Will Chicago Break the Season Opener Curse?
Right around the corner is the fresh chapter in the saga of the Bears and Packers, a rivalry that will bookend the 2023 NFL season and the NFC North with renewed intensity.
The Bears will be rolling out the red carpet for the Packers in a prime-time face-off on their home turf to kick off the season. As shared by Bill Huber, the analyst at FanNation's Packer Central, this high-stakes match is set for a Sunday afternoon slot in week 1.
Just like the Bears will be opening their 2023 season against the Packers, it seems they will also close the door on their season against their rivals. The two times they face each other this year are in fact events that can shape the Bears' season. Will they get off to a hot start which determines the season's pace? Will they be chasing a playoff spot come the last week of the NFL? Those questions will be answered ONLY against the Packers.
The Packers currently lead the series 104-94-6, boasting an eight-game winning streak. Rodgers, in his heyday, guided them to 12 victories out of their last 13 face-offs at Soldier Field. The only setback was in 2018 when the Bears clinched the NFC North title with a 24-17 win.
However, we cannot use our historical precedents to determine the outcome of this rivalry anymore. Both teams have begun new eras. Justin Fields is set to make a statement this year fully utilizing the weapons around him. And we will witness Jordan Love make his debut for Green Bay, attempting to fill the colossal shoes that Aaron Rodgers left behind.
The days of Aaron Rodgers dominating the field are history. Instead, the Packers' new quarterback will find himself up against a reenergized Bears defense, featuring fresh faces at every linebacker position, a new cornerback, and several new members on the defensive line, though perhaps not as many as Bears' loyalists would've preferred.
As seen on - Bears Try to Reverse Aaron Rodgers Trend
| POLL | ||
11 MAI | 81 ANSWERS Will Chicago Break the Season Opener Curse? How many times will the Bears defeat the Packers in the 2023-24 season? | ||
| Once | 21 | 25.9 % |
| Twice | 49 | 60.5 % |
| They Won't | 11 | 13.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
