LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs thinks it’s possible Sunday night will be his final chance to face Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

He’s facing long-term uncertainty about his career, just like his team is facing uncertainty about its short-term future — if not the long-term future, as well — after a slide that has left the Bears with a 3-5 record and in last place in the NFC North going into what amounts to a must-win situation against their rivals.

“I understand this is probably my last year as a Chicago Bear, and this could be the last time I play the Packers,” said Briggs, who is returning from a three-game absence due to a rib injury. “But for me, I just, I really do enjoy my teammates, and it’s been unfortunate to watch from the sidelines because I want to see them find success, you know, and any Bear making a play is always a good thing.”

Briggs’ contract expires after this season, and at 34 next season he may not be the age a rebuilding defense wants going forward.

“It’s not like I’m going to magically show up after this year and they’re going to open the gates up for you,” Briggs said. “I’ve talked to my buddy (former Bears defensive end) Alex Brown — those gates are closing, you’re a free agent.

“I know the reality of it and I’m proud of all the years I’ve had here. It’s been great.”

Briggs said he even tried to enjoy last week when he ran some plays for the scout team while trying to get over the painful rib injury that did not involve a fracture.

The battles with this week’s opponent rank high on his list of memories.

“I scored my first touchdown at Lambeau, back in ’03 (against) Brett Favre,” he said. “That’s memorable, very, very memorable. I remember the ball sailing up and I remember getting twirled around by Robinson and him just hurling the ball up and into the air. It felt like it was in the air forever and I was just saying, ‘Lance, please don’t drop this’. It was fun.

“I’ve had great battles at Lambeau — really, really great battles and I’ll never forget it.”

While the Bears have had many battles with the Packers, they haven’t had much recent success. Last year’s 27-20 vicrory at Lambeau was their first win in the series since 2010, but it can’t provide too much in the way of a confidence-builder for a very good reason.

“Shea (McClellin) took out Aaron Rodgers,” Briggs said, pointing out the win came against backup quarterback Seneca Wallace. “We were playing a good game up to that point. But that was early in the game. And a guy like (Rodgers), you never count him out.

“You can play good defense the whole game. I’ve played good defense against him for 58 minutes out of the game and the last minute, he throws a bomb and they win the game. You have to be on your toes for the whole 60.”

When the Bears lost 38-17 at Soldier Field to Green Bay in Week 4, they had Briggs but lacked two other veterans who they’ll have this week. Defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff was out with a concussion and defensive end Jared Allen had pneumonia.

They obtained Allen, in part, to provide the persistent edge rush that has led to his 16 1/2 career sacks vs. the Packers. Allen acknowledges getting to Rodgers in the three-step passing game is difficult but says the best way to get him is to “grind.”

“It’s one of those things where I really try to just focus on beating the guy in front of me, and then hope our coverage in the back end has made him pump the ball and get him on the ground,” Allen said. “You try to take knowledge and notes of what you’ve played against him. Now over the years I know he has a vicious hard count. The ball is out quick.

“You’ve got to get that feel for when he’s going to get rid of the ball and try to get your hands up. It’s always a fun game. I always enjoy playing against him.”

With 20 sacks this year, the Bears’ pass rush has been respectable. But Allen has only 1 1/2 sacks.

Rodgers threw four touchdown passes in the last matchup, going 22 of 28 for 302 yards. The Packers converted 7 of 11 third downs. Wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb seemed uncovered much of the day.

“We have to challenge the throws, win the contested-throwing battles,” Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said. “We need to get more pressure on him and get off the field on third down when we get those opportunities.”

Tucker was roundly criticized after the last game for failing to blitz or to confront receivers at the line of scrimmage.

“We’re going to have to do some things in coverage to make it a bit harder for the receivers,” he said.

Most of the focus for the Bears’ problems in losing four of their last five games has revolved around quarterback Jay Cutler, but after the defense allowed 51 points against New England and 38 in their last game with Green Bay, there’s plenty of Bears on both sides of the football and on the sideline who are under scrutiny in the rematch.

“We’ll make some adjustments and we’ll try to execute better than we did before,” Tucker said. “That’s the plan.”