Bears vs. Packers: Historic rivalry takes center stage in Wild Card clash

The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers is unmatched in the NFL, and on Saturday night at Soldier Field, it adds another rare postseason chapter.

The Bears and Packers first met on November 27, 1921, making this the NFL’s oldest and most-played rivalry. The teams have faced each other every season since 1921, except 1922 and 1982, which has led to bad blood and borderline hatred between the two fan bases.

Chicago and Green Bay are separated by roughly 200 miles, their fan bases overlapping across the Midwest for generations, with families, workplaces, and communities often divided down the middle. Because the teams have so rarely gone long stretches without meaningfully impacting one another’s seasons, nearly every matchup carries emotional weight beyond the standings, reinforcing a rivalry driven as much by identity and pride as by wins and losses.

All-Time Series Record: Packers Hold Narrow Edge

Through the end of the 2025 NFL season, Green Bay holds a slim advantage in the all-time series:

• Packers: 108 wins
• Bears: 96 wins
• Ties: 6

This record reflects decades of shifting dominance: early control by Chicago followed by extended stretches of Packers success.

MORE: Bears Hall of Famer drops epic hype speech ahead of playoff clash vs. Packers

Rare Playoff Meetings Add Stakes

Despite over 200 meetings, the Bears and Packers have only faced each other twice in the postseason prior to Saturday night. Chicago won the 1941 NFL Western Division playoff (33–14), while Green Bay claimed the more modern meeting, a 21–14 victory in the 2010 NFC Championship Game, en route to winning Super Bowl XLV.

Saturday’s Wild Card game marks just the third playoff matchup in the rivalry’s 104-year history. So, yeah, this game just means more.

Notable Blowouts and Modern Trends

The Bears-Packers rivalry has been volatile. Chicago’s largest win came in 1980 (61–7), while Green Bay delivered its most lopsided victory in 1962 (49–0).

More recently, however, Green Bay has largely controlled the matchup. From 2015 through 2025, the Packers posted a 17–3 record against the Bears, defining the modern era of the rivalry.

MORE: Several Chicago Bears players earn 2025 All-Pro honors

2025 Season Set the Stage

The teams split their two regular-season meetings in 2025, including a dramatic Bears overtime win in Week 16 at Soldier Field, reigniting belief among Chicago fans heading into the playoffs.

At Soldier Field on Saturday night, the NFL’s oldest rivalry delivers its rarest prize: a win-or-go-home game between historic enemies.

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