The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have met over 100 times during their storied rivalry. Sunday, however, will be just the 2nd time the two teams have met in the playoffs - the first came in 1941. Some Bears fans are calling this the biggest game in team history. Let's take a look inside the NFC Championship Game.
HELLO AGAIN: The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have met 181 times, which includes only one meeting in the postseason (1941). When the two clubs play for the NFC Championship this weekend, it will mark the longest gap (based on days) between postseason meetings in NFL history.
DIVISION FOES: For the sixth time since the merger, the NFC Championship Game will be contested between division rivals. Chicago and Green Bay split the regular-season series, with each team winning on its home field. The Bears defeated the Packers 20-17 in Week 3, while the Packers were victorious in Week 17, 10-3.
NFC Championship Games between division foes (since 1970):
|
MATCHUP |
SEASON |
RESULT |
|
San Francisco-Los Angeles |
1989 |
|
|
NY Giants-Washington |
1986 |
Giants 17, Redskins 0 |
|
Washington-Dallas |
1982 |
Redskins 31, Cowboys 17 |
|
Philadelphia-Dallas |
1980 |
Eagles 20, Cowboys 7 |
|
Washington-Dallas |
1972 |
Redskins 26, Cowboys 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Green Bay-Chicago |
2010 |
??? |
DON'T PACK IT IN: With a win this Sunday, the Green Bay Packers could become the fourth team to win three consecutive road playoff games en route to the Super Bowl. The team could also become the first NFC No. 6 seed to reach the Super Bowl.
|
SEASON |
TEAM |
POSTSEASON ROAD GAMES WON |
|
2007 |
Tampa Bay (24-14); Dallas (21-17); Green Bay (23-20, OT) |
|
|
2005 |
Cincinnati (31-17); Indianapolis (21-18); Denver (34-17) |
|
|
1985 |
NY Jets (26-14); L.A. Raiders (27-20); Miami Dolphins (31-14) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010 |
Green Bay Packers* |
Philadelphia (21-16); Atlanta (48-21) |
* NFC Championship Game in Chicago on Sunday
GRACIOUS HOST: There have been 13 postseason games played at Soldier Field since 1970, with the Bears compiling a 7-6 record in those contests.
This weekend, Soldier Field will host its 14th playoff game, the third-most playoff games hosted by a stadium in the NFC since 1970. Candlestick Park holds the record with 24 NFC postseason games during that span.
|
STADIUM |
NFC PLAYOFF GAMES HOSTED SINCE 1970 |
|
Candlestick Park |
24 |
|
Texas Stadium |
22 |
|
Soldier Field |
14* |
|
RFK Stadium |
12 |
|
Lambeau Field |
12 |
*Includes Sunday's NFC Championship game
MR. RODGERS: Green Bay Packers quarterback AARON RODGERS has thrown 10 touchdown passes in his first three postseason starts, the most in NFL history.
Rodgers will make his fourth postseason start in Chicago this Sunday. With two touchdown passes, Rodgers can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer TROY AIKMAN and KURT WARNER (11) for the most touchdown passes in the first four postseason starts of any quarterback in NFL history.
Rodgers, who has thrown six touchdowns this postseason, can also challenge the record for the most touchdown passes thrown in a single conference playoffs.
The record for the most touchdown passes in a single conference playoffs:
|
PLAYER |
SEASON |
TOUCHDOWN PASSES |
|
Peyton Manning |
2003 |
9 |
|
Brett Favre |
1995 |
8 |
|
Kurt Warner |
2008 |
8 |
|
Many tied |
7 |
|
|
|
||
|
Aaron Rodgers |
2010 |
6* |
NFC TROPHY PRESENTATION: The winner of the NFC Championship Game will be presented with the GEORGE HALAS TROPHY.
Halas, the late owner of the Chicago Bears and a founder of the NFL, is the second-winningest coach in history (324-151-31) behind DON SHULA (347-173-6). He won six NFL championships with the Bears and is a charter enshrinee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963).