LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Lovie Smith frequently discusses the importance of the Bears-Packers rivalry with his players, but they don’t have to go to Halas Hall to be reminded of it. Friends, neighbors and even complete strangers make sure they never forget.

“When I first signed here, everybody was like, ‘We don’t care if you guys go 2-14 as long as those two wins are against the Packers,’” said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. “It’s a crazy community when it comes to that, and we understand that.

Desmond Clark's 34-yard TD reception with 2:05 remaining gave the Bears a 27-20 win over the Packers last season in Green Bay.

“When coach Lovie got here, he said that his No. 1 goal was to beat the Packers, and that’s still our goal every time we start a season.”

With both teams in contention for the NFC North title, Sunday’s clash at Lambeau Field takes on added importance. The Bears (5-4) are tied for first place with the Vikings (5-4), one game ahead of the Packers (4-5), who’ve lost five of their last seven games.

“It’s really big for us,” Ogunleye said. “We’ve kind of put ourselves in a situation where these next couple games are going to decide the season, so we’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game. It’s funny that it’s the Packers that we’re playing. It’s going to make this game so much more exciting.”

After losing 18 of 20 games to the Packers from 1994-2003, the Bears are 6-2 against Green Bay since Smith was hired in 2004. That includes a perfect 4-0 record at Lambeau Field.

“I really don’t know too much about why that is,” said nickel back Corey Graham. “Maybe it’s just the importance of the rivalry. [Smith] always expresses it. He tells us how important the Green Bay week is. From the beginning of the year, we know how important the week is. So maybe that’s the reason; maybe just the importance and how he stresses the week.”

Enemy view: Packers coach Mike McCarthy is well aware of his team’s four-game home losing streak to the Bears.

“Our focus is to win this football game, so as far as the way it weighs in, we’re going to put an end to it, that’s really our focus,” McCarthy said. “I think anytime you have success that you can point to, that’s probably good motivation for their team. But this is a game we’re looking forward to.

“Every year is a different challenge. Every team is really different, so we’re excited about where we are as a team and really the growth that we have left in us. We want to apply that to our week of preparation and take it into Sunday’s game. This is a big game for us. This is a rivalry game that everybody points to and we’re looking forward to it.”

Health beat: Quarterback Kyle Orton (ankle) practiced on a limited basis Thursday for the second straight day and hopes to start Sunday’s game.

“He’s making progress each day,” Smith said. “He’s a lot better today than he was yesterday. If he continues to make the same type of progress, hopefully we’ll have him available for Sunday.”

Offensive tackle Fred Miller (shoulder) did not practice; while linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (thumb) and cornerback Charles Tillman (shoulder) were limited.

For the Packers, cornerback Jarrett Bush (ankle) did not practice; cornerbacks Charles Woodson (toe) and Will Blackmon (quadricep) and defensive end Jeremy Thompson (groin) were limited; and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (shoulder), tackle Chad Clifton (knees) and linebacker Brandon Chillar (shoulder) practiced without limitations.

Active duty: Patiently waiting his turn while spending the first 10 weeks of the regular season on the Bears practice squad wasn’t easy for defensive end Ervin Baldwin, who was elevated to the 53-man roster Tuesday.

“I wanted to play, wanted to help the team,” said the rookie seventh-round draft pick. “But I knew that we had a lot of great guys in front of me and when my time came it was going to come. I’m happy I got a promotion and I’m ready to move forward from here.”

Since arriving in April, Baldwin has learned a lot from the Bears’ veteran defensive linemen.

“Those guys are technicians,” he said. “Those guys work hard. They come in and watch film and they just know the game of football. I’ve been soaking up everything, like different types of pass rush moves. Not only that, but I’m learning about the o-linemen and what they’re thinking before the play.”