Certainly the Packers and Bears rivalry is one of the oldest and most storied regular season rivalries in NFL history. However, these teams have met just once in the playoffs (1941). Does this lessen the importance of the rivalry? How does it compare to rivalries like the Steelers/Ravens who seem to always manage to collide three times each season (twice in the regular season and once in the playoffs)? Or the Colts/Patriots who seem to always be playing for the inside track for the AFC's number 1 seed in the regular season and a trip to the Super bowl in the playoffs? Even the Jets/Patriots rivalry has intensified lately and those two teams will be facing off for a third time this weekend.
After the Vikings called Brett Favre out of retirement a season ago and Packer fans watched their former idol lead Minnesota to the NFC Championship game last season, the Vikings seem to be Green Bay's number one nemesis and the Bears seem to be little more than an afterthought in the minds of many Packer fans. In the age of 3 second Sportscenter highlight clips and 4 second audio sound bytes, have our attention spans shortened to the point where we, as fans, just don't remember how bitter the Packers/Bears rivalry has always been? Or does it take more than just regular season match-ups to create a rivalry in 2011?
Well said! If the Packers and Bears meet in the NFC Championship then the rivalry heats up again Paul. First both teams need to make it to that game. It does look like the Bears have set themselves up to be the Packers #1 rival again for the next season of NFL football, whenever that happens.
ReplyDeleteWith all the uncertainty facing the future of the NFL it is do or die time for Green Bay (for this season and maybe forever) so all Packer fans like me are thinking about is beating the Atlanta Falcons. It is nice to know that the loss in Week 12 gave the Falcons the home field for the playoff tilt but nothing more. The winner of this game moves on so the Week 12 loss no longer matters.
Paul I think Favre himself is a pretty big reason why the rivalry isn't there. He pretty much owned the Bears over the years. The Bears actually match up pretty well to the Packers this year and have beaten them once and played them tough their 2nd time. Even though the Bears lost that last game, you gotta believe it gave them confidence that if they play them in their house they'll win again(as long as Cutler doesn't force things)
ReplyDeletePackers and Bears is probably the best rivalry in the NFL. Sure you got the NE/Indy, Balt/Pitts rivalries but those rivalries didnt start until the early 2000's! The bears and Packers have been going at it for over 100 years!
ReplyDeleteToo much Packer/Bear talk going on all over. this is bad Karma for both teams. Fans need to stop looking ahead. The Atlanta game should be the focus because the winner will have cleared the biggest hurdle.
ReplyDeleteTrescher, I thought you didn't believe in things like karma and superstitions. Remember you said anything you do does not affect the Packers!
ReplyDeleteVery true, everything is fine then, Packers will win! Thanks for reminding me.
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