CHICAGO (AP) -- Now that Brett Favre's bruised thumb feels better, his passes more accurate and crisp, the Green Bay Packers finally have a grip on their season. Chicago Bears linebacker Barry Minter, for one, can see the old Favre emerging.

"He's just finding the open man now and taking what the defense gives him," Minter said. "He's close to being where he was. He's getting in that nice rhythm."

Entering Sunday's rematch with the Bears at Soldier Field, the Packers (6-5) have looked like the playoff team of old in their last two games, not the one that has struggled throughout the season.

Favre's performance is why.

After throwing as many interceptions as touchdown passes while he dealt with the injury, he has hit 51-of-76 passes for two touchdowns and no pickoffs in victories over Detroit and San Francisco.

"I realize we are human and make mistakes and that injuries are part of it and injuries caught up to me this year," Favre says.

"It affected the way I played and I didn't want to admit it and wanted to continue to play my style of football and was not able to. Fortunately the last few weeks I feel much better and I'm playing much better."

The three-time MVP's improved play is traceable to his health.

"He's gone a couple of weeks without getting his hand hit and didn't get it jammed. That way it automatically improves," Packers coach Ray Rhodes said.

The Packers also started using the short passing game more effectively, with Favre dropping the ball off to backs when wideouts aren't open. Dorsey Levens, a key figure in that style of play, has cracked ribs that could limit his contribution Sunday.

Bears quarterback Jim Miller also was finding a groove with three straight starts. He earned that role because of his play as a backup in the Bears' 14-13 win over the Packers in Green Bay a month ago.

Since being named starter, Miller had averaged more than 300 yards through the air. His 422 yards against Minnesota on Nov. 14 were the most by a Bears QB in more than 30 years.

But Monday he was sacked for the season when the NFL suspended him the final four games for violating the league's drug policy.

That puts Shane Matthews, who's been out for five weeks with a hamstring injury, back in as starter.

"We're optimistic Shane will perform the way he did earlier in the season before the injury," said Bears coach Dick Jauron, a longtime Packers assistant. Matthews started the first five games this season and Chicago won three of them.

The Bears (5-7) captured the first meeting when Bryan Robinson reached up and blocked Ryan Longwell's last-play, 28-yard field goal attempt. The victory broke the Bears' 10-game losing streak against their oldest rival.

Favre was 27-for-40 for 267 yards in that first meeting. Not bad, but not good enough to lead a victory. Now he's comfortable again and -- it appears -- back in form.

"For people who cast me off what can I say?" Favre said. " I am confident in my ability. I know you can't be perfect every week."

GREEN BAY Season schedule and results

CHICAGO Season schedule and results

September 12 Oakland W 28-24 September 19 @Detroit L 15-23 September 26 Minnesota W 23-20 October 10 Tampa Bay W 26-23 October 17 @Denver L 10-31 October 24 @San Diego W 31-3 November 1 Seattle L 7-27 November 7 Chicago L 13-14 November 14 @Dallas L 13-27 November 21 Detroit W 26-17 November 29 @San Francisco W 20-3 December 5 @Chicago 1:00pm ET December 12 Carolina 1:00pm ET December 20 @Minnesota 9:00pm ET December 26 @Tampa Bay 4:15pm ET January 2 Arizona 1:00pm ET

September 12 Kansas City W 20-17 September 19 Seattle L 13-14 September 26 @Oakland L 17-24 October 3 New Orleans W 14-10 October 10 @Minnesota W 24-22 October 17 Philadelphia L 16-20 October 24 @Tampa Bay L 3-6 October 31 @Washington L 22-48 November 7 @Green Bay W 14-13 November 14 Minnesota L 24-27 November 21 @San Diego W 23-20 November 25 @Detroit L 17-21 December 5 Green Bay 1:00pm ET December 19 Detroit 1:00pm ET December 26 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET January 2 Tampa Bay 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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