BEARS-PACKERS RING IN THE NEW YEAR AS FINAL "FLEX" GAME ON NBC SNF

BEARS-PACKERS RING IN THE NEW YEAR AS FINAL "FLEX" GAME ON NBC SNF

The Pack Look to Clinch a Playoff Spot Vs. Their Rivals at Soldier Field

What Could Be Favre's Final Game on "NBC Sunday Night Football"

NEW YORK � December 26, 2006 � The National Football League today announced the Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears on December 31, in what could be Brett Favre's final game, was selected to be moved to Sunday Night, an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC for the NFL's regular season finale, as part of the NFL's new Flexible Schedule. The Packers are one of five teams vying for the final playoff spot in the NFC, with five possible scenarios that would give Green Bay a playoff berth.

The Green Bay Packers (7-8) have won their last three games and roll into Soldier Field looking to make an unlikely playoff run. If they fail, future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre could be ending his storied NFL career on "NBC Sunday Night Football." Favre, in his 15th year in the NFL, has started every game for the Pack since Sept. 27, 1992.

The Packers must beat the Bears on "NBC SNF" to qualify for a playoff spot. There are five possible scenarios where the Packers would make the playoffs; the most likely involve the New York Giants losing to the Washington Redskins on Saturday, Dec. 30 plus ONE of the following:

A St. Louis Rams loss to the Minnesota Vikings;

A Carolina Panthers victory over the New Orleans Saints; OR

An Atlanta Falcons victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

If the Giants beat the Redskins on Saturday, the Packers can still make the playoffs based on their "strength of victory" tiebreaker. Strength of victory is the combined won-loss percentage of the teams that the playoff contender has defeated.

The last time Green Bay appeared on NBC was nearly a decade ago, in their Super Bowl loss to John Elway and the Denver Broncos on January 25, 1998.

The Chicago Bears (13-2) have clinched the NFC's top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They defeated their NFC North rival Packers 26-0 at Lambeau Field in Week One. The Bears have won their last four games, including a come-from-behind win over the Detroit Lions, 26-21, in Week 16.

ABOUT FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING:

The NFL this season is implementing for the first time in its history a primetime "flexible scheduling" element on Sundays in Weeks 10-15 and in Week 17 to ensure quality matchups with playoff implications in those weeks and give surprise teams a chance to play their way onto Sunday Night. The NFL will announce the flex game no later than 12 days prior, except for Week 17, which will be announced no later than six days before, to ensure that the final regular season Sunday Night game has playoff implications.