Packers vs Bears – reading the words conjures up images of battles, and of hitting, of tackling and blocking, and of joy and frustration. And, of both victory and defeat. Packers vs Bears is simply the greatest rivalry in the NFL and Sunday at Noon (Chicago time) the teams meet for the 203rd time. Let’s take a look into this historic rivalry!
George Halas, Curly Lambeau, Red Grange, Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Walter Peyton, Ray Nitschke, Dick Butkus, Jim McMahon, Don Majkowski, James Lofton, Mike Singletary, Brain Urlacher, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers. Wow? What a list of just a handful of the men who contributed over the years to shaping this rivalry. Here are some insights into the history of this rivalry.
Players Have Swung the Series
You can break this series down many, many ways and the majority of historical summaries will look at specific and recent games and plays made. But, for this history of the Packers-Bears rivalry, we will look at the timeline and wins vs losses. While the Packers lead the rivalry in wins, believe it or not, the Bears have dominated but for 3 periods in the rivalry. Unfortunately for the Bears and their fans, those times have been when the Packers have had 3 of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers. And these Pack QBs have played for 44 seasons!
The Past
The 2 teams split the series from 1921 to 1930 with 8 wins each and 3 ties, and then the Bears started to pull in front. From 1931 to 1959 Chicago won 41 to Green Bay’s 17 with the teams tying 3 games during the period.
Enter Packers’ QB Bart Starr playing for Coach Lombardi. Starr was 15-5 vs Chicago. And, from 1961 to 1971 the Packers were 17-5 vs the Bears. Then Chicago dominated the 1970’s and 80’s under Coach Mike Ditka and by the greatness of RB Walter Peyton, a.k.a. ‘Sweetness’. By 1991 the Bears led the series 79-57-5.
Enter Pack QB Brett Favre. From 1992 to 2007 Favre and Green Bay were 23-12 versus Chicago. And just when the Favre nightmare was over for Chicago; out of the frying pan and into the fire.
The Present
Enter Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is 21-4 vs Chicago including one playoff win and the Pack lead the all-time series 101-95-6. And, so this is how the Green Bay-Chicago rivalry has swung over the years and seasons, back and forth, for the most part, and at the hands of several Packers’ greats.
This Meeting
Sunday’s game opened, for those who place wagers, with the Packers a 4.5 point betting favorite and the line has not moved. The weather should be sunny and in the high 60’s so good throwing weather for Rodgers. We will see if Bears’ QB Justin Fields can make his mark on this rivalry. In 4 games Packers’ coach Matt LaFleur has not lost to Chicago.
Packers vs Bears All-time Head-to-Head (and other) stats:
Packers/Bears
Wins all-time: 101/95 inc. 2 playoff (6 tied)
Playoff wins: 1/1
Since 2000: 31/12
Points scored: 3541/3465
In Chicago: 51/53 inc. 2 playoff (2 tied)
- Packers longest win streak: 10 (1994-1998)
- Bears longest win streak: 8 (1985-1989)
- Aaron Rodgers vs Bears: 21-4 (includes 1 playoff win)
- Justin Fields vs Packers: NA
- Last meeting 01/03/2021: Green Bay 35 at Chicago 16 (Attendance – 0)
- Soldier Field Capacity: 61,600
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