In October in Soldier Field Aaron Rodgers had a message for Chicago fans, “All my f*cking life I own you!” the Pack QB screamed at fans as they gestured to him the peace sign…well, half the peace sign. “I still own you,” Rodgers continued.
The following week, Justin Fields the Bears rookie QB retorted, “Just know it [the Packers/Bears series momentum] will be back on our side soon.” Apparently the rookie wasn’t afraid to enter into a verbal back-and-forth with the 3 time NFL MVP Rodgers.
This week when given the chance to tone down the possible Bears bulletin board material and his “I own you” Rodgers stuck to his guns, “I don’t know if you can question a whole lot of what I said. We’ve had a good record over the years against them and won a lot of games.”
Rodgers hasn’t practiced in nearly 3 weeks due to a fractured pinky toe injury. Nonetheless, he and his team expect to win and have high expectations of the reigning MVP, “When I step on the field, I expect greatness. Anyone who’s a great competitor feels the same way. I don’t lean on excuses, not practicing, a little toe injury,” Rodgers said recently.
Could this rivalry, the NFL’s oldest and most storied, be turning hot again? If the two recent QB’s quotes are any indication – then hell yeah it is! And ooh, let’s hope if it gets nasty, football is so much more fun that way isn’t it?
Because, let’s face it, since Brett Favre took over 1992 and especially since Rodgers has been the Pack QB, the series’ games have mostly been predetermined blow-outs or easy wins for Green Bay, with but a few Chicago wins sprinkled in. And frankly, those Chicago wins have mostly been when Rodgers has been hurt. Sorry Bears fans but it’s the truth. It’s why he says he owns you. If the rivalry is returning to its normal state of hatred among fan bases and players’ blood is and up, then we may see shades of the big hitting games of the past. Games which, no matter if either team were playing for the postseason, you were sure to see a bloodbath. And if you doubt that temps can run hot with anger in this series, Youtube ‘Charles Martin hitting Jim McMahon’ – your mind will change with the sympathy pain you’ll feel.
Prime-Time & Big-Time:
Sunday Night Football, with Al Michaels on play-by-play and Chris Collinsworth on color commentary, returns to the NFL Mecca: Lambeau Field. The Bears are 0-1 on SNF and the Packers 1-0 so far in 2021. Chicago will likely need more big-time play from Fields if it hopes to come out with a win, the Bears are 4-8 this season and trail far behind the first place Packers who sport a 9-3 record. The Packers expect big-time play and plays from Rodgers (see his above ‘greatness’ quote.)
Ooh that’s a big line:
12 ½ points! That is what the game opened at in casinos, sportsbooks and online and that is where it has stayed all week. Sure the Pack are at home, and sure they have won 11 of the last 12 at Lambeau (and 24 of the last 28 in G.B.). But I can’t be alone thinking 12 ½ is a big number to cover. We have a likely angry Bears team coming into Lambeau and that is certain to keep it close right? On the other hand, history and Bears’ owner Aaron Rodgers usually say otherwise, so, maybe I’ll keep my gambling opinions where they belong, right inside my closed wallet.
As the game approaches, let’s look at some of the numbers (listed below) from the Bears-Packers history. For more detailed series history see my Talking Points Sports preview from October.
Packers vs Bears All-time Head-to-Head (and other) stats:
Bears/Packers
Wins all-time: 95/102 inc. 2 playoff (6 tied)
Playoff wins: 1/1
Since 2000: 12/32
Points scored: 2565/3479
In Green Bay: 42/50 (4 tied)
- Packers longest win streak: 10 (1994-1998)
- Bears longest win streak: 8 (1985-1989)
- Aaron Rodgers vs Bears: 22-4 (includes 1 playoff win)
- Justin Fields vs Packers: 0-1
- Last meeting 10/17/2021: Green Bay 24 at Chicago 14 (Attendance – 62,332)
- Lambeau Field Capacity: 80,750
Sunday Kickoff is 7:20 Green Bay time.
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