Cory's Corner: Packers-Bears Is No Longer A Rivalry
Come on Chicago, hold up your end of the bargain.
We didn't learn many things from the Packers' 41-25 demolition of the Bears on Sunday night.
We did learn that Mitchell Trubisky should've stayed another year in college and his time in Chicago along with his head coach are on borrowed time.
We did learn that Aaron Rodgers has mastered the play-action so well that he could teach his own class. I don't care if it's a play-action bootleg — which seems to work every single time — a mysterious dropback play-action or even a play-action out of the shotgun. I don't care how you slice it, Rodgers is a maestro from the play-action and the reason it works is because the offensive line has been nothing short of fantastic with only nine pressures allowed on Rodgers this season.
But most of all, we learned that the Bears are a yawn. This is no longer a rivalry. That may come as a shock to the system to a lot of you, because this is the oldest series in the NFL with 201 total meetings. However, the Packers have owned the Bears since 2008 with a remarkable 19-5 regular season record — 20-5, if you want to count the 2010 NFC Championship Game.
The Packers have had three head coaches since 2008: Mike McCarthy, Joe Philbin and now Matt LaFleur. The Bears are on their fourth head coach and Matt Nagy is now on thin ice after Chicago got out to a 5-1 record before losing the next five in a row.
"Yesterday was flat-out embarrassing and our guys know it," said Nagy on Monday. "I'm not telling you something they don't know. They know it."
Do they? The Bears came into the game with a top 10 defense and were de-clawed to the point where NBC analyst Tony Dungy said, "That is the Bears' defense, basically giving up here," after Jamaal Williams rambled 13 yards past a plethora of missed tackles en route to a touchdown late in the third quarter. Now that is one of the biggest offenses a person can endure. Being called a quitter — on national television no less — is a punch to the gut that makes your pride turn into rubble.
What is celebrated as two of the iconic franchises in football and two of the most recognizable brands in all of sports, the game has turned into leftovers. And it's all because the Bears have failed to get a worthwhile quarterback. Since 2008, the Bears have started Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman, Jay Cutler, Tod Collins, Caleb Hanie, Josh McCown, Jason Campbell, Jimmy Clausen, Matt Barkley, Brian Hoyer, Mitchell Trubisky, Mike Glennon, Chase Daniel and Nick Foles. Conversely, the Packers have started Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Scott Tolzien, Seneca Wallace and Brett Hundley.
But it isn't just quarterback. It's coaching, player evaluation and player development. This game used to be something that you just couldn't miss. Now it has turned into a three quarter game that has the look of a preseason contest by the fourth quarter.
Doesn't exactly sound like a rivalry does it?
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (39)
RCPackerFan
December 01, 2020 at 06:47 am
The only thing that matters is...
The Bears Still Suck!
Coldworld
December 01, 2020 at 08:06 am
Be careful what you wish for. The Bears are in a Millenesque era with Pace and Nagy. That won’t last for ever.
It’s always good to beat the Bears. I will take the slight reduction in edge in return for the serial dominance of the last quarter century. It’s always good when the best Chicago football franchise is the one now based in Arizona.
jlc1
December 01, 2020 at 10:36 am
The Bears are definitely in Millen territory for a while. Didn't they send a zillion draft picks, including first round, to Oak/LV for Mack? That will keep hurting.
Razer
December 01, 2020 at 08:08 am
It doesn't take much to find a team in this state. A couple of bad decisions and poor choices and the team is moving in the wrong direction. In Chicago's case, Ryan Pace has made way too many mistakes in talent and on contracts. At QB alone, this franchise has set themselves back to reset territory. Add Nagy to the mix and the pictures gets worse. I don't know how to gauge if a coach has lost his team but 41-10 might be a sign.
Team chemistry can be a fragile thing. Gutekunst's Love pick could have set off a locker room cancer. If Rodgers had "acted out", we could have seen ourselves going the wrong direction with no easy solution. Thankfully, we are run better than our rival in Chicago...for now.
jannesbjornson
December 01, 2020 at 10:49 am
Phiily beating them @ Home as the wildcard in 2018 was the end of their reign.
ricky
December 01, 2020 at 08:13 am
So, we're supposed to feel sorry for the poor Bears because they suck? Nonsense! Can't find a QB? They had the third draft pick and chose Trubisky rather than Mahones or Watson. Why? Because their GM liked the car that Trubisky drove. No one was downgrading Bears victories against the Packers in the '70's or '80's. But now that the Bears offense stinks, we're supposed to feel sorry for Bears fans; they deserve better- think of the children! Baloney. Your take is similar to a lot of radio talk shows- not congratulating the Packers on having a really good offense that can shred any defense when they get motivated (like they did the first half against Indy). The Bears are losers? Good! The longer and worse they are, the better I feel. I was ten when Lombardi came to Green Bay, and was raised with two thoughts related to football: back the Pack, hate the Bears. I'm having a great time, and only hope their next meeting won't include a Packers defensive lapse to make the game actually look competitive. The Bears suck? EXCELLENT!
CoryJennerjohn
December 01, 2020 at 08:59 am
Ricky,
I’m not saying that we should feel sorry for Chicago. It’s just not much of a contest when the Bears can’t even compete. This rivalry is usually celebrated by fans throughout the NFL, but I don’t see a lot of that now.
Packers should continue winning, I just would like a competitive game every now and then. Because right now, the Bears are basically unwatchable.
Guam
December 01, 2020 at 08:17 am
Cory: At least please spell "Packers" correctly in your title (not Packrs). Spell check anyone????
We can laugh at the Bears now, but if the Love pick does not work out the Packers could be right where the Bears are now in 4-6 years. We have become spoiled by great QB play the last 25 years and the Bears have had the opposite. That can change with one draft choice.
HighPlainsDrifter
December 01, 2020 at 08:38 am
Wow, commenters here really love to nitpick the writers! It really makes those critical commenters feel so superior. Oh well, do whatever you have to do to elevate your fragile self-esteem.
By the way, are you so sure that the article authors write their own headlines?
CoryJennerjohn
December 01, 2020 at 08:55 am
That’s a good question HighPlainsDrifter.
Yes, I write my own headlines. In a newspaper setting, I never wrote my own headlines. We copy editors that did that.
jlc1
December 01, 2020 at 10:40 am
Ooooh, nice one Cory!
Guam
December 01, 2020 at 11:21 am
HPD: My self esteem is just fine thank you. I don't think it is too much to ask to have "Packers" spelled correctly on a web site about the Packers - particularly from an author. And yes, I was fairly confident that on a web site such as CHTV the author did their own headlines.
Could I have phrased it more politely - probably. And if you want to nitpick about that I will accept the criticism. But spell "Packers" correctly.
HighPlainsDrifter
December 01, 2020 at 02:04 pm
Fair enough Guam. I actually think that you are one of the good guys here so I apologize for coming on so strong.
Guam
December 01, 2020 at 02:20 pm
No problem - we're good!
SpikeHyzer
December 01, 2020 at 11:32 am
Why shouldn't we?
Cory is possibly the worst sports writer in Packer history (and one of the worst in the state currently, full of bland, boring, pedestrian story ideas like this and armed with about a 3rd grade reading and writing level). He should never have gotten a job as a writer (and couldn't even pass my remedial college English class).
The only thing that prevents him from claiming the title as the worst in the entire state is Jordan Treske at Behind the Buck Pass, who quite literally writes like a retarded 3rd grader (and the rest of that terrible site is almost equally bad).
Journalists are lowest common denominators, writing at an 8th grade level nationally, but the 'writers' in this state and on fan sites is far worse.
It's ugly and incoherent and intelligent, educated fans find it painful to see.
WMA
December 01, 2020 at 12:44 pm
SpikeHyzer. Don't hold anything back. Tell us how you really feel.
HighPlainsDrifter
December 01, 2020 at 02:09 pm
We've been through this with SpikeHyzer previously. He has delusions of being an author and a college professor. In fact, his parents failed him in his homescool English class. Spike cannot even pass his GED exam.
Guam
December 01, 2020 at 10:54 pm
I will on occasion disagree with Cory's viewpoint, but I have never found him to be a poor writer. He makes his point in an organized and coherent fashion and puts it out there for discussion which is what this site is all about. I appreciate his effort in contributing to a free website and thank him for being part of CHTV.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2020 at 08:02 pm
Guam,I too think you’re one of the good guys, and I agree with you here.
I’m a big “freedom of choice” guy. I’m free to like or dislike anything, and I’m free to read or not read anybody. There are some people I always read, some I never read, some I just glance at. I appreciate Corys effort. If I don’t want to read it, I can read somebody else.
JerseyAl
December 02, 2020 at 07:10 pm
Why go out of your way to be a douche?
CoryJennerjohn
December 01, 2020 at 08:53 am
Good catch Guam. Didn’t see it.
Thanks.
Charvid
December 01, 2020 at 08:27 am
Ricky—. how right you are!! Did anyone feel sorry for us as we trotted out Jim Del Gazio (remember the “All the Wayzo, with Del Gazio” bumper stickers)? We suffered through some really bad football for much of the 70’s and 80’s and we rode it out until better times came. The Bears will eventually be back, but until then, let’s enjoy their ineptness and love hating them.
Charvid
December 01, 2020 at 08:27 am
Ricky—. how right you are!! Did anyone feel sorry for us as we trotted out Jim Del Gazio (remember the “All the Wayzo, with Del Gazio” bumper stickers)? We suffered through some really bad football for much of the 70’s and 80’s and we rode it out until better times came. The Bears will eventually be back, but until then, let’s enjoy their ineptness and love hating them.
Packer_Fan
December 01, 2020 at 08:38 am
I remember when the Bears were ahead in the overall face to face games with Green Bay by about 20 games. It makes me feel good that the Packers are now up and first to get to 100 wins. And yup, the Bears still suck!
Roadrunner23
December 01, 2020 at 10:04 am
After the way the Bears embarrassed the Packers in the 80's I will just sit back and enjoy this now because it's all a circle man, a circle. Enjoy the wins!
GO PACK!
TheBigCheeze
December 01, 2020 at 10:06 am
Play action has been the go-to offense in the NFL for years. Rodgers is the Master at implementing it. Yet, LeFleur has only utilized it in a few games, all of which the Packers scored 40+ points......Hmmmm....
SpikeHyzer
December 01, 2020 at 11:36 am
I wondered if it was a timing issue in some contests because of something I saw last night that I haven't notice with Ervin before: Davante was the guy in motion from the slot on almost every play, and the snap occurred almost exactly as he was behind Rodgers every single time, forcing him to swivel his hips a bit to avoid contact that could have caused fumbles.
I doubt if I'm giving away any great trade secret from this offense, but it seems like that is quite intentional, in order to hide the intent of the main receiver (or, as in the case of Ervin and others, to provide a decoy or distraction from the main targets).
It was nice to see them run it so effectively last night.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2020 at 08:15 pm
I thought it looked awkward , too. Maybe the timing was a fraction off, or maybe it’s designed that way, I don’t know.
This is the trickiest Packer offense I’ve ever seen. You’ve got to keep your eye on a lot of things and if you’re faked out it’s gonna be first and ten or a TD.
13TimeChamps
December 01, 2020 at 10:18 am
Actually the "ownership" of the Bears goes back further than 2008, as stated in the article. By my count since 1992, the Packers record against the Bears is 44-14. Both Favre and Rodgers have thoroughly dominated them.
SpikeHyzer
December 01, 2020 at 11:37 am
And now we're about 5 games over .500 against them, which means we were 20 games under prior to Favre.
Love how the tide has turned.
stockholder
December 01, 2020 at 10:30 am
The Bears have won nine NFL Championships, including one Super Bowl. They hold the NFL record for the most enshrines in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the most retired jersey numbers. The Packers have appeared in five Super Bowls, winning four. The Green Bay Packers have 26 individuals in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And those guys put their heart and all into it. The competitive objective is for superiority on the field. The Traditions have changed to marketing. Today; its all talk and money. The memory is short. A win is a win. But if this game was for the Super Bowl. The emotion would be felt as in years past.
PackfanNY
December 01, 2020 at 12:29 pm
Oh no man. It will always be a “rivalry”. Just because the Packers are kicking their ass doesn’t change anything and only enhances it. I remember losing to the Bears 61-7. I also remember a certain Coach running that fat tub of lard aka the “Fridge” over George Cumby from the 1 yard line. Or how about Lovie Smith saying “my first job is to beat the Green Bay Packers”. How’d that work out? Pay back has come in a glorious 25 year or so beatdown with Favre and Rodgers playing Batman. Enjoying every minute of it.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2020 at 01:10 pm
Cory, with all due respect, the Bears are our #1 division rival.
If the Bears attacked from one side, and the Vikings attacked from the other, you beat the Bears first. Business before pleasure.
madtowndan
December 01, 2020 at 02:54 pm
I've got to disagree with you on this one Corey. If the rivalry could survive the dreadful Packers drought of the 70's and 80's, it will survive this downturn for the Bears as well. Lack of a solid QB for 2+ decades plus recent catastrophically bad decisions (Trubisky and Mack trades) have left the Bears out in the cold for a spell. After they get rid of Pace, they'll likely get back on the competitive track. Enjoy the domination while it lasts!
arthurl
December 01, 2020 at 04:27 pm
There will always be something special about the Bears. There’s a history there and just because they have issues now, that will change and the tables might be reversed. The Packers have had a very long run thanks to Farve and Rodgers. Will they find lightening in the bottle with Love at QB? I have a lot of respect for the Bear organization mainly because of the Halas family. I have always viewed them as a class organization.
TheVOR
December 01, 2020 at 04:37 pm
Tell the Players who played the other night that it's not a rivalry? Go tell that to Lazard, I think he'll disagree. By the way, I'll always like watching GB beat the Bears, whether they're good or whether they suck. It's good to beat the Bears, period.
barutanseijin
December 01, 2020 at 05:27 pm
Say what you want about Kyle Orton, but the Packers could never beat him.
egbertsouse
December 01, 2020 at 06:24 pm
I still think the Vikings are a better rivalry but I did enjoy those games in the ‘80s when Ditka and Forrest Gregg would exorcise their personal hatred for each other by using their teams. It would usually start with Ditka inflaming the situation by bringing in his grandma from the nursing home to score a meaningless TD over George Cumby and then Gregg would unleash his America’s Most Wanted gang on the Bears. I still remember Stills hitting Matt Suhey so late that he was actually starting to walk back to the huddle for the next play. Ahhh, the good old days!
Leatherhead
December 01, 2020 at 08:24 pm
I miss the Gregg-Ditka battles of the 80s. If you ever wanted to see two groups of men use a football game to beat the crap out of each other, those were the games.
I remember when the Bearswould send two thugs to rough up Chester Marcol on kickoffs.