The Chicago Bears knocked the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs with an incredible comeback victory in the wild-card round in January.

The Bears scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to earn an improbable 31-27 win at Soldier Field. Chicago’s offense was aided by not having to deal with star pass-rusher Micah Parsons, who suffered a torn ACL and meniscus tear on his left knee.

The two rivals are expected to square off in an offseason battle for a free agent pass-rusher that could be the key to winning the NFC North this season.

Per Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, Jadeveon Clowney is expected to make a decision about where he’s playing for the upcoming season by late July. He’s viewed by sources around the league as the best defensive end still in free agency.

The Bears are expected to enter the race for Clowney, but Green Bay appears to be the favorite to land the 2014 first-round pick by the Houston Texans. The Detroit Lions are another option for the 33-year-old defensive end.

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“Every team in the NFC North, for instance, is lacking a defensive player in the mould of Clowney, and it would not surprise league execs if he ended up with Chicago,” La Canfora wrote. “Detroit or Green Bay, in particular.”

“Clowney is in no hurry to sign anywhere, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, and at this stage of his career, even training camp, or a full training camp, is not a prerequisite for him. One executive told SportsBoom he has a hunch that Clowney ends up with the Packers.”

Clowney was a cheap buy for the Dallas Cowboys last season at $3.5 million on a one-year deal, recording 41 tackles, 8.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and one forced fumble.

He’d be a season-changing addition for the Bears. Maybe even more importantly, signing him would mean the Packers wouldn’t have him.

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