The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears may combine to make up arguably be one of the best rivalries in the history of the NFL.
The friction between these two historic franchises dates way back to 1921. In 200 played games, the Packers hold a slim advantage of 99 wins as compared to the Bears' 95, with six games ending in a draw between the two teams.
The tight margin of their head-to-head record shows the level of competitiveness that this rivalry brings.
Let's go back in time to re-live some of those iconic moments.
3. Favre Fluke
Any hardcore NFL fan would agree that a Super Bowl hangover is definitely real. In case you missed it, this happens when a participating team will follow their Super Bowl appearance with a sub-par season.
Several teams have experienced this slump and the 2007 Chicago Bears team belonged to that long list. After booking a trip to the Super Bowl XLI to lose against the Indianapolis Colts, the team went 7-9 the season after.
However, there was an exception to those narratives on one Sunday that year. On December 23, 2007, the Bears destroyed the Packers just a few days before Christmas. The outcome was the perfect holiday gift that Bears fans could ever ask for as it turned out to be Brett Favre's last game in Soldier Field.
The Green Bay quarterback was intercepted by linebacker Brian Urlacher, who returned the pick all the way for the game-clinching touchdown and sealed the 35-7 win.
2. An Unexpected Hero
An unlikely low-scoring affair between the two teams took place on September 7, 1980, as the Packers won, 12-6.
Czeslaw Boleslaw “Chester” Marcol had been a placekicker for the Packers since 1972. With the score tied at 6-a piece, he lined up for a 35-yard field goal in overtime that could win the game for his team. Marcol kicked the ball, but Bears' defensive tackle Alan Page broke through the Packer line and blocked the kick.
The ball bounced off Page's helmet and right into Marcol's hands. He stood motionless for a split second before sprinting 35 yards untouched into the end zone for the winning drive.
Later on, Marcol admitted that he was high on cocaine at the time he made the kick. According to a Green Bay Press-Gazette article, Marcol fought drug and alcohol addictions for over 30 years after his playing years.
He attempted to end his life in 1986 by using several poisonous fluids but was unsuccessful. Marcol's playing career lasted nine seasons and was later inducted in the team's Hall of Fame in 1987.
1. Cobb Saves the Day
In week nine of the 2013 season, Bears defensive end Shea McClellin sacked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He then suffered a broken collarbone on the play which sidelined him for the next seven games.
Green Bay experimented with several quarterbacks for the meantime but it didn't work great for the team. They went winless over their next five games but decided to sign quarterback Matt Flynn out of desperation. He led the team to two wins and one loss in his three games.
With a subpar 7-7-1 record, the Packers found themselves entering a season-ending matchup against the Bears in Chicago. The NFC North crown and a playoff berth were on the line.
As the Bears were leading 28-27 with 46 seconds left, Rodgers took the shotgun snap. Chicago defensive end Julius Peppers ready to pounce on him but fullback John Kuhn read the play and slid across to block Peppers. Rodgers then launched a 50-yard pass to receiver Randall Cobb, who was near the endzone for a touchdown.
The Packers went on to bag their third-straight division championship while the Bears failed to make the playoffs.
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