Windy City Gridiron
There is nothing quite like Packers week.
Or maybe there’s nothing like Packers week when the Bears are good.
It’s been quite a while since the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers met in December and both teams had a winning record and playoff spots on the line. I believe it was 2001.
It’s a big game this week, and for once it has relevance outside of just Illinois and Wisconsin.
And whoever loses can quickly have revenge on their mind, as the teams play again in two weeks.
Green Bay Packers
SB Nation site: Acme Packing Company
Record: 8-3-1
Last week: 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions
Game day, time, TV: Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CT, FOX
Spread: Packers -6.5
Bears all-time record against: 96-108-6, including postseason
Historical meetings: With this week’s matchup coming in week 14 on Dec. 7, let’s look at the most lopsided game in the rivalry’s history. Which also came on Dec. 7 in week 14. Back in 1980.
The 5-8 Bears hosted the 5-7-1 Packers at Solider Field.
Following a deadlocked first quarter that saw no points for either team, the Bears exploded.
Walter Payton scored on 1- and 3-yard runs, followed by Roland Harper scoring on a 1-yard run.
The Packers finally responded down 21-0 with Lynn Dickey finding James Lofton for a 15-yard score.
The Bears answered with Vince Evans finding Brian Baschnagel for a 4-yard touchdown. The Bears took a 28-7 halftime lead.
Chicago’s onslaught never stopped after the half, either. Evans hit Robin Earl for a 9-yard score. Then, Gary Fencik intercepted Dickey, leading to a Rickey Watts 53-yard score from Evans.
Walter Payton scored 14-yard run at the start of the fourth quarter.
David Whitehurst, playing for the now-benched Dickey, threw a pick six to Len Walterscheid.
Finally, Willie McClendon capped the Bears’ scoring with a 1-yard score.
The Bears won a 61-7 laugher.
Last meeting: In week 18 last year, the Bears went into Lambeau on a 10-game losing streak.
They struck first with a Josh Blackwell 94-yard punt return touchdown.
Following a Green Bay field goal, the Bears punted and on the first play of the drive, Jayden Reed fumbled with Jonathan Owens recovering the ball for Chicago.
Three plays later, D’Andre Swift scored on a four-yard touchdown.
The Packers responded with a long drive of their own, capped by Josh Jacobs scoring on a 9-yard run.
After that, many backups started entering the game.
In the third, there was no scoring, despite Kevin Byard’s awesome sack fumble of Malik Willis.
But in the fourth, following a Packer turnover on downs, Caelb Williams found DJ Moore for a 32-yard touchdown.
Later, Emmanuel Wilson scored on a 21-yard run. Then the Packers tacked on a field goal following a fumble by Moore.
The Bears trailed 22-21 with under a minute to play. But Caleb led the Bears downfield, assisted by a Packers horse collar tackle.
Caleb got the Bears to the Packers’ 33-yard-line and spiked the ball with 3...
