Packers vs Bears For Division Lead Has Been a Rarity
Jordan Love leads the Packers against the Bears, who have a half-game lead in the NFC North race.
Jordan Love had 316 yards passing in a Week 18 win in 2023
On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears play a December game with the NFC North division lead at stake.
If this scenario seems out of the ordinary, that’s because it is. Since 1992, when Brett Favre became the Packers starting quarterback and Mike Ditka finished his last season as the Bears head coach, the two teams have met just 10 times in the months of December or January where both teams were either .500 or better going into the game or after the game.
| Year | Week | GB Rec | Chi Rec | Location | Winner | GB QB Stats |
| 1993 | 14 | 7-5 | 7-5 | at Chi | Chi 30-17 | Favre 36/54, 402 yds, 2 tds, 3 int |
| 1994 | 15 | 7-6 | 8-6 | at GB | GB 40-3 | Favre 19/31, 250 yds, 3 tds, 1 int |
| 2001 | 13 | 9-3 | 9-3 | at GB | GB 17-7 | Favre 15/27, 207 yds, 1 td, 1 int |
| 2010 | 17 | 10-6 | 11-5 | at GB | GB 10-3 | Rodgers 19/28, 229 yds, 1 td, 1 int |
| 2010 | NFC Ch | 13-6 | 12-6 | at Chi | GB 21-14 | Rodgers 17/30, 244 yds, 2 ints (rush td) |
| 2011 | 16 | 14-1 | 7-8 | at GB | GB 35-21 | Rodgers 21/29, 283 yds, 5 tds |
| 2012 | 15 | 10-4 | 8-6 | at Chi | GB 21-13 | Rodgers 23/36, 291 yds, 3 tds |
| 2013 | 17 | 8-7-1 | 8-8 | at Chi | GB 33-28 | Rodgers 25/39, 318, 2 tds, 2 ints |
| 2019 | 15 | 11-3 | 7-7 | at GB | GB 21-13 | Rodgers 16/33, 203 yds, 1 td |
| 2020 | 17 | 13-3 | 8-8 | at Chi | GB 35-16 | Rodgers 19/24, 240 yds, 4 tds |
These 10 games include the 2010 NFC Championship game, which the Packers won 21-14, after two 4th quarter interceptions from B.J. Raji and Sam Shields.
In the 10 games, the Packers have won the last nine of them. Aaron Rodgers was 7-0 in these matchups.
One of my favorite Aaron Rodgers games - Packers vs Bears week 17 2013 pic.twitter.com/aO8D6B04wr
— VintageAaronRodgers (@VentageArod) February 27, 2025
The Packers have hosted the Bears the past two Week 18s. Last year, the Bears ended a 10-game losing streak to the Packers with a 24-22 win on a walk-off field goal by Cairo Santos. The Packers did sit some of their starters in the second half of last year’s game.
Two years ago, a 17-9 win clinched a playoff berth, as Jordan Love had one of the best games of his career, finishing with 316 yards passing and two touchdowns.
If the Packers are to improve to 10-1 in these types of meetings, it is likely they will need big games from both Love and pass rusher Micah Parsons, just like the 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 13.
Love had his second-career four-touchdown game, which included two touchdown passes on 4th downs.
Parsons was a difference maker against the Lions, finishing the game with 2.5 sacks, two of which came in the 4th quarter. He was also involved in a critical 4th down stop in the 3rd quarter on a rush by Jahmyr Gibbs.
Heading into Sunday’s game, the Bears have the better offense in both yards and points, and are superior to the Packers in turnovers (26 to 11).
| Teams | Off Pts | Off Yds | Def Pts | Def Yds | Takeaways |
| Chicago | 313 (8th) | 4491 (7th) | 307 (25th) | 4308 (26th) | 26 (1st) |
| Green Bay | 294 (11th) | 4087 (14th) | 226 (5th) | 3418 (4th) | 11 (24th) |
However, the Packers advantage comes from the defense being ranked in the top 5 in both yards and points allowed. The last time they ranked in the top 5 in both categories at the end of the season was the 2010 Super Bowl team.
If the Packers can take care of the ball and put the game in the hands of both Love and Parsons, it should be a recipe that leads to a division-leading win.
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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Comments (7)
brenner
December 02, 2025 at 11:33 pm
Bares games are never meaningless in my opinion. Bares play in more Superbowls than any other team. (guaranteed twice a year)
T7Steve
December 03, 2025 at 06:05 am
"put the game in the hands of both Love and Parsons"
I think it will be a complete team win. Look for the Bears to try to take away Watson and open it up for guys like Jacobs and pick any other receiver. Then Watson will still get his.
The D will turn the turnover stat around. Last season the Packers got most of their turnovers early. This season they're going to get them later. They always come in bunches.
TXCHEESE
December 03, 2025 at 08:52 am
Rodgers was and is a tool from time to time, but 7-0 against the Bears in meaningful games. I would say he still owns them. Damn shame he was injured for the matchup this year.
GB is the better overall team. Unless the bears win the turnover battle, or GB ST's screw up, this should be a 2 score win.
BuckyBadger
December 03, 2025 at 09:43 am
2 score win? That is a lot in the NFL. If any book was floating out a -14 every professional bettor would slam that line taking the Bears and points. I think -6.5 is a fair spread. I think Seattle was -12 vs the Titans.
Matt
December 03, 2025 at 12:40 pm
It is maybe a rarity in betting not in reality.
TXCHEESE
December 03, 2025 at 01:02 pm
When I say 2 score win, I mean the losing team would have to score at least twice to tie or win the game.
BuckyBadger
December 03, 2025 at 09:41 am
It is the most wonderful time of the year. December football and its better when you have a horse in the race as Packer fans have had almost every year since I was in H.S when grunge music was popular and Snoop Dogg was a bad boy rapping instead of cooking with Martha Stewart.
For all the ups and downs for the season the Packers still have all their goals in front of them. They are contenders for the Super Bowl, NFC and favorites to win the division. With 5 games left they should be favored in all of them.
The Bears are fugazi. They are great at getting their turnovers but that tends to be a lot of luck. Packers are heavy favorites at home and I expect them to be -3.5 on their field as well. Can the Bears win a game on luck? Sure can but I like the Pack in both games.
Denver has a nasty defense that will test any OL but their QB can't move the ball. I think this game will resemble a rock fight with ball being stuck between the 40s for most of the game. The first TD might win that game. I think the Packers will be slight favorites in that game.
The Ravens are a team in trouble. Their Defense is improving but I like the Packers to move the ball in this game. Their offense hasn't been very good and as long as you don't let Lamar rip some long runs they can be stopped. Henry isn't the runner he once was and their passing game struggles.
Lastly they have the Vikings who just left me a voice mail saying they want me to try out at QB. Had some of my 6th grade film and figured I was as good as anyone they have. Packers will be heavy favorites in that one.
Finishing 11-5-1 would almost be disappointing at this point and that is a good record, 12-4-1 is probably likely. They have a good chance to sweep the division.