NFC News & Notes

This Monday night at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will meet for the 180th time, the most games ever between two NFL franchises.

“There have been great rivalries in American sports,” says Packers Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end WILLIE DAVIS, “but none has had the fire in the belly that the Packers and Bears has had. None has had as much emotion associated with it.”

The most games played in a series in NFL history (including playoffs):

Both teams enter the Monday-night showdown tied atop the NFC North with 2-0 records. The Bears are coming off an exciting 27-20 victory at Dallas while the Packers defeated Buffalo 34-7 last week at Lambeau Field.

“Division games are our most important games,” says Green Bay head coach MIKE MC CARTHY. “This is a huge rivalry game and it’s on Monday Night Football.”

“It’s the most-played rivalry in the NFL,” adds Chicago head coach LOVIE SMITH. “It’s a good rivalry. Normally, these are good football games and we’re glad to be a part of the history.”

Success has been the norm for both franchises. The teams rank first and second all-time in total victories (including postseason) and NFL championships:

“I’ve been here long enough to understand what this game means to everybody,” says Bears tight end DESMOND CLARK, now in his eighth season with Chicago. “It means a lot to the fans and the organizations. We’re two of the first franchises of the NFL, so it’s big. To see the same guys every year, you develop that type of attitude that you want to beat them. I don’t think there is a bigger rivalry in the NFL.”

Through the decades, the balance of power has shifted back and forth. Chicago leads the all-time series 91-82-6, including a victory in the only postseason meeting between the clubs, the Western Division playoff in 1941.

“We know it’s a division game,” says Green Bay wide receiver DONALD DRIVER. “Those guys don’t like us and we don’t like them. The fans don’t like each other and it goes back and forth between Bears fans and Packers fans.”

Chicago linebacker LANCE BRIGGS agrees with Driver on the impact of the rivalry. “These games mean a lot to the cities,” says Briggs. “If you win, your city is happy. If you lose, your city is disappointed. I know it means a lot to our fans, so we try to not let them down.”