Thinking back on the John Fox era for the Chicago Bears, there weren’t many good times. Not surprising when a team goes 6-10, 3-13 and 5-11 in three years. There were plenty of low points for Fox during that run and his highest point probably came during his first season. Certainly not ideal. Still, what a high point it was.
Any self-respecting fan remembers that night. It was Thanksgiving, 2015. The Bears headed up to Lambeau Field to do battle with the Green Bay Packers. It was cold and rainy. A fitting atmosphere to celebrate the career of Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. The Packers aimed to retire his number and fittingly celebrate with a win over the team he’d tortured for so many years.
The Bears knew nobody gave them a chance and knew Green Bay was trying to rub it in their face. It seems they didn’t take that too well. It what was the best performance of that season and the entire Fox era, Chicago stunned Lambeau with a 17-13 victory. Favre Night was spoiled. It was a good memory.
Now the Packers have suddenly offered the chance for the Bears to experience it all over again.
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Green Bay wants to celebrate 100th anniversary at Chicago Bears expense
People aren’t joking when they say the Bears and Packers are the two oldest franchises in the league. That hammers home with the fact that Green Bay will play its 100th season of football in 2018. Something like this deserves notoriety, right? A celebration of sorts. So the organization put in a request to the league to play the game at home. To the surprise of nobody, it was granted.
All that was left was to find an opponent. Anybody with common sense knew who the choice would be.
”A source said that request was expected to be granted, and that the Packers were being strongly considered for the Sunday night prime-time game in Week 1.
“We’re hopeful,” Murphy said. “I think a home game to start the [100th] season is pretty significant.”
The NFL regular-season schedule is expected to be released next week. In addition to their three NFC North opponents, the Packers will host the Cardinals, 49ers, Bills, Dolphins and Falcons.
The Packers unveiled some of their plans on Monday to commemorate the historic season. It will actually be a celebration over two years, leading up to the franchise’s 100th birthday on Aug. 11, 2019.
“Our motto is you only turn 100 once,” Murphy said.”
It’s weird how things tend to repeat themselves. Primetime at Lambeau Field. A major accomplishment to celebrate. The oldest rivalry in football. Oh and nobody giving the Bears a chance. Current Vegas odds have them as nine-point underdogs ahead of the opener. Aaron Rodgers will be back. The Bears have a new, unproven head coach in Matt Nagy and a young quarterback in Mitch Trubisky who has never played in Green Bay.
Should be a cakewalk right? Well, that’s what they said three years ago too.
