The last 30 years of football have seen the Chicago Bears tormented by the Green Bay Packers, largely due to their incredible good fortune at quarterback. It started with Brett Favre, who dominated them for most of the 1990s and 2000s. Then it moved to Aaron Rodgers, who did it even more in the 2010s and early 2020s. However, the football gods have a unique way of balancing the scales. For Favre, it happened in 2010 during a frigid game in Minnesota, where a sack by Corey Wootton sent him crashing into the turf.
What followed was a now-iconic shot of Favre prone on the field with Brian Urlacher staring down at him. Most saw that as the end of Favre's hold over the Bears.
Sunday's game between Chicago and the Pittsburgh Steelers felt like a similar setup. Maybe the Bears would have a chance to do the same to Rodgers. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh ruined that when the quarterback was deactivated due to his broken wrist. However, the winds of fate still managed to find a way. Trailing 31-28 with just over two minutes left, Pittsburgh was driving. On 3rd and 4, they lined up for the play. Cameras panned to Rodgers, who had an apoplectic look on his face, his hands on his head, as he appeared to mouth the words, "Oh my god, we're in the wrong formation!"
Sure enough, the Steelers were called for an illegal formation penalty. That set up 3rd and 9. An incompletion on the following play forced them to punt. That mistake allowed the Bears to burn two of Pittsburgh's timeouts while an injury cost them the third. Thus, they had to march at least 40 yards with only 1:29 left to have a chance to tie the game.
They failed.
That final camera shot of Aaron Rodgers couldn't have been planned any better.
Seeing him utterly helpless on the sideline to stop what was unfolding seems appropriate. Where Favre was known for his seemingly mythical durability, Aaron Rodgers was known for his control. Both saw their last game against the Bears end in defeat, with each of those strengths taken away from them. Favre was knocked out of the game. Rodgers was rendered voiceless. That photo with his hands on his head might not be quite as poetic as Favre's was, but it certainly has a similar impact.
It serves as the clear endpoint to both a career and a rivalry. That win not only furthered the Bears' aims of making the playoffs, but also potentially ruined Rodgers' own chances of doing the same. Pittsburgh fell to 6-5 and is losing its grip on the lead in the AFC North. It would be sheer perfection if this loss ends up ruining everything for their old nemesis.
