Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers: The NFL’s most important rivalry
By Daniel
Dec 29, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) meet at midfield after the game at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers win 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
“(Ray) Nitschke tried to kill me,” Ditka told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He tried to kill everybody. That’s the way he played. He was a great football player. You had to fight fire with fire. You had to try to kill him. Every once in awhile you would get a shot in and he’d really get mad. Man, he was tough. It’s just the way it was.”
It’s safe to say there has never been a shortage of characters, anger, or mutual respect within this rivalry.
Around the country NFL fans are preparing for week four of the season. But in Wisconsin and Illinois it’s whole different story. It’s not just week four, it’s &%#$@&# Bears-Packers week. It’s the most sacred week of the year, sans one other week — the next time these rivals face off. On Sunday there will be pride, bragging rights, and divisional standings are all on the line. But there is much more on the line than that. In fact, 93 years of illustrious history is on the line; 93 years of passion, hatred, and intensity will be shouldered by the current members of these two teams. Historically the Bears had the upper hand in the rivalry, but since Brett Favre became Green Bay’s starter in 1992 the Packers are 32-13. Even so, Chicago holds a slim 93-89-6 upper hand in the rivalry.
"“I feel the same energy over the Bears playing the Packers that I did as a player,” said former Bear Mike Pyle at age 71, who grew up on the north side of Chicago. “I always get it. This is going to be the best game, obviously, for years and years and years.”"
Game 189 of this rivalry is going to be played Soldier Field on Sunday. Green Bay (1-2) has found itself in an early season must-win situation, where as Chicago (2-1) is feeling confident heading into the game. Will the Packers close the gap even tighter in this all-time great rivalry and subsequently save their season? Or will the Bears put their hated rival to the north in a big hole for the 2014 season and extend their all-time series lead? We’ll find out soon enough when the next installment of the NFL’s most important rivalry takes place this Sunday.
Included are a few slides that further explain this ancient rivalry’s incredible importance.