Bears–Packers rivalry

The Bears–Packers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. The two clubs have won a combined 22 NFL championships (13 for Green Bay and 9 for Chicago), including five Super Bowl championships (four for Green Bay and one for Chicago) and have 65 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Chicago with 34 and Green Bay with 31).

Chicago Bears–Green Bay Packers

Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers
First meeting	November 27, 1921 Staleys 20, Packers 0
Latest meeting	January 3, 2021 Packers 35, Bears 16
Statistics
Meetings total	202
All-time series	Packers, 101–95–6
Postseason results	List December 14, 1941 Bears 33, Packers 14 January 23, 2011 Packers 21, Bears 14
Longest win streak	Bears, 8 (1985–88) Packers, 10 (1994–98)
Current win streak	Packers, 4

They are two of the oldest teams in the NFL. The Bears were founded as the Decatur Staleys, a works team of the A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company, in 1919; they turned professional in 1920 and joined the American Professional Football Association, forerunner of the NFL, as a charter member later that year, moving to Chicago in 1921 and becoming the Bears in 1922. The Packers were founded in August 1919 and joined the APFA in 1921.

The rivalry began in 1921 and is the league's most played, with 201 regular-season and post-season games.[1] It has been renewed annually in all but one season since 1921. The lone exception was when both meetings were canceled in 1982 due to the NFLPA strike, making the Lions–Packers rivalry the longest continuous rivalry in the NFL (the Packers and Detroit Lions have played each other at least twice a season since 1932).

The Packers and Bears have played in the same conference or division since the NFL went to a conference format in 1933; they played in the NFL's Western Conference from 1933 to 1970, and have been in the NFC North since 1970 (known as the NFC Central from 1970–2001). As such, they have usually played each other twice every regular season since 1933, except for the 1982 strike.

The Packers surpassed the Bears in the overall series in 2017 and now lead, 101–95–6. The Bears had previously led the series by as many as 24 games both in 1960 and in 1992. The two teams have met twice in the NFL playoffs, with each team winning one game.

Notable games and moments

1920s–1950s

• Bears 20, Packers 0 (November 27, 1921) – The two organizations played for the first time in 1921 at Chicago, when the Bears were nicknamed the Chicago Staleys. Bears' Gaylord "Pete" Stinchcomb scored the game's first touchdown on a 45-yard run. The Bears shut out the Packers 20–0 in their first meeting, and the rivalry was born. A year later, the Staleys changed their team name to the Bears.
• Bears 3, Packers 0 (November 23, 1924) – The Bears–Packers rivalry can be credited for the first ever ejection of players for fighting during an NFL game. The Bears' Frank Hanny and Packers' Tillie Voss were ejected before the end of the first half as verbal exchanges led to punches being thrown. Two years later, Hanny was ejected once again in a game versus Green Bay.[2]
• Packers 7, Bears 0 (September 28, 1930) – The Packers shut out the Bears for the fifth consecutive game in this contest which is the longest such streak in the series. The streak began in 1928 when the Packers defeated the Bears 6–0 on December 9 of that season.[3] In 1929, the Packers shut out the Bears three times, 23–0, 14–0, and 25–0 en route to their first NFL championship.[4][5] On November 9, the Bears finally scored on the Packers although they came up short in the final score 13–12.[6] The Packers then went on to win their second consecutive NFL title that season.[7]
• Packers 16, Bears 14 (November 2, 1941) – The Bears came into the game undefeated and seemingly invincible. Over their first five games, they defeated their rivals by an unprecedented 157 points.[8] However, the Packers upset them in this game which was the Bears lone defeat that season. The Associated Press wrote of the game that the "Chicago Bears myth is broken".[9] Chicago fans made accusations that the game had been fixed,[10] and it was suggested that the Packers had employed a "secret" defensive scheme.[11] The Packers had built a 16–0 lead through the first three quarters of play before the Bears mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter coming up just short of a win.[12]
• Bears 33, Packers 14 (December 14, 1941) – In the first playoff meeting between the two rivals, the Bears defeated the Packers 33–14 in a one-game-playoff to determine the Western Division championship. After the Packers, the Bears defeated the New York Giants en route to their fourth NFL Championship. Until the 2010 post-season, this remained the only playoff meeting between the teams.
• Bears 52, Packers 31 (November 6, 1955) – The Bears and Packers played the highest-scoring game of their series at Soldier Field in the 1955 season. The Bears created a huge 45–3 lead, but the Packers were able to score 28 points in the fourth quarter; by the game's end, the Bears beat the Packers 52–31, with the two teams combining for 83 points. This was also the last game that George Halas coached the Bears in against the Packers until 1958 due to a temporary break from coaching.
• Packers 21, Bears 17 (September 29, 1957) - The Packers hosted the Bears in the inaugural game of their brand new stadium, initially called New City Stadium (later changed to Lambeau Field in 1965). Among the attendees to the game included NFL Commissioner Bert Bell, United States Vice President Richard Nixon, actor James Arness, and Miss America 1958,Marilyn Van Derbur. Playing behind several times during the game, the Packers finally were able to gain the lead in the 4th quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Babe Parilli to Gary Knafelc for the winning points.
• Packers 9, Bears 6 (September 27, 1959) - In the debut game of new Packers head coach, Vince Lombardi, the Packers fell behind the Bears 6-0, until Jim Taylor scored on a 5-yard touchdown run, giving the Packers the lead. Dave Hanner followed the touchdown with a safety, sacking Bears quarterback Ed Brown in the Bears' endzone to cap off the victory. The Packers celebrated their first win under their new coach by carrying him on their shoulders after the game.

1960s–1970s

• Packers 31, Bears 28 (November 12, 1961) – The Packers built up an impressive 31–7 lead in the game, but the Bears made a furious comeback with three unanswered touchdowns to make the score 31–28. Still, the Packers were able to win the game; they would go on to win the NFL Championship that year against the New York Giants.
• Packers 49, Bears 0 (September 30, 1962) – Vince Lombardi's Packers shutout George Halas' Bears, 49–0 at City Stadium, the Packers largest margin of victory in the rivalry. The team repeated that score against the Philadelphia Eagles six weeks later on Nov 11, 1962. The games remain a Packers team record for most points in a shutout victory. After again defeating the Bears later in the season, this time by a score of 38–7, the Packers won their 8th NFL championship. Motivated by the two humiliating losses to the Packers, Halas spent the off-season focusing on beating the Packers.
• Bears 26, Packers 7 (November 17, 1963) – The Bears and Packers, both with 8–1 records, met at Wrigley Field to play for first place in the Western Conference. Chicago, behind a dominant defense, got a 26–0 lead and held on to win 26–7, completing a sweep of the Packers in the 1963 season and handling Green Bay only two losses of the season. The Bears finished the season with an NFL championship victory over the New York Giants once again, claiming their 8th NFL Championship.
• Packers 23, Bears 12 (September 13, 1964) – Remembered as the "Free Kick Game" because the Packers invoked the surprising "Fair catch kick rule", which allows for a place or drop kick field goal attempt from the spot of a fair catch. Elijah Pitts fair caught a Bears punt on the Bears' 48-yard-line just before the end of the first half. Packers' coach Vince Lombardi opted to attempt a free kick. Confusion ensued as neither team had ever so much as even practiced a free kick. The Packers lined up at the line of scrimmage with Bart Starr holding for Paul Hornung. Hornung made the 52-yard field goal as the first half ended. The Packers stunned all in attendance with the kick, and won the game 23–12.
• Bears 13, Packers 10 (November 3, 1968) – The Bears got their revenge on the Packers, beating them 13–10 on a fair catch free kick by Mac Percival at the 43-yard line after a Packers punt with :26 left in the game. Percival kicked a game-winner the week before against the Minnesota Vikings.[13]

1980s

• Packers 12, Bears 6 (September 7, 1980) – With the score tied 6–6 and the game in overtime, Packers kicker Chester Marcol was called in to attempt a game-winning field goal. The Bears' Alan Page managed to break through and block the field goal, with the football hitting his helmet. The ball rebounded to Marcol, and, carrying the ball, he crossed the goal line to score the winning touchdown for the Packers.
• Bears 61, Packers 7[14] (December 7, 1980) – In the game, the Bears scored eight offensive touchdowns. After the Packers had suffered the second-most lopsided defeat in their history, Bart Starr charged across the field to confront Bears coach Neill Armstrong. Starr was upset because Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan had the Bears blitzing from all angles in the fourth quarter, even after the Packers inserted backup quarterback David Whitehurst with the score 48–7.[15] "Bart Starr was upset," Armstrong said after the game. "He did the talking and I did the listening. He said he'd rather not hear what I had to say, something to that effect, and he left." Two years later, Bill Tobin, the Bears' vice president of player personnel at the time, revealed that he had been instructed by general manager Jim Finks during the off-season to study film and decode the Packers' signal system for relaying plays to the quarterback. Tobin, who had been in the Packers' front office during the Devine years, had been fired by Starr in 1975 as part of a wholesale housecleaning. "I went at it like a tiger does good meat," Tobin said at the time. "We wanted 100 points," defensive end Dan Hampton said. "It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of pricks."
• Bears 23, Packers 7 (October 21, 1985) – The world was introduced to rookie defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry on Monday Night Football.[16] In goal line situations, Bears head coach Mike Ditka used Perry, who weighed roughly 300 lbs. in the fullback position. Twice, Perry led the way for Bears legend Walter Payton on two- and one-yard touchdown runs. In the second quarter, "the Fridge" was given the ball and plunged into the end zone for one of the heaviest touchdowns in NFL history. The Bears won 23–7, and "The Fridge" was born.
• Bears 16, Packers 10 (November 10, 1985) – Before the game, the Packers placed horse manure in the Bears locker room.[16] Two weeks after the Monday Night Game, tempers reached a boiling point in the rivalry. Packers cornerback Mark Lee was ejected after he and Bears running back Walter Payton went flying over a bench in the first quarter.[17] A few minutes later, Packers safety Ken Stills was flagged for leveling Matt Suhey, Payton's backfield mate, well after the whistle.
• Bears 12, Packers 10 (November 23, 1986) – In Week 12 of the 1986 season Green Bay defensive tackle Charles Martin wore a towel with a hit list of specific Bears numbers written on it, such as No. 34 Walter Payton, No. 9 Jim McMahon, and others.[18] Following a McMahon interception Martin came up from behind and body slammed him to the turf,[17] separating McMahon's shoulder, ending the quarterback's season. Martin was suspended for two games, at the time the longest suspension in NFL history.[19]
• Packers 14, Bears 13 (November 6, 1989) – This became known as the "Instant Replay Game".[20] Packers quarterback Don Majkowski led the Packers to a comeback with an apparent game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Sterling Sharpe. The play was called a touchdown, but line judge Jim Quirk had called a penalty on Majkowski for being beyond the line of scrimmage when he threw the pass. A nervous and tense crowd at Lambeau Field waited as the call went up to the instant replay official. Several minutes later, the call came down and the touchdown was awarded as recorded by instant replay, providing the Packers their first victory over the Bears since 1984. This led to a change in the "illegal forward pass" rule which defined when to consider a passer past the line of scrimmage. The rule used to be judged by the position of the ball instead of the passer's feet. Bears coach Mike Ditka ordered that an asterisk be placed next to the result in all team publications.

1990s

• Packers 27, Bears 24 (September 11, 1995) – Packers QB Brett Favre throws a 99-yard touchdown pass to Robert Brooks – one of only 13 times in NFL history a 99-yard TD pass has ever been completed.[21] Green Bay stormed to a 27–7 lead and had 431 yards on offense compared to Chicago's 243, Although Chicago scored 17 unanswered at the end, they came up just short as time expired. The game was featured nationally on Monday Night Football.[22]
• Packers 35, Bears 28 (November 12, 1995) – Coming into this much-anticipated matchup, first place in the NFC Central division was on the line. A victory would give the Packers the same record as the Bears (6–4) and would mean a series sweep, giving Green Bay the head-to-head tie-breaker should the teams be tied at season's end. Brett Favre had a badly sprained ankle, which kept his status for the game uncertain. Not only did Favre start, but he had his best game of the season up to that point. He completed 25 of 33 passes for 336 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Bears QB Erik Kramer also had a solid game, going 23 of 38 for 318 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The teams combined for 800 yards of offense. The game was not decided until Kramer threw an incomplete pass in the Packers' end zone on the final play of the game.[23]
• Packers 24, Bears 23 (October 12, 1997) – In one of the more back-and-forth contests in the rivalry, the Bears got off to a 10–0 lead thanks in part to a rushing touchdown by Raymont Harris in the first quarter before the Packers came back to take a 14–10 halftime lead due to a rushing score by Dorsey Levens. In the third quarter, Erik Kramer ran for a three-yard touchdown to put the Bears back in front, 17–14. However, in the waning seconds of the third quarter, Brett Favre connected with Mark Chmura for a touchdown. The Packers led, 21–17, then extended their lead to 24–17. The Bears marched down the field and scored when Kramer connected with Chris Penn with less than two minutes left. In an "all-or-nothing" maneuver, the Bears went for a two-point conversion. The pass fell incomplete, essentially preserving the win for the Packers.[24]
• Bears 14, Packers 13 (November 7, 1999) – The Bears defeated the Packers for the first time since 1993 on a blocked field goal by defensive tackle Bryan Robinson and was the first game in the series played after the death of Walter Payton. This was also the game in which Brett Favre surpassed Ron Jaworski's record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback.

2000s

• Packers 34, Bears 21 (October 7, 2002) – This Monday night contest at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, was the only Bears home game in the entire series that was played outside of Chicago. Brett Favre threw an 85-yard TD pass to Driver in the first quarter—the second longest of his career to that point (both against the Bears). At the time, Soldier Field was undergoing a major renovation; the renovated stadium would later reopen in 2003 between the Bears and Packers.[25]
• Bears 26, Packers 0 (September 10, 2006) – In the opening week of the season, the Bears handed Brett Favre his first shutout in his 16-year career, winning 26–0 in Green Bay. The Bears' offense, criticized for being conservative, opened the game with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian. This also marked the first game in which the Bears' Devin Hester returned a punt for a touchdown.[26]
• Bears 20, Packers 17 (December 22, 2008) – The coldest game in recorded Bears history featured a temperature at kickoff of 2 degrees and −13 degrees with wind chill. The Packers traveled to Soldier Field on a Monday night, where a victory against the Bears would have ended their playoff hopes. The Bears had to rally from a 14–3 score at the half. The Bears were able to score after a turnover on a Packers punt return. The Packers were on the verge of finishing a game-winning drive when Mason Crosby's field goal attempt was blocked by Alex Brown, pushing the game to overtime. The Bears took the first possession in overtime and won the game on a 38-yard field goal by Robbie Gould.

2010s

• Bears 20, Packers 17 (September 27, 2010) – The 2–0 Packers traveled to Chicago for an early season showdown with the 2–0 Bears for the NFC North lead. Aaron Rodgers threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings to open the scoring in the first quarter. Mason Crosby made it 10–0 with 4:45 left in the second quarter, but Jay Cutler drove the Bears down and connected with Greg Olsen for a touchdown with 31 seconds left. Late in the 3rd quarter, Julius Peppers blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt by Mason Crosby to keep it 10–7 Packers. Devin Hester then opened the 4th quarter with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown to make it 14–10 Bears. Aaron Rodgers led the Packers on a drive that resulted in him getting into the end zone on a 3-yard scamper to make it 17–14. However, the Packers were left to regret a sloppy performance, as they recorded a team record 18 penalties. The Bears took advantage, with Robbie Gould kicking a field goal with 4:03 left and then 0:08 left to claim a 20–17 victory. This would be the last time the Bears beat the Packers at Soldier Field until the 2018 season.
• Packers 10, Bears 3 (January 2, 2011) – The 9–6 Packers hosted the 11–4 Bears in a must-win game in order to enter the playoffs. With both teams coming off of high scoring victories, a shoot-out was anticipated. However, the frozen tundra yielded a defensive battle, as the teams were tied 3–3 late in the fourth quarter. With 2:50 remaining, Aaron Rodgers hit tight end Donald Lee for a 1-yard touchdown pass to take a 10–3 lead.[27]
• Packers 21, Bears 14 (January 23, 2011, NFC Championship Game) – This was the first time the two teams had met in the playoffs since 1941. The Green Bay Packers started off strong with an early 14–0 lead on an Aaron Rodgers rushing TD. Bears' quarterback, Jay Cutler, was injured late in the second quarter, and was unable to continue. After Bears' quarterback Todd Collins proved ineffective, going 0 for 4 on two drives, the Bears brought in Caleb Hanie, who led them to a 1-yard touchdown run by Chester Taylor to make it 14–7. On the very next Bears drive, however, Hanie would be intercepted by B. J. Raji, who took it to the endzone to make it 21–7 late in the game. The Bears would answer with another TD. With one more drive to tie the game, Hanie threw his second interception, this time to Sam Shields to end the game and send Green Bay to the Super Bowl.[28] The Packers went on to win Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming the NFC's first sixth-seeded team (and second wild card team) to win the Super Bowl.[29]
• Bears 27, Packers 20 (November 4, 2013) – Heading into this Monday Night match-up at Lambeau Field, Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler was sidelined with a groin injury. Thus, backup quarterback Josh McCown played in Cutler's stead. In the first drive of the game, Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked by Shea McClellin, which fractured Rodgers' left collarbone and sent him out of the game. McCown threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Packers backup quarterback Seneca Wallace threw for 114 yards and no touchdowns, with one interception. The Bears won the game 27–20 to end a six-game losing streak to the Packers. Aaron Rodgers would be out for 7 weeks, eventually returning in Week 17 against the Bears for the NFC North title.
• Packers 33, Bears 28 (December 29, 2013) – In a game with the NFC North Championship on the line, the Packers faced off against the Bears. The game was notable for a Rodgers fumble to touchdown that occurred when most players from both teams believed the play to be an incomplete pass. The game also showcased an offensive shootout in the second half, including Bears quarterback Jay Cutler throwing for two touchdowns. However, the Packers ended their last drive converting on 4th down three times, most notably in a long 4th and 8 completion to Randall Cobb for a touchdown that would win the game and deliver Green Bay its 3rd consecutive NFC North title. The loss would keep the Bears out of the playoffs.
• Packers 55, Bears 14 (November 6, 2014) – Aaron Rodgers tied an NFL record with 6 touchdown passes in the first half in a blowout win for the Packers, the most lopsided win for the Packers over the Bears since 1962 and their highest point total in a game since 1945. Bears' kickoff returner Chris Williams tied an NFL record with 10 kickoff returns in a game, one of which went for a 101-yard touchdown.
• Bears 17, Packers 13 (November 26, 2015) – On the night of Brett Favre's jersey retirement, the Bears met the Packers at Lambeau Field for a Thanksgiving match-up. With a 4–6 record and having lost to the Packers earlier in the year, Chicago entered the game as huge underdogs. While the Bears' offense stalled in the first quarter, the Packers took a 7-point lead on a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Eddie Lacy. In the second quarter, the Bears scored two touchdowns, while the Packers settled for two field goals, making the score 14–13 at halftime. The Bears scored one more field goal in the fourth quarter while their defense pitched a second half shutout, including a goal line stand in the game's final seconds.
• Packers 30, Bears 27 (December 18, 2016) – With the Packers needing a win to move within a game of the NFC North lead, they entered Soldier Field during one of the coldest Chicago Bears games on record. Tied 10–10 at halftime, Green Bay surged to a 27–10 advantage in the third quarter, before the Bears made a run of their own in the fourth quarter to bring them within 3 points and in striking distance of the Green Bay end zone. Green Bay held the Bears to a field goal after a goal-line stand. During the Packers' ensuing possession, quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed a 60-yard pass to Jordy Nelson which led to a Packers field goal as time expired.
• Packers 24, Bears 23 (September 9, 2018) – After an off-season in which both teams made massive player acquisitions, most notably the Bears having acquired linebacker Khalil Mack, the two teams met on Sunday Night Football for a highly anticipated Week 1 matchup. The Bears struck first with a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. After the two teams exchanged three and outs, Chicago ended the 1st quarter up 7–0. The Bears would later add to the lead with a Cody Parkey field goal to make it 10–0. Late in the second quarter, defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris knocked Aaron Rodgers out with a knee injury and the Bears capitalized with Mack getting a pick-six off Packers backup DeShone Kizer. Rodgers would return to the game in third quarter down 20–0, and led the Packers on a scoring drive culminating in a Mason Crosby field goal to end the third quarter with the Bears leading 20–3. However, the Packers outscored the Bears 21–3 off three Rodgers touchdown passes, to take a 24–23 lead with just over 2 minutes left. The Packers would hang on to win by that score. The 17-point fourth-quarter comeback for the Packers represented their largest in franchise history. However, the teams would head in opposite directions going forward.
• Bears 24, Packers 17 (December 16, 2018) - Following their Week 1 meeting, the Bears and Packers had gone in opposite directions during the 2018 season. The 5-7-1 Packers and 9-4 Bears met in Soldier Field for a Week 15 showdown with major implications in the playoff race for both teams. The Bears needed a win to clinch the NFC North, while a Packers victory would keep their slim playoff hopes alive in the NFC playoff race. Led by a dominant defensive performance and two touchdown passes from Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears would win the game 24-17 (their first win over the Packers at Soldier Field since 2010) and clinched the NFC North while eliminating the Packers from playoff contention. Linebacker Khalil Mack would sack Aaron Rodgers 2.5 times while safety Eddie Jackson intercepted Rodgers late in the fourth quarter to seal the Bears victory (and also breaking Rodgers' NFL-record streak of 402 consecutive passes without an interception). The Packers would finish the season 6-9-1 (their first time since 1990-91 with back-to-back losing seasons) while the Bears would finish 12-4, losing in the Wild Card round to the Eagles in the Double Doink Game.
• Packers 21, Bears 13 (December 15, 2019) - The Bears and Packers would meet at Lambeau Field in a Week 15 matchup that, like the 2018 matchup, would have major playoff implications for both teams. The Packers needed a win to keep their hopes for an NFC North title alive, while the Bears needed a win plus a Vikings loss to stay alive in the playoff hunt. After the Packers raced to a 21-3 lead in the third quarter, the Bears would score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 21-13. It took until the game's final play to seal the game, as the final play of the game was a botched lateral by the Bears that was recovered by the Packers' Tramon Williams. In a role reversal of 2018, the Packers eliminated the Bears from playoff contention with the win and clinched the NFC North a week later with a Monday Night win at the Vikings. The Packers would finish the season 13-3, falling to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, while the Bears finished the season 8-8.

Playoffs

The Bears and Packers have made it to the playoffs in the same year five times:

• 1941 The Bears and Packers finished with identical 10–1 records (splitting the two games with each other and winning all of their remaining games) to finish tied atop the NFL Western Division. At the time, only the two division champions would make it to the post-season but ties were broken with a playoff game. The Bears would win the playoff game 33–14 and go on to win the NFL Championship. The teams would not meet in the playoffs again until the 2010 NFC Championship Game.
• 1994 Both teams entered the playoffs as Wild Card teams and won their respective first round games. They would each lose in the second round – Green Bay to the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago to the San Francisco 49ers.
• 2001 The Bears won the NFC Central division and clinched a first round bye. The Packers were a Wild Card team and defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the first round. Both teams would lose in the second round – Green Bay to the St. Louis Rams and Chicago to the Philadelphia Eagles.
• 2010 The two teams met on the last day of the season in what was a must-win for Green Bay. The Packers won 10–3 to clinch the 6-seed, while the Bears had already secured a first-round bye as the 2-seed. Green Bay defeated the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, while Chicago defeated the Seattle Seahawks to set up the rivals' second postseason meeting in the NFC Championship Game. Many fans of both teams describe the game as the biggest in the history of the rivalry, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The Packers would ultimately prevail 21–14[28] and go on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.[29]
• 2020 The two teams met on the last day of the regular season in Chicago with the Packers able to clinch the NFC's #1 seed with a win and the Bears able to clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Packers won the game 35–16, but the Bears were able to clinch the #7 seed thanks to an Arizona Cardinals loss. The Bears lost to the New Orleans Saints in the first round. Had the Bears won, they would have played the Packers in the second round. The Packers made it to the NFC Championship game, which they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Statistics and records

As of January 4, 2021, there have been 202 games between the two teams—most in NFL history—since their first league game in 1921, of which Green Bay has won 101 games, Chicago 95, and there have been 6 ties.[30][31] The largest margin of victory was a 61–7 Bears win in 1980. The longest winning streak is held by the Packers at 10 games from 1994–98. After beating the Bears four times in 2011, the Packers became only the second team in NFL history to defeat the same opponent four times in one calendar year (the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos four times in 1994).[32]

Club success

As of 2019, the Bears and Packers have won a combined 22 championships in the league's history.

Team	NFL Titles[note 1]	Conference Titles	Divisional Titles[note 2]	Wild Card Berths	Playoff Appearances	NFL Title Game Appearances[note 3]	Super Bowl Appearances[note 4]	All-time Record
Chicago Bears	9	4	19	5	28[note 5]	8	2	794–618–42
Green Bay Packers	13	9	20	7	33	11	5	804–600–37
Combined	22	13	39	12	61	19	7	1598–1218–79

Table correct through Week 17 of the 2020 season.

Game results

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers Season-by-Season Results
1920s (Bears, 7–6–3) Season Season series at Chicago Staleys/Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 1921 Staleys 1–0 Staleys 20–0 no game Bears 1–0 Packers join the APFA. Staleys win 1921 APFA Championship. 1923 Bears 1–0 no game Bears 3–0 Bears 2–0 1924 Staleys 1–0 Staleys 3–0 no game Bears 3–0 1925 Tie 1–1 Bears 21–0 Packers 14–10 Bears 4–1 1926 Bears 1–0–2 Bears 19–13 Tie 6–6 Bears 5–1–2 Tie 3–3 1927 Bears 2–0 Bears 14–6 Bears 7–6 Bears 7–1–2 1928 Packers 2–0–1 Packers 16–6 Tie 12–12 Bears 7–3–3 Packers 6–0 1929 Packers 3–0 Packers 14–0 Packers 23–0 Bears 7–6–3 Packers win 1929 NFL Championship. Packers 25–0
1930s (Bears, 12–11–1) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 1930 Packers 2–1 Packers 13–12 Packers 7–0 Tie 8–8–3 Packers win 1930 NFL Championship. Bears 21–0 1931 Packers 2–1 Packers 6–2 Packers 7–0 Packers 10–9–3 Packers win 1931 NFL Championship. Bears 7–6 1932 Tie 1–1–1 Packers 2–0 Tie 0–0 Packers 11–10–4 Bears win 1932 NFL Championship. Bears 9–0 1933 Bears 3–0 Bears 10–7 Bears 14–7 Bears 13–11–4 Would be the last time both teams would meet three times during the regular season. Bears win 1933 NFL Championship. Bears 7–6 1934 Bears 2–0 Bears 27–14 Bears 24–10 Bears 15–11–4 Bears lose 1934 NFL Championship. 1935 Packers 2–0 Packers 17–14 Packers 7–0 Bears 15–13–4 1936 Tie 1–1 Packers 21–10 Bears 30–3 Bears 16–14–4 Packers win 1936 NFL Championship. 1937 Tie 1–1 Packers 24–14 Bears 14–2 Bears 17–15–4 Bears lose 1937 NFL Championship. 1938 Tie 1–1 Packers 24–17 Bears 2–0 Bears 18–16–4 Packers lose 1938 NFL Championship. 1939 Tie 1–1 Bears 30–27 Packers 21–16 Bears 19–17–4 Packers win 1939 NFL Championship.
1940s (Bears, 16–4–1) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 1940 Bears 2–0 Bears 14–7 Bears 41–10 Bears 21–17–4 Bears win 1940 NFL Championship. 1941 Tie 1–1 Packers 16–14 Bears 25–17 Bears 22–18–4 Both teams went 10–1 on the season, with their only losses coming to each other. Bears win 1941 NFL Championship. 1941 Playoffs Bears 2–0 Bears 33–14 Bears 23–18–4 NFL Western Division playoff, required as the teams were tied atop the division. First postseason meeting in the rivalry. 1942 Bears 2–0 Bears 44–28 Bears 38–7 Bears 25–18–4 1943 Bears 1–0–1 Bears 21–7 Tie 21–21 Bears 26–18–5 Bears win 1943 NFL Championship. 1944 Tie 1–1 Bears 21–0 Packers 42–28 Bears 27–19–5 Packers win 1944 NFL Championship. 1945 Tie 1–1 Bears 28–24 Packers 31–21 Bears 28–20–5 1946 Bears 2–0 Bears 10–7 Bears 30–7 Bears 30–20–5 Bears win 1946 NFL Championship. 1947 Tie 1–1 Bears 20–17 Packers 31–21 Bears 31–21–5 1948 Bears 2–0 Bears 7–6 Bears 45–7 Bears 33–21–5 1949 Bears 2–0 Bears 24–3 Bears 17–0 Bears 35–21–5
1950s (Bears, 14–5–1) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 1950 Tie 1–1 Bears 28–14 Packers 31–21 Bears 36–22–5 1951 Bears 2–0 Bears 24–13 Bears 31–20 Bears 38–22–5 Bears win 11 straight meetings at home (1941–51). 1952 Tie 1–1 Packers 41–28 Bears 24–14 Bears 39–23–5 Lions win 1952 NFL Championship. 1953 Bears 1–0–1 Tie 21–21 Bears 17–23 Bears 40–23–6 Last tie between the two teams (as of September 2, 2019). 1954 Bears 2–0 Bears 28–23 Bears 10–3 Bears 42–23–6 1955 Tie 1–1 Bears 52–31 Packers 24–3 Bears 43–24–6 Bears' 52–31 marks the highest-scoring game in the history of the rivalry (83 points). 1956 Bears 2–0 Bears 38–14 Bears 37–21 Bears 45–24–6 Bears lose 1956 NFL Championship. 1957 Tie 1–1 Bears 21–14 Packers 21–17 Bears 46–25–6 Packers open Lambeau Field. 1958 Bears 2–0 Bears 24–10 Bears 34–20 Bears 48–25–6 1959 Tie 1–1 Bears 28–17 Packers 9–6 Bears 49–26–6
1960s (Packers, 15–5) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 1960 Tie 1–1 Packers 41–13 Bears 17–14 Bears 50–27–6 Bears take a 24-game lead in the all-time series with the Packers after their season-opening win, the largest lead in the rivalry’s history by either team. The Bears later matched their own record in 1992. Packers lose 1960 NFL Championship. 1961 Packers 2–0 Packers 31–28 Packers 24–0 Bears 50–29–6 Packers' first season sweep since 1935. Packers win 1961 NFL Championship. 1962 Packers 2–0 Packers 38–7 Packers 49–0 Bears 50–31–6 Packers' 49–0 win is their largest margin of victory over the Bears. Packers win 1962 NFL Championship. 1963 Bears 2–0 Bears 26–7 Bears 10–3 Bears 52–31–6 Bears win 1963 NFL Championship. 1964 Packers 2–0 Packers 17–3 Packers 23–12 Bears 52–33–6 1965 Tie 1–1 Bears 31–10 Packers 23–14 Bears 53–34–6 Packers win 1965 NFL Championship. 1966 Packers 2–0 Packers 17–0 Packers 13–6 Bears 53–36–6 Packers win 1966 NFL Championship and Super Bowl I. 1967 Packers 2–0 Packers 17–13 Packers 13–10 Bears 53–38–6 Packers win 1967 NFL Championship and Super Bowl II. 1968 Tie 1–1 Packers 28–27 Bears 13–10 Bears 54–39–6 1969 Packers 2–0 Packers 21–3 Packers 17–0 Bears 54–41–6
1970s (Bears, 11–9) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 1970 Tie 1–1 Bears 35–17 Packers 20–19 Bears 55–42–6 Both teams placed in the NFC Central after AFL-NFL merger. 1971 Packers 2–0 Packers 17–14 Packers 31–10 Bears 55–44–6 Bears open Soldier Field. 1972 Packers 2–0 Packers 23–17 Packers 20–17 Bears 55–46–6 1973 Tie 1–1 Packers 21–0 Bears 31–17 Bears 56–47–6 1974 Tie 1–1 Bears 10–3 Packers 10–9 Bears 57–48–6 Packers' home game played at Milwaukee County Stadium. While the Packers have played a few home games per year in Milwaukee from 1932–1994, this was the only Bears–Packers regular season game to take place in Milwaukee. 1975 Tie 1–1 Bears 27–14 Packers 28–7 Bears 58–49–6 1976 Bears 2–0 Bears 24–13 Bears 16–10 Bears 60–49–6 1977 Bears 2–0 Bears 26–0 Bears 28–10 Bears 62–49–6 1978 Tie 1–1 Bears 24–0 Packers 24–14 Bears 63–50–6 1979 Bears 2–0 Bears 6–3 Bears 15–14 Bears 65–50–6
1980s (Bears, 11–7) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 1980 Tie 1–1 Bears 61–7 Packers 12–6(OT) Bears 66–51–6 Bears' 61–7 win is the largest margin of victory in the series. Packers win game in Green Bay on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in overtime. 1981 Packers 2–0 Packers 16–9 Packers 21–17 Bears 66–53–6 1982 No games Bears 66–53–6 Both games cancelled as a result of the players strike reducing the season to 9 games. 1983 Tie 1–1 Bears 23–21 Packers 31–28 Bears 67–54–6 1984 Tie 1–1 Packers 20–14 Bears 9–7 Bears 68–55–6 1985 Bears 2–0 Bears 23–7 Bears 16–10 Bears 70–55–6 Bears win Super Bowl XX. 1986 Bears 2–0 Bears 12–10 Bears 25–12 Bears 72–55–6 1987 Bears 2–0 Bears 23–10 Bears 26–24 Bears 74–55–6 1988 Bears 2–0 Bears 16–0 Bears 24–6 Bears 76–55–6 Bears win 8 straight meetings (1985–88). 1989 Packers 2–0 Packers 40–28 Packers 14–13 Bears 76–57–6
1990s (Packers, 13–7) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 1990 Bears 2–0 Bears 27–13 Bears 31–13 Bears 78–57–6 1991 Bears 2–0 Bears 27–13 Bears 10–0 Bears 80–57–6 1992 Tie 1–1 Packers 17–3 Bears 30–10 Bears 81–58–6 Brett Favre's first season with the Packers. After their win at Lambeau Field, the Bears matched the record for the biggest lead in their overall series with the Packers at 24 games. 1993 Tie 1–1 Bears 30–17 Packers 17–3 Bears 82–59–6 1994 Packers 2–0 Packers 33–6 Packers 40–3 Bears 82–61–6 Both teams make the playoffs for the first time since 1941. 1995 Packers 2–0 Packers 27–24 Packers 35–28 Bears 82–63–6 1996 Packers 2–0 Packers 37–6 Packers 28–17 Bears 82–65–6 Packers win Super Bowl XXXI. 1997 Packers 2–0 Packers 24–23 Packers 38–24 Bears 82–67–6 Packers lose Super Bowl XXXII. 1998 Packers 2–0 Packers 16–13 Packers 26–20 Bears 82–69–6 Packers win 10 straight meetings (1994–98). 1999 Tie 1–1 Packers 35–19 Bears 14–13 Bears 83–70–6
2000s (Packers, 12–8) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 2000 Tie 1–1 Packers 28–6 Bears 27–24 Bears 84–71–6 2001 Packers 2–0 Packers 20–12 Packers 17–7 Bears 84–73–6 Bears post a 13–3 season record, with two of their three losses coming to the Packers. 2002 Packers 2–0 Packers 34–21 Packers 30–20 Bears 84–75–6 Bears' home game played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign because of renovations being made to Soldier Field. 2003 Packers 2–0 Packers 38–23 Packers 34–21 Bears 84–77–6 Packers win 7 straight meetings (2000–03). 2004 Tie 1–1 Packers 31–14 Bears 21–10 Bears 85–78–6 Packers win 11 straight away meetings (1994–2004). 2005 Bears 2–0 Bears 19–7 Bears 24–17 Bears 87–78–6 Bears’ first season sweep since 1991. 2006 Tie 1–1 Packers 26–7 Bears 26–0 Bears 88–79–6 Bears lose Super Bowl XLI. 2007 Bears 2–0 Bears 35–7 Bears 27–20 Bears 90–79–6 In a reversal of the 2001 season, the Packers post a 13–3 record with two of their losses coming to the Bears. Brett Favre's final season in Green Bay. In 32 starts with the Packers, Favre posted a 22–10 record against the Bears. 2008 Tie 1–1 Bears 20–17(OT) Packers 37–3 Bears 91–80–6 Packers QB Aaron Rodgers' first season as a starter. 2009 Packers 2–0 Packers 21–14 Packers 21–15 Bears 91–82–6
2010s (Packers, 17–4) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 2010 Tie 1–1 Bears 20–17 Packers 10–3 Bears 92–83–6 Packers defeat Bears in Green Bay the final game of the season to clinch a playoff spot. Packers win Super Bowl XLV. 2010 Playoffs Packers 1–0 Packers 21–14 Bears 92–84–6 NFC Championship Game 2011 Packers 2–0 Packers 27–17 Packers 35–21 Bears 92–86–6 2012 Packers 2–0 Packers 21–13 Packers 23–10 Bears 92–88–6 2013 Tie 1–1 Packers 33–28 Bears 27–20 Bears 93–89–6 Bears linebacker Shea McClellin knocks Aaron Rodgers out of the game in Green Bay with a broken collarbone, which sidelines him for seven weeks. Rodgers returns for a win-or-go home contest at Soldier Field in week 17 and delivers the Packers a third consecutive NFC North title with a memorable 48-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Randall Cobb with 45 seconds left. 2014 Packers 2–0 Packers 38–17 Packers 55–14 Bears 93–91–6 Aaron Rodgers ties an NFL record with 6 first half touchdown passes in the game in Green Bay. 2015 Tie 1–1 Packers 31–23 Bears 17–13 Bears 94–92–6 Game in Green Bay played on Thanksgiving. While both teams have played several games on Thanksgiving (usually against NFC North rival Detroit), this is the only Thanksgiving matchup between the two teams. 2016 Packers 2–0 Packers 30–27 Packers 26–10 Tie 94–94–6 2017 Packers 2–0 Packers 23–16 Packers 35–14 Packers 96–94–6 Packers take their first series lead since 1932. Packers win 8 straight games in Chicago. 2018 Tie 1–1 Bears 24–17 Packers 24–23 Packers 97–95–6 Packers come back from 20–3 4th quarter deficit to win the game in Green Bay. With that win, the Packers take their largest ever lead in the all-time series up to that point. Bears win game in Chicago to clinch the NFC North and eliminate the Packers from postseason contention. 2019 Packers 2–0 Packers 10–3 Packers 21–13 Packers 99–95–6 Game in Chicago opened the 2019 season. Game in Green Bay marked the 200th game in the rivalry. In a role reversal of 2018, the Packers eliminate the Bears from postseason contention with a 21-13 win in Green Bay.
2020s (Packers, 2–0) Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Overall series Notes 2020 Packers 2–0 Packers 35–16 Packers 41–25 Packers 101–95–6 Game in Green Bay marked the Packers' 100th win in the series. The Packers became the first franchise to record 100 wins over two other franchises, having previously done so against the Detroit Lions. Packers clinch #1 seed in the NFC in their win in Chicago in week 17.
Summary of Results Season Season series at Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Notes Regular season Packers 100–94–6 Bears 52–50–2 Packers 50–42–4 Bears' home record includes 2002 game in Champaign and Packers' home record includes 1974 game in Milwaukee (both of which were Packers wins) Postseason Tie 1–1 Tie 1–1 no games 1941 Western Division playoff and 2010 NFC Championship Game Regular and postseason Packers 101–95–6 Bears 53–51–2 Packers 50–42–4

Connections between the two teams

Name	Pos.	Years with Bears	Years with Packers
Bob Jeter	CB	1971–1973	1963–1970
Steve McMichael	DT	1981–1993	1994
Mike Tomczak	QB	1985–1990	1991
Jim McMahon	QB	1982–1988	1995–1996
Edgar Bennett	RB	1998–1999	1992–1996
Jim Flanigan	DT	1994–2000	2001
John Thierry	DE	1994–98	2000–01
Rob Davis	LS	1996	1997–2007
Cedric Benson	RB	2005–2007	2012
Julius Peppers	DE	2010–2013	2014–2016
Martellus Bennett	TE	2013–2015	2017
Josh Sitton	OG	2016–2017	2008–2015
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix	FS	2019	2014–2018
Adrian Amos	FS	2015–2018	2019–present
Jimmy Graham	TE	2020–present	2018–2019

See also

• Brewers–Cubs rivalry

Other rivalries involving the two teams

• Bears–Lions rivalry
• Bears–Vikings rivalry
• Lions–Packers rivalry
• Packers–Vikings rivalry

Notes

1. Includes pre and post merger
2. All NFL Divisional titles between 1933 and 2007
3. All NFL Championship Games between 1933 and 1969
4. All Super Bowls from I through XLIV (1966–2009)
5. Includes the Unofficial 1932 NFL Championship

References

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Further reading

• Guzzardi, Will (January 21, 2011). "Bears Packers Rivalry: Greatest Chicago-Green Bay Games Of All Time". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2012.