Chicago IL. today the best rivalry in all sports will be reignited when the Green Bay Packers comes into Chicago to face 1 place tie in the NFC Central with the Detroit Lions, the Windy Citys Chicago Bears. Packers and Bears play twice a year. The first round in Chicago. The NFLs oldest rivalry began 1921. Heck I wasnt even born yet. If not for strike shortened season of 1982 with I was born in December of 1983. Would be the longest running; however, it is the most played rivalry in league history at an astounding 188 games, some of which include some of the most memorable moments in football history. Combining for 22 NFL Championships, including five Super Bowls, while having 59 members enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, or what I like to call the Hall of Shame, this rivalry has it all. Here are some of the most interesting facts surrounding the Green Bay Packs and the Chicago Bears Rivalry. Green Bay Packers have dominated during the Aaron Rodgers era With Aaron Rodgers as starting quarterback, Green Bay is 10-3 during the regular and postseason against the Bears, with one loss coming last season after Rodgers was nearly broken in half by Shea McClellin. Against Chicago, Rodgers has completed 270 of 400 passes 67.5% for 3,075 yards and 21 touchdowns with 10 interceptions and a passer rating 97.4. Rodgers passer rating of 97.4 against Chicago is the best by a Packers quarterback min. 50 attempts. Chicago Bears Lead Overall Series The overall series sits at 93-89-6 in favor of the Chicago Bears. The largest margin of victory was 61-7 Bears win on December 7 1980. The longest winning streak is held by the Packers at 10 games from 1994-1998. After beating the Bears four times in 2011, the Packers became only the second team in NFL history to defeat the same opponent four times in one calendar year the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos four times in 1994. The Coldest Game in Bears History On December 22, 2008, in the coldest game in recorded Bears history, with a temperature at kickoff of 2 degrees and -13 degrees with wind chill, the Packers traveled to Soldiers Field on a Monday night, where a victory against the Bears would have ended the playoffs hopes. The Bears had to rally 14-3 score at the half. The Bears were able to score after a turnover on a Packers punt return. The Packers were on the verge of finishing a game winning drive when Mason Crobys field goal attempt was blocked by Alex Brown, pushing the game to overtime. The Bears took the first possession in overtime and won the game on a 38 yard field goal by Robbie Gould. Coaching Capsules Both the Packers Mike McCarthy and the Bears Marc Trestman mark the 14th head coach overall for the two most storied franchises in football. McCarthy, in his 9th NFL season, is 11-6 versus Chicago, while Trestman is 1-1 against the Packers. Trestman, in his first season as an NFL head coach, helped orchestrate the Bears offense to a record setting 6,109 net yards of total offense. With McCarty Siuper Bowl XLV victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, he joined the legendary Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only coaches to guide the Packers to the a Super Bowl victory. McCarthy and Trestman these two coaches combine for over 40 years of NFL coaching experience. Recent Matchups At Soldiers Field Including playoffs, the Packers have won four straight games at Soldiers Field and five of the last six at the stadium. Green Bay has held Chicago to 20 points or less in six of the last seven games at Soldiers Field. The Packers are looking for their fifth consecutive win at Chicago regular or postseason. It would be tie for the second longest winning streak the Packers have had on the road against the Bears 5: 1928-30/11: 1994-2005. December 29, 2013, marked the last time the two teams met at Soldiers Field. Green Bay won the game, 33-28, and clinched its third consecutive NFC North Side. Black and Blue September This will mark the 52nd time the two teams have met in the month of September with Chicago holding a 24-23-4 advantage. Only six of those September matchups took place in Chicago, and the Packers were 4-2 in those games. In the last time the two teams met in Chicago in the month of September was in 2011, a 27-17 Green Bay victory. The Packers have won three of the last four matchups against the Bears in games played in September. The Green Bay-Chicago Connections Packers LB Julius Peppers played for the Bears from 2010-13 recording 37.5 sacks over four seasons. Packers backup QB Scott Tolzien attended Fremd High School in Palatine, IL. Packers T Bryan Bulaga played at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, IL. Jerry Fontenot, now the Packers TE coach, was a third round draft choice by the Bears back in 1989 and became a mainstay at center in his eight season 1989-96 in Chicago. Packers great, running back Edgar Bennett, finished his playing career in Chicago 1998-99. Bears T Jordan Mills and Packers CB Tramon Williams are cousins. William The Refrigerator Perry is Born October 21, 1985, following a week in which head coach Mike Ditka had given rookie defensive tackle William Perry two carries at fullback as a dig at Bill Walsh for using guard Guy McIntyre in the backfield in the previous seasons NFC Championship Game, The Refrigerator was born. Twice in the second quarter Perry rumbled into the backfield to lead the way into the end zone for Walter Payton. Once he took Jim McMahons handoff himself and plowed his way through for a touchdown. By the end of the game a celebrity was born. Hall of Famers Galore The Chicago Bears have 32 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while the Green Bay Packer have 27. Bears notable: Harold Red Grange, George Papa Bear Halas, Bronko Nagurski, Sid Luckman, Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, George Blanda, Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, and Richard Dent. Packers notable: Earl Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Jim Taylor, Forrest Gregg. Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Willie Davis, Paul Hornung, James Lofton, and Reggie White.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 12:34:49 +0000