The Chicago Bears know the challenge in front of them. They can’t afford a single misstep over the final three weeks of 2019. Losing just once will basically kill what little hope remains for them making the playoffs. Every single game left is do-or-die. So one can imagine people are nervous about one of those games having to go through Green Bay against the Packers. A team that is once again on top of the NFC North.
People don’t need a refresher at this point regarding the Bears and their bitter rivals. Beating the Packers is the single-biggest challenge this franchise has faced for the past 25 years. In fact, they are just 4-19 since the start of the 2009 season. It seems like every time the two teams meet, the Bears are clearly overmatched. Largely because the Packers have always enjoyed superiority at the quarterback position.
In fact, during that span the Bears have failed to win a do-or-die game against them even once. Everybody remembers the NFC championship game in 2010, the Christmas massacre in 2011, and the still-painful last-second loss in 2013 on Aaron Rodgers’ iconic Hail Mary to Randall Cobb. It has been over a decade since this team beat the Packers in a meaningful game with their season on the line.
Chicago Bears had a lot of luck last time
To recall the last time the Bears pulled through in such a situation, you’d have to go all the way back to 2008. A frigid night at Soldier Field. The team was 8-6 with their playoff hopes dangling by a thread. A loss meant they were eliminated. A win would set them up for a chance to clinch a wild card spot in the season finale. In typical Bears fashion, things didn’t start well. Green Bay jumped out to an early 14-3 lead and seemed poised to break it open.
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Undaunted though, Chicago came out firing in the second half and pulled even 17-17 in the 4th quarter. However, with under a minute left the Packers drove into field goal range with a chance to win. That’s when Alex Brown, the forever underrated defensive end became a cult hero when he blocked the attempt, pushing the game into overtime. The Bears won the coin toss, drove down the field and put it away with a 38-yard Robbie Gould field goal.
It was a wild win and ultimately a fruitless one. The Bears squandered the opportunity a week later by falling to the Texans in Houston. This should serve as a reminder to everybody. As important as winning this game against the Packers is, it won’t be the end of the season. Maybe this time the team can finish what they start.
One thing is for sure. None of it will come easy.
