Do people even remember the last time the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field? If you don’t, here’s a quick recap. It was a Monday Night Football game on September 27th, 2010. It was a clear night and both teams were undefeated at 2-0. Per the usual script Green Bay jumped ahead early, going up 10-0.
However, a Greg Olsen touchdown at the end of the first half cut it to 10-7. Then a Devin Hester punt return TD put the Bears on top 14-10. The Packers regained the lead shortly after before two Bears field goals helped them escape with a win in the final seconds. It was a game marked by several unusual circumstances, including Green Bay getting flagged for 18 penalties. It would be the only victory Jay Cutler would have at home over them.
One could argue that victory set the tone for the Bears’ season. After a brief hiccup following that win, losing three of the next four, they ended up finishing 11-5 and making it to the NFC championship. That counts as their last playoff trip. Is it any coincidence they haven’t got back in the seven seasons since, all of which they’ve lost to the Packers in Chicago?
Chicago Bears history says beating Green Bay at home leads to good things
People always like stats to illustrate a point, so here’s one for you. Since 1976, whenever the Bears have defeated the Packers at Soldier Field they have never finished with fewer than seven wins in a season.
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- 1976: 7-7
- 1977: 9-5
- 1978: 7-9
- 1979: 10-6
- 1980: 7-9
- 1983: 8-8
- 1985: 15-1
- 1986: 14-2
- 1987: 11-4
- 1988: 12-4
- 1990: 11-5
- 1991: 11-5
- 1993: 7-9
- 2005: 11-5
- 2007: 7-9
- 2008: 9-7
- 2010: 11-5
If that weren’t enough it goes a bit further. Every single season where the Bears have won a championship, they defeated the Packers at home during that season from 1932 all the way to 1985. Makes you think how things might’ve been different for them in 2006 had they not lost to Green Bay in the season finale.
Superstitions aside, this paints a pretty clear picture for what’s ahead on Sunday. A lot of people don’t realize how important this game actually is. Losing to a Packers team without Aaron Rodgers would be humiliating in itself, and could have a cascade effect on the rest of the season.
It would drop the Bears to 3-6 overall and an even worse 0-3 in the division. That would all but erase their chances of coming back to steal the NFC North. Worse still it would drop their record to 1-4 against NFC teams. That undoubtedly would crush their hopes for a wild card as well. It also means they’d have to go 4-3 over the remaining seven games to just reach 7-9.
Would that and another season sweep at the hands of Green Bay be enough to validate keeping John Fox? That’s a question he must ponder carefully. On the other hand, the first win over the Packers at Soldier Field in seven years could do a lot for his prestige.
