The most storied rivalry in professional football reaches a fever pitch this Saturday, Jan. 10, as the Green Bay Packers travel to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears in the NFC Wild Card playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT. While the game will be broadcast nationally on Prime Video, fans in the Green Bay and Milwaukee markets can watch the local broadcast on NBC26 (WGBA-TV) and TMJ4 (WTMJ-TV).
High Stakes and Historic Slumps
This matchup features a statistical anomaly. The Packers enter the postseason after losing four consecutive games. They are only the fourth team in NFL history to qualify for the playoffs following such a slide. The Bears are also struggling, coming off a two game losing streak. In a strange twist of fate, the last victory for either franchise was against the other. Green Bay defeated Chicago in Week 14, and Chicago beat Green Bay in Week 16.
Saturday marks the 213th meeting between these teams. Green Bay leads the all time series 109-96-6. Despite their history, this is only the third time they have met in the postseason. Both previous playoff games took place in Chicago: a 1941 Bears win and the 2010 NFC Championship victory by the Packers.
Weather and Field Conditions
The forecast for Chicago on Saturday calls for a high of 35°F and a low of 24°F. Snow is expected during the day with snow showers continuing into the night. Winds will be from the west at 17 mph. These conditions often favor the ground game and ball security, which could play into the hands of Josh Jacobs. Jacobs finished the season tied for fourth in the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns. He told the media this week, “I’m gonna run hard and we’re gonna see how it plays out.”
Coaching and Leadership
The spotlight remains on Matt LaFleur, who has led the team to a 56-27-1 regular season record. Is he on the hot seat? Despite the recent four game skid, LaFleur holds one of the highest winning percentages in league history. But Ed Policy may be looking to leave his imprint on the storied franchise.
On the defensive side, coordinator Jeff Hafley has drawn national attention. His unit finished the season with 30 takeaways. Hafley has emerged as a top candidate in this year’s coaching cycle, with interview requests reportedly coming from the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and Arizona Cardinals. Safety Evan Williams has expressed confidence in the scheme, stating, “We feel like we can compete with the best of the best in this league.”
Key Player to Watch: Jordan Love
Quarterback Jordan Love has historically performed well against the Bears. In six career games against Chicago, he has thrown nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. His 116.6 passer rating against the Bears is the second highest in NFL history for any player with at least 50 attempts against the team. Love has noted the pressure of the playoffs, saying: “These are the moments you want as a player.”
13 Trivia Nuggets
In honor of Green Bay’s 13 NFL Championships, here are 13 essential facts from the Dope Sheet:
- This is the 213th meeting between the clubs, the most of any two teams in NFL history.
- Green Bay holds the all time series lead at 109-96-6.
- This is only the third postseason meeting between the franchises (1941, 2010, and now).
- Green Bay’s 109 wins against Chicago are the most by one NFL team over another in league history.
- The Packers and Bears are the only two franchises with over 800 regular season victories.
- Jordan Love’s 116.6 passer rating against the Bears ranks second all time in the NFL.
- Keisean Nixon is the only player in team history to record 800 plus kickoff return yards in three consecutive seasons (2022-24).
- This is only the second time in franchise history the Packers have played three Saturday games in one year (the first was 1953).
- Ten of the last 14 meetings between these teams in Chicago have been decided by single digits.
- Green Bay has won 26 of their last 32 games played at Soldier Field.
- Punter Daniel Whelan set a franchise record this season with a 41.5 yard net punting average.
- Saturday night will be the 19th primetime meeting between the teams over the last 20 seasons.
- Since Matt LaFleur took over in 2019, the Packers are 12-2 against the Bears.
