It’s Bears Week.
As the playoffs loom for the players in green and gold, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are set to reignite one of the NFL’s most storied rivalries at Lambeau Field on Sunday. This game marks not just another chapter in their fierce competition but also a historic first, with the Packers hosting the Bears in the season finale for back-to-back years for the first time ever.
The Packers-Bears rivalry is the NFL’s oldest, stretching back to the league’s infancy in 1921. Green Bay leads the series 108-95-6. With those 108 regular season and playoff wins against the Bears, Green Bay holds the record for the most victories by one team against another in NFL history, tied with the New York Giants’ record against Washington. This monumental tally speaks volumes about the Packers’ dominance in this matchup, yet the rivalry adds drama and intensity to every encounter.
The current narrative of this rivalry is heavily tilted towards Green Bay, who have not lost to Chicago since 2018. This 11-game winning streak is not only the longest in the history of this series but also the longest current streak by any NFL team against a single opponent. During this stretch, the Packers have been exceptionally effective, boasting a scoring differential of plus-128, a turnover differential of plus-15, and holding the Bears to 20 or fewer points in nine out of those 11 games.
This dominance underlines the strategic acumen of Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur, who has an unprecedented 11-0 record against the Bears, making him the only coach in NFL history to win his first 11 games against a single franchise. This achievement places LaFleur in the company of NFL coaching legends like Joe Gibbs and Curly Lambeau, who also went undefeated against specific teams over extended periods.
This isn’t just a rivalry for fans. Players and coaches understand the significance as well. There have been several instances over the years when a newcomer to one of the teams announces that one of their first objectives is to beat their historic rival. In the history of the NFL, 105 players have played for both the Bears and Packers.
Lambeau Field has been more than just a home advantage for the Packers; it’s been a fortress where the Bears have struggled mightily. Green Bay has won eight straight and 14 of the last 16 games at Lambeau against Chicago, with a significant scoring margin of 450-244 over this period. This dominance at home is a testament to both the team’s preparation and the unique atmosphere that Lambeau Field provides, known to be one of the most challenging environments for visiting teams in the NFL.
Last season’s Week 18 clash at Lambeau was particularly memorable. The Packers clinched a playoff spot with a 17-9 victory, highlighting the game’s significance not just for rivalry bragging rights but also for postseason implications. This season’s finale has no such high stakes, but players for both teams do not need extra motivation to defeat their division rivals.
Interestingly, this game will be only the second time in the last 16 seasons that the Packers and Bears will meet in a noon (CT) game at Lambeau Field, marking a departure from the prime-time tradition that has characterized their matchups for over a decade. The absence of a prime-time slot this year and last could be seen as a return to normalcy or perhaps a recognition that the anemic Bears are not a prime time worthy franchise.
As both teams prepare for this pivotal encounter, the narrative is clear: the Packers aim to continue their historic run while the Bears look to break the streak and perhaps start a new chapter in this rivalry. For Chicago, it’s not just about ending the losing streak but also about proving they can challenge for supremacy in the NFC North once again.
Beyond the statistics and game outcomes, the Packers-Bears rivalry encapsulates a broader cultural narrative. It’s a clash of different football cultures – the small-town, community-owned ethos of Green Bay against the big-city, storied history of Chicago. Each game is a celebration of football heritage, fan passion, and the enduring spirit of competition that defines the NFL.
