What history tells us about Bears-Packers |
Week one of the NFL season is right around the corner, and for the Chicago Bears and their fans, it brings a whole new meaning to a fresh start. Unlike past seasons where week one was looked at as just another week, Sunday is not just an ordinary game for the Bears as they are hosting their most hated rival, the Green Bay Packers.
I couldn't think of a better way to kick off a brand new NFL season, as these are the oldest and two most storied franchises ever. The memories they have shared, the titles they have won, and the overall history between these two make this the best rivalry in professional football, and it isn't even close. When you look back at the history between these two teams, they have not only been playing against each other for more than 100 years, but they have met 206 times, including two playoff matchups. Their most recent playoff matchup was the NFC championship game more than a decade ago, which the Packers won by seven to go to the Superbowl and eventually win it. The overall series record between the two gives a slight edge to the Packers as they hold a 105-95-6 mark against the Bears. It wasn't always like that, as the Bears once dominated this rivalry and continued to do that for a long time. Then came the early 1990s when a guy named Brett Favre took over and changed the course of this rivalry forever. After playing for 16 years with Green Bay, Favre eventually left town and opened the door for the Bears current defacto owner, Aaron Rodgers, and things only continued to get worse for this team. During his tenure with the Packers, Rodgers has posted a 24-5 record, including that NFC Title game win. Add that to the record Favre had going 23-13, and these two QBS have gone 47-18 against the Bears for the better part of three decades. In the process, the Packers went from being 19 games behind the Bears win total in this rivalry to now 10 games up on them. That is what you call a one-sided swing, and it has happened in such a short time it is incredible to think. Each season, the Bears and their fans feel differently, and they feel as if this is the year things will change. It has stayed the same for 30 years, so what makes it different this season? Well, for starters, neither Favre nor Rodgers are in the room anymore, leaving the keys to Jordan Love. The fourth-year man out of Utah State has one career start under his belt, but has seen action across 10 games in his career. He is essentially stepping onto the field as a rookie this season and will have all of the pressure in the world on his shoulders to try and duplicate what Favre and Rodgers have built in Green Bay. Additionally, you have Justin Fields eager to prove he can be the franchise QB the Bears are hoping for after delivering mixed results for the past two seasons. Ryan Poles has done a great job rebuilding this Bears roster, especially the offensive side of the ball, where Fields will have the most weapons he has ever had at his disposal. What he does with those weapons will determine the Bears overall success, but look for this team to make significant strides this season. With 206 chapters in their rich history, 2023 marks the year when the next two chapters are written as a new ERA begins. Done are the Favre and Rodgers era, and enter the Love and Fields era as the Bears hope to get this rivalry back to an even playing field. One thing fans know from following this team over the years is that records don't matter when these teams play each other. They will give it their all, lay it on the line, and try to reclaim the bragging rights for at least one season.
