Micah Parsons is about to get his first taste of one of the classic rivalries of the NFL. The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers' rivalry spans more than a century at this point, and is one of the fiercest rivalries in the league. While the Packers have had the upper hand in the last few years, the Bears' rise to the top of the NFC this season has added a layer of intrigue to this classic matchup.
Parsons couldn't care less about the rivalry, though. Asked about their upcoming game against the Bears, the Packers pass rusher said that he doesn't really concern himself with the rivalry. Instead, Parsons is focused on dominating his opponents and channeling his dislike of the “disrespectful” Bears to his game.
“Rivalries are for the people, it’s for the fans,” Parsons said, per Ryan Wood. “For me, it’s just going out there and just dominating. I just don’t like them because I just see like the disrespect. I play for respect. You know how to earn someone’s respect is beating the [expletive] out of them.”
In a strange turn of events, it's the Bears, not the Packers, who are on top of the NFC after thirteen weeks. Coming into the season, Green Bay was seen as the heavy favorite to be the Super Bowl champion, especially after trading for Parsons. Meanwhile, the Bears were supposed to be in the midst of a rebuild, especially after hiring a new coach in Ben Johnson.
And yet, here we are. The Packers have still been a good team this season, but they've been maddeningly inconsistent and have lost to teams that they're favored against. Meanwhile, the Bears have consistently found ways to win in close situations.
This will be the Bears and the Packers' first game against each other this season. Parsons last faced the Bears in 2022, a clean 49-29 win for Parsons' Cowboys. This will be a big test for both teams, as Parsons (12.5 sacks this season) will go up against a revamped Bears line that's playing out of their mind.
