Just like there is no love lost between fans of the Bears and Packers, there are no secrets between the teams.
That only adds to the intrigue of the NFC championship game on Sunday at Soldier Field, just the second time the rivals will meet in postseason history, the first coming on Dec. 14, 1941, a week after the U.S. entered World War II.
Though the Packers are trying to become only the second No. 6 seed to win the Super Bowl after the 2005 Steelers, it doesn’t weigh on their minds.
“I feel like we’re a team of destiny,” nose tackle B.J. Raji told the Tribune.
The teams met just 15 days ago at Lambeau Field when the Packers used a 10-3 victory to get into the playoffs as the sixth seed in the NFC. Now, they look like the hottest team in football coming off their 48-21 dismantling of the top-seeded Falcons on Saturday at the Georgia Dome. The Bears played their starters 60 minutes in that season-ending loss even though the outcome of the game had no bearing on their postseason standing.
“I think Chicago really didn’t want us to make the playoffs, whether we were going to see them or not,” linebacker Clay Matthews said. “For the simple fact that we’re a division rival. Everyone knows you’re not well liked in the opposite city.”
The Bears won the Week 3 meeting between teams 20-17, a game in which the Packers were penalized 18 times for 152 yards.
“We know them inside out, really,” linebacker Desmond Bishop said. “I think that will be to our benefit.”
What the Bears have to contend with is the best quarterback in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers was the top-rated passer in the conference and he’s peaking. He carved up the Falcons, completing 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns.
“This was probably my best performance,” Rodgers said. “The stage we were on, the importance of this game, yeah. We kind of did what we wanted to do.”
Rodgers spread the ball around and four receivers had 75 yards or more and three players caught touchdowns. The Packers did not punt in the game. The Bears figure to be able to mount a much better pass rush than the Falcons. The defense played very well in the regular-season finale and the game might have been different had Jay Cutler not been sacked six times and thrown an interception in the end zone.
“Whenever you put a guy of (Julius) Peppers’ caliber, his talent on the defense, it’s going to make your team better,” Packers left tackle Chad Clifton said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be sacks either. He can get pressure, he makes the entire defense a better unit and he’s playing the run extremely well too.”
Then, the Bears have to contend with Rodgers’ targets. Greg Jennings had four receptions for 97 yards in the most recent meeting and scored a touchdown in the September game. He caught eight passes for 101 yards versus the Falcons.
“We know (Rodgers) has more to give,” Jennings said. “We have more to give.”
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