Image Source: AP
Key Takeaways:
- The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will face off in a wild-card game at Soldier Field on Saturday night, marking the third time the franchises have met in the postseason.
- The Bears have lost three straight playoff games since 2010, while the Packers have dominated the rivalry in recent decades.
- The Packers have lost four straight games, including a season-ending injury to star pass rusher Micah Parsons, and will look to turn their season around in the playoffs.
- The Bears have a personal connection to the Packers, with tight end Cole Kmet’s sister dating Green Bay defensive tackle Lukas Van Ness.
- The game will be a highly anticipated matchup, with the Bears looking to break their playoff drought and the Packers seeking to prove themselves as a playoff contender.
Introduction to the Rivalry
The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have a long and storied history, with the two teams having played each other more than any other teams in the NFL. However, playoff games between the two teams are a rarity, with only two previous meetings in the postseason. As Packers safety Xavier McKinney noted, "It’s a crazy rivalry, like, and the fact that we’re playing them in the playoffs too, it just magnifies it another notch, almost." The significance of the game was not lost on the participants, with McKinney adding, "And it makes it that much more important."
The Bears’ Playoff Drought
The Bears have struggled in the playoffs in recent years, losing three straight games since 2010. Their last playoff win was against the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round at Soldier Field. The team has not hosted a playoff game since the 2018 season, when they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round. As Bears tight end Cole Kmet noted, "It means a lot, to be able to be at home against Green Bay, it’s going to be a special atmosphere, and it almost feels like we’ve played these guys like five or six times here in the past month." Kmet also has a personal connection to the Packers, with his sister dating Green Bay defensive tackle Lukas Van Ness.
The Packers’ Struggles
The Packers have dominated the rivalry in recent decades, but have struggled in recent weeks. The team has lost four straight games, including a season-ending injury to star pass rusher Micah Parsons. As Packers quarterback Jordan Love noted, the team is looking to turn their season around in the playoffs. The Packers will also be looking to overcome their recent struggles on defense, which have included blown second-half leads and a lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Recent Matchups
The Bears and Packers have had some close matchups in recent years, with both teams winning one game each in the 2023 season. The Packers won at Lambeau Field in Week 14, while the Bears prevailed in overtime two weeks later. As Keisean Nixon noted, "I didn’t want nobody else, I wanted the Bears." Nixon had a key interception in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining in the Week 14 game, and is looking forward to facing the Bears again.
Playoff History
The last time the Bears and Packers met in the playoffs was in 2011, when the Packers won 21-14 at Lambeau Field. The Packers went on to win the Super Bowl that season, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the championship game. The Bears have not won a playoff game against the Packers since 1941, when they won 33-14 at Wrigley Field. As the teams prepare to face off again, the stakes are high, with the winner advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
Conclusion
The matchup between the Bears and Packers promises to be a highly anticipated and intense game, with both teams looking to prove themselves as playoff contenders. The Bears are seeking to break their playoff drought, while the Packers are looking to overcome their recent struggles and make a deep run in the playoffs. As the teams take the field at Soldier Field on Saturday night, the energy will be electric, with the winner advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/packers-bears-preview-20260110003/