Bears-Packers On Opening Day Has Its Own History

When the Bears host Green Bay to open the 2023 season, it will be the 205th regular season meeting between the long-time rivals. It will also be the 35th time they will begin the regular season together.

The Bears and Cardinals are the only two teams that have existed since the league began in 1920. The Packers joined the league in 1921. The first time the Packers and Bears played in a season opener was in 1932. From 1932 through 1952, they opened the season playing each other a remarkable 18 times.

Bears Dominate Early

The Bears had to open the season on the road almost every year playing at Wrigley Field due to their sharing Wrigley Field with the Cubs. Every season opener against Green Bay was played on the Packers' home field. The first time they opened the season together was in 1932. That game ended in a scoreless tie. The Bears won seven of the next eight season openers. The Bears record in the 18 openers from 1932 - 1952 was 12-4-2.

The game next Sunday will be the 35th time the Packers and Bears open the season together. The Bears still maintain a 17-15-2 advantage on opening day. This will only be the 5th time they will open the season in Chicago.

Memorable Openers

The Bears-Packers rivalry is historic, and some of their season-opening games have also been memorable:

1935

Future Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson scored on an 83-yard pass from QB Arnie Herber on the game's first play. That would be the only score of the afternoon. Packers 7 - Bears 0

1963

Chicago beat Green Bay 10-3 to open the 1963 season. Both teams had exceptional seasons in 1963. The Bears would sweep Green Bay and finish the season 11-1-2. Green Bay finished the season 11-2-1. Both losses were at the hands of George Halas. The Bears defeated the Giants 14-10 in the NFL Championship game.

1979

The Bears opened the season against Green Bay for the first time as the home team. Bears win 6-3

1980

Regulation time ended with the score tied 6-6. In overtime, the Bears blocked a game-winning field goal attempt, but the ball bounced into the hands of kicker Chester Marcol, who ran into the end zone to win the game. The Bears would avenge that loss later in the year by defeating Green Bay 61-7, the most lopsided game in the history of the rivalry.

2006

Devin Hester scored a TD in his first game in the NFL. The Bears shut out the Packers in Green Bay 26-0. This is the last time either team has been shut out in the rivalry.