The most heated rivalry in NFL history reignites on Sunday when the Chicago Bears visit Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers.
For more than 30 years, this rivalry hasn’t been a rivalry at all. From 1992 to today, Green Bay is 51-15 against Chicago with an outrageous +700 point differential.
But this isn’t the “same old Bears” anymore.
The Chicago Bears arrive at 9-3, sitting atop the NFC, winners of nine of their last ten, and fresh off dismantling the defending conference champions in their own building.
New head coach Ben Johnson made waves the day he was hired, saying, “I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Now he gets a chance to back it up with the Packers on the schedule twice in three weeks, and both the NFC North and the No. 1 seed hanging in the balance.
Chicago’s Flaws Still Exist (and Green Bay Knows Them)
GettyBears QB Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams is simultaneously Chicago’s great hope and biggest unknown, the quarterback who can make three highlight-reel throws per game and still finish under 50% completions.
Against the Eagles this past week, both versions showed up: the brutal miss to Odunze in the corner, and the crazy rolling left wrist-flick touchdown to Kmet for a TD.
Against Green Bay, inconsistency becomes far more dangerous. Cause lined up across from Williams is Micah Parsons, currently sitting third in the league with 12.5 sacks.
But while the national conversation will focus on Caleb vs. Love and Johnson vs. LaFleur, the key matchup of this entire game is far simpler: Can Green Bay’s depleted defensive interior hold up for four quarters against Chicago’s punishing ground game?
Green Bay is down Devonte Wyatt and dangerously thin at defensive tackle. Chicago, meanwhile, brings the league’s No. 2 rushing attack, powered by D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai and a revamped offensive line that’s putting up 153.8 yards per game.
On the defensive side of the ball, however, if there’s one thing that truly flips this matchup it’s turnovers.
Jordan Love has thrown only three interceptions this year, and his WR room is getting healthy again: Jayden Reed might return, and Christian Watson fully healed.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears defense enters this game leading the NFL in interceptions with 17 (the next closest is 13) and finally have CBs Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon back.
Can Caleb Williams be consistent? Can the Packers stop the Bears run game? And can Chicago’s defense force a turnover? Everything rests on those three questions.
The Moment Chicago Has Waited For
Getty“This is a game that I look forward to every year,” Kmet said when asked about the Bears-Packers rivalry.
Ben Johnson has already given the city free hot dogs, explosive offense, and the rare experience of meaningful December football. But this… this is the measuring stick game.
The one every Bears fan has circled, dreaded, hoped for. The one that tells you whether this 9-3 squad is a team ready to compete or one still trying to figure it out.
Everything will be on the line under the lights at Lambeau Field. But for the first time in a long time, the Chicago Bears are walking in expecting to win.
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