The old proverb goes that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
At this point in the 211th meeting between the Packers and Bears, it looks like the rivalry is the embodiment of the proverb, as Green Bay took down Chicago in the midst of the best Bears season in many years.
In a change of recent times, the Bears entered the game as the NFC North’s leading team, as well as the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture. With Green Bay right behind them in the NFC North, the first matchup between these teams this year was set to be a great one, even before the season started.
The Bears made one of the biggest splashes in the offseason, as it hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the new head coach. During Johnson’s introductory press conference, Johnson appeared to go out of his way to call out Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, saying, “To be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Whether he wanted to admit that or not, Johnson’s comments regarding LaFleur made this game that much more meaningful.
“It is Packers-Bears. It is a great rivalry,” said LaFleur, on if this game meant a little bit more after Johnson’s comments to open the season. “Certainly with what was at stake in regards to positioning in the NFC North, that is the only thing that matters.”
If LaFleur did not want to admit that it meant more, Jordan Love hinted at it during his post game press conference.
“It meant a lot to everybody,” said Love, after being asked if this game meant a lot to LaFleur. “We have all known the comments that were out there, so it is what it is. But this is a game that means a lot to everybody. It is an NFC North matchup. Obviously, the Bears were the No. 1 seed, so it is a huge game, and like I said, we will see the guys in a couple weeks again.”
Through Johnson’s first 13 games as the head coach of the Bears, it is obvious that there is some sort of culture shift in Chicago. It appears that Chicago has the building blocks in place with a head coach, a quarterback and good offensive line. As those pieces grow together, Chicago may finally have a chance to compete with Green Bay and reignite the NFL’s oldest rivalry.
As it stands, LaFleur and Johnson are two of the game’s brightest offensive minds. Love and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams both look the part to being franchise quarterbacks, and the overall feeling in both Green Bay and Chicago is positive. That gets to be really exciting for football fans as for the first time since the early 2010s, the Green Bay-Chicago rivalry appears that it is going to be competitive for years to come.
With both teams vying for the NFC North title and a high seed in the playoff picture, it is no secret both teams need to win as many games as possible between now and the end of the regular season. With one more matchup between the two teams, the race for the NFC North and a high seed in the NFC playoffs is going to be a fun one to say the least.
Whether Green Bay wins the NFC North and Chicago gets into the playoffs as a lower seed or vice versa, one thing is certain: The NFL is a better product when the Packers and the Bears are competitive. Whether due to Johnson’s comments, the bright futures of both teams or the reignited hatred, this rivalry looks like it will be very intense in the coming years.
