Green Bay Packers: Bears Week
By Tom Mrozla
The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers began on a mild November Sunday at Chicago’s Wrigley Field (then called Cubs Park) in 1921. The Packers were pounded 20-0. Bears’ (then known as the Decatur Staleys) guard John Taylor threw a sucker punch that broke the nose of Packers tackle Howard Buck. It was, in a sense, a fitting start to the relationship between the two teams.
Under Curly Lambeau, there was no smiling during Bears week.
Sunday will mark the 189th game of the oldest rivalry in professional football.
Sunday will mark the 189th game of the oldest rivalry in professional football. When most people think about the term ‘old’ it is often done so with negative connotations. The term ‘worn out’ is often substituted for the word ‘old’.
Nobody likes old and worn out things. On the other hand, ‘old’ can mean classic, and that’s exactly what we have here, folks. It’s like going through an old vinyl or card collection. There’s a larger story behind each one card or record. The history between these two teams is far from worn out.
Dec 29, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb catches the game-winning touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers win 33-28. Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports photograph
There’s also a larger story behind each game the Packers and Bears will play. One that most of us will never fully grasp or come to fully understand. That’s one of the beautiful things about this game. It’s ages old, but hasn’t lost its lore.
Fans of both teams that have come before us can tell us the stories of this historical match-up, but we will never experience it the way they did.
We can only imagine.
For example, some of us will never know what it’s like to see the Packers under Vince Lombardi during Bears week. As the old story goes, “about five minutes before one game with Green Bay, George Halas knocked on the door of the Packers’ training room. Green Bay’s equipment manager answered the door, and Halas said he needed to speak to coach Lombardi. Lombardi came to the door, and Halas told him, “Coach, I hope you have your team ready because we’re going to kick your ass.”
The influence of Halas, Lambeau, and Lombardi has lasted well beyond their days as coaches. The animosity between the two teams has lasted well beyond their years.
Think about week 17 last season between the Packers and the Bears. The winner would eventually clinch a spot in the playoffs and both teams were worthy. I think most of us will remember where we were when Aaron Rodgers dropped back to pass while Julius Peppers came ripping through the line.
I thought, “this is how it ends, Rodgers gets sacked on fourth down.”
Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packer linebacker Julius Peppers. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
But no, John Kuhn comes out of nowhere to throw a block on Peppers and Aaron Rodgers get sout of danger and I hear some of the most beautiful words I will ever hear-“HE’S GOT RANDALL COBB!”
The rest was history.
Maybe it’s not history for everyone but for us Packers fans it was like Christmas all over again. It was history we will be able to share with our friends, our kids, and if we are all fortunate enough even our kids’ kids. By that time we should have many more classics between these two teams to share.
Ya just never know. One could be this Sunday.
If you have any story about these two teams, please share in the comments section below.