This is a game that not even a hurricane could ruin.
1. It Could Indicate the New King of the NFC North.
Aaron Rodgers is probably the most accomplished QB in the NFC North — the perennial reigning king of the North, if you will, even though the Packers are coming off a losing season.
The Bears may be the best team. They have the best defense, they have a young QB (Mitch Trubisky, who played at UNC) and they’re primed to take full control.
It’s the old guard vs the most recent NFC North champions. Can Aaron Rodgers harness that magic again and lead this team to another run — or are we going to see a true passing of the guard to a new era in the NFC North?
2. They’re Really Taking it to the Matt.
Thirty-four-year-old Matt Lafluer (no, we don’t know what you’re doing with your life) will make his debut as head coach for the Packers. He was previously the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans (who haven’t been relevant since Steve McNair retired) and in 2017, he was the offensive coordinator for the L.A. Rams.
Matt Nagy, 41, will be entering his second year as the Bears’ head coach, also his second season as a head coach. This comes after being the offensive coordinator for Kansas City from 2016-2017, after moving up the ranks within that organization.
3. This Rivalry Goes All the Way Back to 1921.
The Packers took over the lead in 2018, with 97 victories to the Bears’ 95 (and a few ties or no-contests). It is THE OLDEST rivalry — they’ve faced off 197 times, including postseason play. The only rivalry that’s comparable would be that between Carolina and Duke (after Coach K). But, it’s a gentlemen’s rivalry based on mutual respect; you won’t hear booing of Santa Claus or cheering when a QB’s leg breaks.
Fun fact: The Packers is the only publicly-owned, not-for-profit franchise in the NFL. It is owned by shareholders and governed by a board of directors.
Oh, and This is the Bears’ ONE HUNDREDTH Season.
If they’re going to show us what they can do, now’s the time to do it.
4. It Sets the Stage for the Rest of the Year.
You could argue, that, aside from the Superbowl, this game is the biggest one of the season. Let’s hope it lives up to the hype.
