Enjoying the distinction of being the longest running rivalry in the NFL, dating all the way back to 1921, the Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers rivalry has to be in the discussion of any top football rivalry. This football rivalry has seen enough great moments for it to be considered one of the greatest in the league, and there is never a shortage of excitement surrounding games between the two.

The first Bears Packers game took place on November 27, 1921, when Chicago won 20 – 0. Since then they have gone on to play more games against each other than any other franchises. They also took part in the first ever NFL divisional playoff game in 1941. The biggest win in this rivalry was a 61-7 Bears win, which came on December 7, 1980. Both teams have also been on the winning end of a 2-0 game against each other. They have only me one time in the post-season on during the Western Division Playoff on December 14, 1941. So strong is the Chicago Green Bay rivalry that it inspired its own book Mudbaths and Bloodbaths: The Inside Story of the Bears-Packers Rivalry.

There has been some great moments on both sides. Packers fans will be happy to let you know that Brett Farve at one time won 11 consecutive times in Chicago. On the others hand fans of Da Bears can retort that the Bears have shut out the Packers 13 times. These are proud franchises and the NFC North is usually won by one of these two teams.

Some of the names that immediately come to mind when you mention the Packers and Bears include “Papa Bear” Halas, Vince Lombardi, Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka, Buddy Ryan, Paul Hornung, Walter Payton and Brett Favre. With names like these you know that there have been some great moments at Lambeau Field in Green Bay as well as Soldier Field in Chicago.

There are also 48 players in the NFL hall of Fame that played on either the Bears or the Packers. Between them they have won 21 NFL Championships as well as 4 Super Bowls. Some think that the Bears Packers Rivalry can even be traced to be the foundation of the NFL. And in recent years the Bears Packers rivalry continues to be one that seems like it will never end. Entering the 2009 NFL season, Packers wide receiver Donald Driver called out the Bears’ receiver core, saying they didn’t have one. There is also a budding rivalry between Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers, two friends that will face off at least twice a year for the foreseeable future. The Rodgers Cutler rivalry is going to remain a big one in the coming years so make sure that you see it in person.

Some highlights of the Bears Packers rivalry:

• December 14, 1941 – Bears 33, Packers 14. This was the first and only time that the Bears Packers battle has played out during the post-season. With their win the Bears became the Western Division champs, then went on to win the NFL Championship over the Giants.
• September 16 1964 – Packers 23, Bears 12. This game is unfamous in Bears/Packers lore because it saw the Packers and Vince Lombardi employ a little known and rarely utilized NFL rule. Under the rule, once a team has made a fair catch. They can attempt a “free kick” from the spot the fair catch was made. This rule is best exploited when there is very little time left on the clock, and that was when Lombardi decided to use it. Paul Hornung made the kick and the Packers went on to win. The Bears returned the favor four years later on Nov 3, 1968 in what ended up being the deciding factor in the game. Ever since, the Bears Packers free kick game have been part of the oldest rivalry in the NFL.
• September 7, 1980 – Packers 12, Bears 6. The Chester Marcol touchdown is one of the most memorable plays in all of NFL history, and any fans of the Bears or Packers fans will recall this one, obviously with different outlooks on the game. With the score tied 6-6 and the game in overtime, Marcol was called in to attempt a field goal. The Bears’ Alan Page managed to break through a block the field goal, with the football hitting his helmet. While it wasn’t immediately clear to the players what had happened, Marcol grabbed rebound off Page’s helmet and ran around the pile for a touchdown and the win.
• November 23, 1986 – Bears 12, Packers 10. In this Bears’ Packers game Green Bay’s defensive tackle Charles Martin picked up Bear Jim McMahon and threw him on the ground. The hit was so powerful it separated McMahon’s shoulder and ended his season. Martin was suspended for two games in what was then the longest ever suspension by the NFL.
• November 12, 1995 – Packers 35, Bears 28. The Bears entered this game ahead of the Packers in the standings. A Packers win would not only tie the standings but would also give them a season sweep and the tie breaker if the teams entered the post-season tied. QB Brett Farve’s status for the game was unknown coming in due to a sprained ankle. He had not practiced all week, but started the game and went on to have a great game. He completed 25 of 33 passes attempted and 336 yards with five touchdowns. The game went down to the wire when LeRoy Butler was able to pick of Erik Kramer with 4th and 2 with less than two minutes left to play.
• October 12, 1997 – Packers 24, Bears 23. Even though the Bears were able to go ahead in the game 10-0, by the time half time came the score was 14-10 Packers. The game was back and forth all game. With the score 24-23 Packers after a Bears touchdown, the Bears decided to go for the win and attempted a 2-point conversion. Unfortunately for Bears fans the gamble failed and game the win to Green Bay.
• September 10, 2006 – Bears 26, Packers 0. This game, the first of the 2006 season, saw Brett Farve get shutout for the first time ever.
• December 22, 2008 – Bears 20, Packers 17. The game-time temperature for this game remains the coldest ever recorded for a Bears football game. This was a game the Bears had to win or else miss out on the playoffs. Entering half time Chicago was down 14-3. The Packers marched down the filed and needed a kick for the win. Bear Alex Brown was able to block the field goal which kept the score tied and the game went to overtime. Bears won first possession and went on to kick for a field goal and seal the win.