgomery will start at running back for Starks, and #63 Corey Linsley will start at center for Tretter.

As play got underway Sunday at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears won the coin toss and opted to defer.

The Packers would receive.

The Packers' first score of the game came courtesy Ty Montgomery, who ran four yards for a TOUCHDOWN!

With the successful extra point, the score was then Packers 7, Bears 0.





As the first quarter came to an end, the Packers led the Bears 7-0.



CLICK HERE for a first quarter recap via Packers.com.

Early in the second quarter, the Packers announced linebacker Jayrone Elliott was out of the game with a hand injury -- his return questionable.

Late in the second quarter came a Chicago Bears field goal, courtesy Connor Barth. The 26-yard field goal attempt was good -- bringing the score to Packers 7, Bears 3 with 6:05 left in the first half.

The Bears' first touchdown came just ahead of the two-minute warning.

Bears' Josh Bellamy ran for a 10-yard touchdown -- bringing the score to Bears 10, Packers 7 with 2:16 left in the first half.

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 20: Joshua Bellamy #11 of the Chicago Bears heads toward the end zone on a 48-yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals in the first quarter at Soldier Field on September 20, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by J



The Packers tied the game after a successful field goal by Mason Crosby.

The score was then 10-10.

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The Packers and Bears were TIED at 10 at halftime after Micah Hyde was able to pick off Bears QB Matt Barkley on the Hail Mary pass to end the half.



The first score in the second half was a Mason Crosby 18-yard field goal. With that, the Packers were able to retake their lead over the Bears -- 13-10 with 11:10 left in the third quarter.





Packers' Ty Montgomery added to the Pack's lead -- plowing into the end zone for his second touchdown this game!

With the extra point, the score was then 20-10!





Soon came another Green Bay Packers touchdown!

Running back Christine Michael bounced off two defenders and found the end zone after a 42-yard run!

With the extra point, the score was then Packers 27, Bears 10 late in the third.





The Bears soon cut the deficit to 27-17 with Alshon Jeffery's eight-yard touchdown with 13:27 remaining in this game.



A nine-yard touchdown run by the Bears' Jordan Howard cut the Packers' lead to 27-24 with 7:34 remaining in this game.



The score was Packers 27, Bears 24 at the two-minute warning.

Bears' Connor Barth was able to tie the game at 27 -- completing a 22-yard field goal.



The Packers would then start at their own 27 yard line with 1:13 remaining in the game.

Packers' Mason Crosby completed a 32-yard field goal for a Packers WIN!!!!

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This, after a 60-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson.



The final score: Packers 30, Bears 27.



CLICK HERE for a Packers/Bears recap via Packers.com.

The Packers on Sunday moved ahead of Minnesota for sole possession of second place in the NFC North and pulled within a game of division leader Detroit, with the Vikings getting pounded by Indianapolis and the Lions losing to the New York Giants.