When the Green Bay Packers signed quarterback Brett Favre before the 1992 season, there seemed to be a major philosophy change in Green Bay.
With Favre, as well as a litany of other pieces in play, the Green Bay Packers were all of a sudden a contender after a couple of decades of mediocrity. That has been proven by the Packers’ dominance over longtime divisional rival Chicago Bears.
Since 1992, the Green Bay Packers have compiled a 51-15 record against the Bears. To compress that record down to a decade span, the Packers are 14-3 since 2014. The stats continue to go on as Matt LaFleur is now 11-0 in his career against the Bears.
From Favre to Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, the dominance over the Chicago Bears has become a staple for Packers fans all over the world. Even with the team’s continued dominance over the Bears, LaFleur said he is looking forward to whatever the Packers have next on the schedule and not what has happened in the past.
“I am not worried about what has happened in the past – it is one game,” said LaFleur.
That mindset may be a major factor as to why Green Bay has sustained its dominance over the Bears. With each offseason that comes and goes, it seems that both Chicago Bears fans and the Chicago media hype up the Bears. That usually starts with analysts and fans talking about how the Bears are a better team than the Packers.
Based on what we have seen over the past 32 years, it seems that those feelings are still tied to how good the Bears were in the 1980s rather than present day. As LaFleur said, it seems like the most recent game against the Bears was just another game.
The Chicago Bears not being able to meet sky-high expectations has not been its only problem over the past three decades, though.
One major factor to the Packers’ success has been the complete difference in quarterback play for both teams. Since 1992, the Chicago Bears have seen 41 players start at quarterback, while Green Bay has had nine. The inconsistency at quarterback and the overall lack of success in general for the Bears has helped the Packers to blow this rivalry open.
Green Bay now holds the longest win streak in the rivalry at 11 games. As Rodgers famously told Bears fans after he scored a rushing touchdown in Chicago in 2021 that he still owns them, it looks like that ownership has been transferred to Love.
“It feels good,” said Love, about keeping the win streak alive against the Bears. “I think really anytime that you can get a win in the NFL is a great feeling.”
If Green Bay’s Week 11 win over Chicago is any indication, it seems like the rivalry will continue to thrive. It finally looks like the Bears have a plan at quarterback, as Caleb Williams is one of the best young players in the NFL. Add into the equation that Love has proven to be one of the most productive young quarterbacks in the NFL, and it appears that both teams are set at the most important position for plenty of years to come.
From Don Hutson scoring an 83-yard touchdown on the first play of the game in 1935 to William Perry plowing in a 1-yard touchdown in 1985 to B.J. Raji intercepting Caleb Hanne in 2010 to Kahlil Mack sacking Rodgers three times in 2018 to Karl Brooks’ blocked field goal this past week, there have been countless memorable moments between the two oldest franchises in NFL history.
With two skilled young quarterbacks, as well as two skilled defenses, there are sure to be many more notable moments to come.
Still a rivalry?
