The Green Bay Packers have found success in their second season under Quarterback Jordan Love, advancing to 7-3 in their Week 11 win against the Chicago Bears. In the Matt LaFleur era, the Packers have not lost to their historic rival. The week 11 matchup came down to the very last play, however, the Bears failed to execute in the brightest moment.
Green Bay Packers Block Game-Winning Field Goal
A blocked field goal by the Green Bay Packers sealed a thrilling 20-19 victory against the Chicago Bears, adding yet another chapter to their recent dominance in the rivalry. With just seconds remaining, Chicago’s Cairo Santos lined up for a 46-yard attempt that could have ended the Bears’ decade-long drought against Green Bay. However, a fingertip deflection by the Packers was enough to keep the ball from reaching the uprights and handed the Bears a heartbreaking defeat.
There were questions regarding the decision-making by the Bears in the lead-up to the attempt, with many feeling they squandered an opportunity to run more plays and get closer for Santos. Head Coach Matt Eberflus defended his strategy but did seek clarity on the Packers’ conduct during the kick, specifically alleging that Green Bay lined up illegally over Chicago’s long snapper. The Bears’ frustrations continued to build without a flag being thrown as they watched their hopes of victory slip away in the game’s waning moments.
That blocked kick finally topped off the painful outing for Chicago, who had been resilient and showed a lot of promise with their new rookie Quarterback Caleb Williams. His great performance was unrewarded; one lone, game-changing play cast him in an unfavorable light. For the Packers, it was one more testimony to finding stops when needed and how to expand the winning streak against a determined but luckless Bears squad.
The Packers Dominance Over the Chicago Bears
The Packers’ general dominance over their “Windy City” counterparts has been the storyline that defines the NFL’s oldest rivalry since the dawn of the Brett Favre era in 1992. Under Favre, the Packers went 22-10 against Chicago, laying a winning foundation that continues to gain steam today. This consistency provided the perfect lead-in to the era of Aaron Rodgers, whose Packers took their dominance to new levels with a 25-5 record against their oldest rivals. There have been numerous moments of clutch greatness and defining victories throughout these years of great success.
Rodgers’ most unforgettable games against the Bears include a fantastic NFC Championship Game win in 2010 and wrapping up the 2013 division title with a last-minute play. The dominance was encapsulated by the signature 2021 moment of Rodgers telling the Bears fans that he owned the rivalry, a mental and physical hold that the Packers have on their adversaries. Stability at quarterback, led for many years by Favre and Rodgers, has been a key factor in Green Bay’s unrelenting success in this matchup.
Under Head Coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers have kept that going, moving to 11-0 against Chicago. Even backup quarterbacks like Brett Hundley have kept Green Bay’s edge intact in rare chances. As Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy looked back, the tide change from the Bears’ dominance of the 1980s forward was amazing because it told the story of how years of sustained excellence flipped a historical rivalry into one-sidedness.
Final Thoughts
The Bears-Packers rivalry might be teetering on the cusp of a new era defined by an upsurge of new quarterbacks. The Bears, by adding Caleb Williams into the mix in Chicago, have pinned their hopes on a burgeoning star capable of taking a moribund franchise out of its long-cheating ways at the hands of Green Bay. Williams has shown flashes of his immense talent, giving Chicago fans reason to hope that a brighter chapter may await in this storied rivalry.
Meanwhile, Jordan Love’s strong start against the Bears suggests he’s prepared to continue the Packers’ tradition of quarterback-driven success. Both signal-callers have a chance to see the rivalry regain some of that competitive fire, as they mature and develop to give a new generation of memorable battles. The hope for Chicago fans is that Williams can spearhead a resurgence, and that’s perfectly offset by Packers supporters who trust Love to keep this recent run of supremacy going for the league’s most long-running feud.
