Taking Control Of The Rivalry: If Not Now, When?
No rivalry in the NFL compares to the one that will be renewed for the 205th time this Sunday. Despite see Green Bay dominate this series since the turn of the century, Bears players and fans alike have the same mindset: It’s time to regain control of this rivalry. Fan are wondering: If not now, when?
If you are 40 years old or younger, you have never seen Chicago dominate this rivalry like they once did. Prior to 1992, the Bears OWNED their rival from Wisconsin. When the 1991 season ended, Chicago had dominated the rivalry and had won 80 of the 143 games played.
The Favre Era
Brett Favre became the Packers starting QB during the 1992 season. The Bears defeated the Packers in Favre’s first game against them. Favre’s QBR for the game was just 69.0, and Chicago won handily 30-10. That would be the only time Favre’s record was under .500 as the Packers would win 12 of the next 13 games. At the end of his time in Green Bay, Chicago did get the better of Favre, as the Bears beat Favre and the Packers six times in their last eight games. The Packers defeated Chicago 22 times during the Favre era, losing only ten times.
After leading the Packers to the NFC title game in 2007, Favre was traded to the New York Jets. Bears fans rejoiced in unison, celebrating the end of the Packers domination over Chicago with Favre as their QB. The jubilation didn’t last long.
The Bears Misery at the Hands of Aaron Rodgers
After a 13-3 record and a trip to the NFC title game in Favre’s last year, the Packers turned over the offense to Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay ended Rodgers’ first season as QB with a disappointing 6-10 record. In Rodgers’ first game against Chicago, he handed the Bears their worst defeat of the year. The final score was a disastrous 37-3. Aaron’s stat line read: 23-30 227 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, and a QBR of 105.8.
Aaron Rodgers made a mockery of this long standing rivalry. The Packers have won 26 times from 2008 until now. The last time the Bears defeated Green Bay was 2018.
If Not Now, When?
With the Bears now 2 years into their rebuild, there is an air of confidence surrounding this team. This past week, the rookies spent time learning about the rivalry with Green Bay. After the meeting Bears new WR Tyler Scott said, “I feel like there’s a sense of it’s right in front of us,” Scott said. “Why can’t we be the ones to do that (take back control of the rivalry)…we’re in a position where we get to do this or we have an opportunity to do the things that are in front of us.”