No love lost is a phrase that often finds itself in the middle of two groups who have clashed heads many a times in each’s co-existence. When it comes to potentially the oldest rivalry in sports, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, it’s as prevalent as ever. A disdain for one another is the standard, especially when the stakes are higher. Although, it wasn’t re-sparked just from this year via the two’s top tier performance on the gridiron.  The 9-3 Bears and 8-3-1 Packers rivalry was put back into motion through a series of events leading up to this week 14. 

From the time Matt LaFleur was hired, Jordan Love took over as the Quarterback, and the Packers core really started to gel. Coinciding with the Bears finding their elusive franchise quarterback Caleb Williams, hiring the right man in former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, to finding out ways to win games through running the football and defense. The pieces in the puzzle have been filling over time. Now, the two teams find themselves back at the top of the NFC North where NFL history would collectively agree is right where they should be.

Perhaps Ben Johnson knew in his introductory press conference as the Bears new head coach this past offseason. Johnson would half-jokingly, half-intentionally say how he enjoys beating Matt LaFleur two times a year so much, he just couldn’t leave the NFC North. Johnson may have known the replacement of his role for the Lions would be too much to overcome, the Vikings were on a downward trajectory, and the Bears were destined to battle it out with the Packers for the crown of the division.

LaFleur would offer his own slight jabs at Johnson in the off-season but did not make much of it. However, you didn’t see Johnson make these remarks at anyone else in the division. Not Lions Dan Campbell, nor Vikings Kevin O’Cconell. Johnson’s actions intentional or not, showed games with the Packers would start long before they squared off on the field.

It comes with good reason that both offensive-minded head coaches need to be wary of one another. LaFleur comes in with an offensive arsenal that has gone to the beat of 2800 yards passing. 19:3 TD to interception ratio, balanced rushing attack in Josh Jacobs and Emmanuel Wilson, and unlimited weapons in the receiving room who have each contributed at one point this year. Not to mention an elite defense that has only gotten better with time under Jeff Hafley calling plays.

Johnson following his stint of leading the Lions offense to league best numbers the past two years has turned around the Bears in one year. Passing for 17 touchdowns, along with two effective running backs in D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Chicago’s defense has also turned the clock back to the Bears of old. Dennis Allen’s defense as a part of Johnson’s new staff is leading the NFL in turnovers with 17.

With the two franchises now both having the right voices leading the franchise, players, and huddles it would appear the future of the rivalry has a clear identity of names that’ll be part of the meetings to come. If 2025 is any sign of things to come in the division, it’s that the Packers and Bears rivalry is expected to return to its peak form.

As delayed as it seemingly could be, the Packers and Bears will finally square off for the first time this season in Week 14. With the drawn-out meeting, the two teams have begun to hit their strides going into the homestretch of 2025. Both teams come off the holiday week with statement wins. The Bears imposing their will over the Eagles, and Packers doing the same to the Lions.

An even larger statement game awaits with clear tension upon the embarking of a new era in the Packers and Bears lore. As if it could not be any more classic already, the late season meeting also factors in some predicted below 20-degree weather in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The stage is set for the two teams with vintage moments awaiting the newest members of the rivalry.

There hasn’t been this much at stake in Packers-Bears since the 2013 regular season.

Couple that with the head coaches trading shots at each other this offseason and the NFL’s oldest rivalry feels like a rivalry again.

Story: https://t.co/D91VrnJRaj pic.twitter.com/1ymlSEZe3S

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 3, 2025

High of 20 degrees on Sunday in Green Bay, and it'll get even colder once the sun sets around 4:15. Not much wind. A few flurries possible, per @weatherchannel.

Packers-Bears. Lambeau Field. Huge division/playoff stakes. In the bitter cold.

— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) December 4, 2025

Last time there was this much at stake in a Packers-Bears game, a podcaster blocked Julius Peppers on fourth and 8 to allow Aaron Rodgers time to find Randall Cobb for the 48-yard game-winning TD.

The least you can do as a thanks is subscribe to that guy’s pod.

Here’s the link:…

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 2, 2025