Yes, the rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers has been lopsided in recent seasons, but let anyone tell you that the Packers aren’t as emotionally invested as the Bears in beating their longtime nemesis.
“Yeah, yeah, the thing is real, man,” said Al Harris, who has seen it from both sides. “It’s real.”
Harris, a former two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, played in Green Bay for seven seasons, from 2003 to 2009. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2020.
“Every time we played the Bears, it was a real deal,” said Harris, who joined the Bears this season as pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach. “A real deal.”
Chicago Bears preparing for intense atmosphere in playoff opener — on the field and in the stands
The rivalry doesn’t get much more real than Saturday’s wild-card game between the Bears and Packers at Soldier Field (7 p.m., Prime Video and Fox-32).
The NFC North rivals will meet for the 212th time, including the postseason, the only matchup in NFL history to exceed 200 games.
Yet the Bears and Packers have faced off only twice in the playoffs, with the former losing the most recent meeting 21-14 in the conference finals on Jan. 23, 2011. The Bears’ lone playoff victory against the Packers came so long ago, they hosted it at Wrigley Field. Chicago won 33-14 on Dec. 14, 1941.
The Bears have won two of the last three regular-season meetings — but that’s after 11 straight losses in the series.
Like Harris, Bears defensive back and special teamer Jonathan Owens was a Packer and has seen both sides of the rivalry.
Fans celebrate with Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams as he does a lap around the field after the win over the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
He spent a season in Green Bay in 2023 before signing a two-year contract with the Bears in March 2024.
“You can’t get caught up in it being a rivalry game or the history,” Owens cautioned. “That’s important, that’s something that you should definitely educate yourself on, but each game differs. So we’re not getting caught up in rivalry talks. We’re just getting caught up in (the fact that) this is the next opponent (that is) in the way of our ultimate goal.
“So nameless, faceless opponent.”
Still, it’s hard to escape the magnitude of this playoff berth, especially if you’re a player with local ties, such as tight end Cole Kmet (Lake Barrington) or long snapper Scott Daly (Downers Grove).
“To play my first playoff game representing the navy and orange, it’s truly surreal,” Daly said.
It would certainly seem surreal.
Chicago Bears passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Al Harris, left, works with cornerback Kyler Gordon before the game against the Eagles on Nov. 28, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears, led by a first-year head coach in Ben Johnson, earned a playoff spot for the first time since 2020. They not only won the NFC North for the first time since 2018, but they also landed the No. 2 seed in the conference. And the Bears did it, in part, on the strength of a 22-16 overtime win against the Packers in Week 16.
Saturday will be the first time a team has visited Soldier Field twice within a four-game span.
As a player, Daly has tried to keep it all in perspective and not go over the moon, but good luck convincing his friends and relatives.
“They’re definitely fired up,” he said. “It definitely makes it a little more special having people that you’ve grown up with your whole life, family and friends and to be able to share those memories with. Whether it was a Green Bay game a couple weeks ago, having a ton of family members in the stands for that game was really special.”
Coach Matt LaFleur first learned the full extent of the football feud in his first season with the Packers in 2019.
“Probably that first summer when I went down to Lake Geneva, and I was like, we’re in Wisconsin, and I saw all these Bears fans giving me a hard time.”
The Packers later played the Bears at Soldier Field in the season opener, a 10-3 Green Bay win.
“I think back to that atmosphere, how crazy and the anticipation for the game,” LaFleur said. “It was a great atmosphere.”
Thinking on Saturday at Soldier Field, he said, “I think it’s going to be electric, just like that.”
Here are 5 things to watch — and our predictions.
1. Matt LaFleur versus Ben Johnson, part 3.
Bears coach Ben Johnson celebrates the win with wide receiver DJ Moore after his game-winning catch in overtime to defeat the Packers on Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
While Johnson is a newcomer to the playoffs, LaFleur is already an old hand.
He has made the postseason in six of his first seven seasons. LaFleur has the fourth-highest regular-season winning percentage (.654) among active head coaches (minimum 50 games).
But most pertinent, he’s 12-2 (.857) against Chicago since his hire as Packers head coach in 2019. If Aaron Rodgers once claimed to “own” the Bears, LaFleur’s at least leasing them.
Johnson hopes to change that. He split their regular-season series.
For what it’s worth, in the three seasons when Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator, the Lions went 5-1 against LaFleur.
Last month, Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower reflected on his long work history to justify why he thought Johnson was “special,” enough to be mentioned among the likes of LaFleur and other established head coaches.
“I know what it looks like, fortunately,” Hightower said. “Because I had worked with (Los Angeles Rams coach) Sean McVay. I was an office mate with Sean McVay when we all started together.”
Hightower overlapped with McVay, LaFleur and several other high-profile coaches on Mike Shanahan’s Washington staff between 2011-13.
“It was Matt LaFleur, myself, Mike McDaniel … all in one office,” Hightower said. “Kyle Shanahan was on that staff. I’ve worked with a lot of different guys and have been lucky to be around and a lot have become head coaches. And either you have it. Or you don’t have it. And Ben has it.”
2. Player in the spotlight: Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) winds up to throw downfield in the third quarter against the Bears at Lambeau Field on Dec. 7, 2025, in Green Bay. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Jordan Love is 4-2 all-time against the Bears, though he didn’t finish either of the starts that he lost. Love was injured, and backup Malik Willis finished both of those games.
The latter came Dec. 20 at Soldier, when Love was concussed in the second quarter during a sack attempt by Bears defensive end Austin Booker.
Booker was flagged for roughing the passer, his second in the game, and he was later fined by the NFL.
In six games against the Bears, Love has thrown nine touchdowns and two interceptions. His quarterback rating against Chicago is 116.6, higher than any other division opponent.
Green Bay Packers’ QB Jordan Love believes he’s learned from previous playoff disappointments
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is wary of Love’s third-down proficiency.
On third down, Love leads the league with 9.2 yards per attempt and has seven passing touchdowns. He’s seventh with a quarterback rating (99.0)
“I think the quarterback does a really good job getting the ball out and getting it to the right people,” Allen said. “He sees the field really well and understands the coverage and knows where to go with the ball and he throws the ball with timing and accuracy.”
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker said the defense has to “show him different looks, show him different disguises and things like that.”
3. Pressing question: Can the Bears stop the Packers on third down?
Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds fails to bring down Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. on his own during the fourth quarter on Nov. 9, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Green Bay’s offense ranks second in third-down percentage at 48.78%.
The Packers average a league-high 7.9 passing yards per play on third down and rank second in expected-points-added per pass on third down (plus-0.22).
“They’ve got a great offense,” Brisker said. “They do a lot of motions, they do a lot of shifts and things like that.”
He said the Bears defense, which ranks 22nd on third down (40.84%), has to stay disciplined and stay on top of Green Bay’s speed.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds added, “A lot of it comes down to fundamentals and understanding our assignments.
“A lot of times you do get caught up into what the offense wants to do. Obviously, you want to have awareness of what they do, but you want to make sure you execute our assignments, our leverage, knowing where our help is.
“Once we understand that, you look at how the offense wants to attack, you look at formations, you look at if concepts are repeating themselves, and trust what you’ve seen throughout the week on tape and going out there and execute.”
Allen said he’s looking for more consistency in getting off the field on third down.
“That’s probably been the biggest issue that we’ve had,” he said.
The San Francisco 49ers were 70% efficient on third down and the Lions were 46%.
“Part of it is we’ve played some really good teams the last couple weeks, some really good offenses,” Allen said. “And yet last week, we played a team and we held them to 19 points.
“Ultimately, that’s what the goal is, is to limit the points and give yourself a chance to win.”
4. The Bears offense has struggled lately with slow starts.
Bears running back D’Andre Swift runs the ball in the first quarter of a game against the Lions at Soldier Field on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Think back to the first two games of the season — the offense scored touchdowns on opening drives.
In the last five games, the Bears have usually stumbled in the first few series and have been outclassed in first-quarter time of possession:
Week 18 vs. Lions: punt, punt, turnover on downs (possession: 10:04 to 4:56)
Week 17 at 49ers: punt, punt, touchdown (10:37 to 4:23)
Week 16 vs. Packers: downs, punt, punt (9:04 to 5:56)
Week 15 vs. Browns: punt, touchdown, touchdown (5:40 to 9:20)
Week 14 at Packers: punt, punt, punt (10:27 to 4:33)
Offensive lineman Jonah Jackson said, “It’s not like guys plan on starting slow, you know? It’s just a matter of things clicking. Sometimes you get curve balls that maybe slows up the train a little bit. The defense throws something at you that you didn’t necessarily know or plan for.”
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said he “can’t point at one specific thing that’s causing that and yet it’s a huge point of emphasis for our guys, really going into this game knowing what kind of game this is.
“In these playoff games … if you start slow, a lot of times you give the ball back to them, you can put your defense in a really challenging position.”
Coaches and players said a big emphasis has been placed on fast starts this week.
“We’ve got to get going, and we can’t wait till the second half or anything like that,” said running back Kyle Monangai. “We’ve got to, from the gate, just come out flying, come out swinging. And I know we can. We’re capable of doing it.”
D’Andre Swift said an effective running game “can help a lot, especially staying efficient on early downs. And whenever the run is called, making sure we stand ahead of the sticks.”
5. Injury update: Rome Odunze plans to play.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze catches a pass during warm-ups before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears will be monitoring the health of several key players Thursday.
On Wednesday, wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) stated his plans to play Saturday, though his usage likely will be restricted.
On the defensive side, the secondary would really welcome the return of Kyler Gordon (groin) at nickel cornerback, an area of vulnerability in recent games.
Allen said Wednesday, “I think our plan is to have him be a part of it. Today will really be the first day we go out there and go practice, get a chance to see him move around. But I’m excited about getting him back in the fold and seeing what he can do.”
But Gordon and offensive lineman Braxton Jones are designated to return from injured reserve but haven’t yet been activated.
Meanwhile, DJ Moore has been limited this week with a knee injury and left tackle Ozzy Trapilo has been limited with a quad injury.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (12-5)
This looks about as even as it gets. The Packers scored 44 points in the two meetings. The Bears scored 43. Each team won a game. With conviction, I could list at least three strong reasons why each team will win Saturday night. As close as the two games ended, it’s probably fair to say the Packers held the upper hand for six of the eight quarters played. But they’re trying to piece it together with so many injuries, a list that only begins with edge rusher Micah Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft. I like the Bears’ chances if they can lean into the running game. But all bets are off if they can’t play tough in the red zone like they did last time.
Bears 27, Packers 23
Sean Hammond (13-4)
This game feels like a true coin toss. If Jordan Love takes care of the football, the Packers will win. Love has thrown only six interceptions this season and lost just two fumbles in his 15 starts. The Bears defense is allowing an average of 437.7 yards per game over their last three outings. Matt LaFleur will find ways to exploit the defense and keep the ball out of Caleb Williams’ hands for long stretches. It still could come down to the final possession.
Packers 24, Bears 21
Phil Thompson (10-6)
It’s a troubling trend that the Bears haven’t been able to contain explosive pass plays in recent weeks. It’s one thing to get gashed by Amon-Ra St. Brown, but another when Jake Tonges looks like the second coming of George Kittle. It’s not like Christian Watson can’t do the same. But the Packers have limped into the playoffs, and they have plenty of warts on defense, too.
Bears 23, Packers 21
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/chicago-bears-green-bay-packers-playoff-predictions/
