The Chicago Bears will have a chance to make the playoffs for the second time in the last three years with a win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Chicago controls their own destiny as with a win, they can either secure the seventh or sixth seed in the NFC playoffs. A win would also allow the Bears to exercise some demons that have plagued them for the previous decade, including Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers' domination of the team.

The Bears Have Failed To Beat Rodgers When It Has Mattered Most

With Rodger's hall of fame career, one of his most notable achievements has been his ability to beat the Bears when it matters the most. Whether it was beating Chicago in the 2010 NFC Championship game or the 2013 Division title game, Green Bay's quarterback has been victorious when it matters the most. Since becoming the Packers' starting quarterback, Rodgers has only lost to the Bears four times in his career. Of those four times, none of those games factored into hurting the Packers from a playoff standpoint. https://youtu.be/OSHhohzylpk There have been other times where Rodgers has dominated the Bears, especially in front of national audiences. In 2014, he passed for six touchdowns in a 55-14 massacre on Sunday Night Football. In two Thursday Night games back in 2016 and 2017, Rodgers passed a combined seven touchdown passes with no interceptions. In the team's first match this season just four weeks ago, Green Bay's quarterback passed for four touchdowns in a 41-25 blowout. https://youtu.be/4gWoSMk3tx4 It hasn't been just thorough domination, but also an ability to steal games from Chicago at the last moments. Rodger's most memorable performance of his career came against the Bears in week one of the 2018 season. After being carted off the field with a knee injury, the All-Pro quarterback returned to lead a 17-point comeback. Rodgers passed for three touchdowns, including a 75-yard game-winning touchdown with two minutes left in the game. There was also the 60-yard pass that set up the game-winning field goal in 2016. After the Bears' scored 17 fourth-quarter points to tie the game with seconds remaining, Rodgers deep throw to Jordy Nelson set up Mason Crosby's game-winning kick. https://youtu.be/4LFOo_Ao964

Chicago Has Also Failed To Capitalize When They Have Been in Control Of Their Playoff destiny

There have been several instances in which the Bears have had a chance to make the playoffs with wins in the final week of a season, only to lose the games. In 2008, the Bears would have made the playoffs with a win over the Houston Texans but failed to do so. Although they jumped out to a 10-0 lead to start the game, Chicago would fail to hold the lead resulting in a 31-24 loss. https://youtu.be/cEgWAz40EBI In 2013, the Bears could have won NFC North Division with one win in their final two games but failed to do so. Chicago lost their first game, 54-11, to the Philadelphia Eagles and then lost their season finale to the Packers 33-28 in one of the most heartbreaking games in franchise history. Even in 1994, The Bears failed to win their final game of the season against the New England Patriots and had to rely on other team's losses to help them make the playoffs. A win on Sunday allows the Bears to change those demons that have plagued them for the last few decades. For a Bears' team that was facing the possibility of a rebuild just a few weeks ago, the Bears are now in a position to make their season memorable in a positive way. A win against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to make the playoffs would make the Chicago's 2020 season as special as their surprising 2018, 2005, and 2001 playoff seasons. Beating the quarterback that has haunted the franchise to make the playoffs could matter more than if the team loses has a playoff loss the following week.