Dissecting the Green Bay Packers' Rivalry with the Chicago Bears

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have been playing each other since 1921, when the Bears were then known as the Chicago Staleys.

The Packers were then led by their founder and head coach Curly Lambeau, while Chicago was led by their founder and head coach George Halas.

Both Green Bay and Chicago have done very well in the annals of NFL history, as the Packers have won 13 NFL titles, while the Bears have won nine.

The teams have played each other 184 times in the regular season, with the Bears holding a 91-87-6 edge.

The two teams have also met twice in the postseason, with the series knotted at one-game apiece.

The Packers are now within four games of evening up the regular season series with the Bears, and that has not occurred in over 80 years. The Packers had an 11-10-4 advantage after the 1932 season.

Since then, the series has had some ebbs and flows throughout the years.

The Packers, under head coach Vince Lombardi, went 13-5 against the Bears under Halas.

On the other hand, the Bears under head coach Mike Ditka, went 15-5 against the Pack.

At one point before the 1992 season, the Packers were 23 games behind the Bears in the series, as they were at a 57-80-6 disadvantage.

Then something very important happened in Green Bay. Brett Favre came to Green Bay, thanks to a trade by general manager Ron Wolf.

In his 16-year career in Green Bay, Favre was 22-10 versus Chicago, which helped lessen the gap between the two teams in their series.

Then something else happened. In the 2005 NFL draft, the very first draft pick of new general manager Ted Thompson was quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers sat on the bench for the first three years of his career behind Favre, until he became a starter in 2008.

Since then, like Favre, Rodgers has had great success against the Bears. Rodgers is 8-2 versus the Bears in five years, plus beat them in the 2010 NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field.

That takes us to the series as it's about to get going again on Monday night at Lambeau Field. The Packers look to have a clear advantage over the Bears in this game. It starts with Rodgers.

Rodgers is 8-2 against the Bears, but he should probably be 10-0. The only two losses were by identical 20-17 scores (2008 and 2010). In both of those games, the Packers had victory in their grasp, only to see it slip away at the end.

Rodgers always plays lights out against Chicago. In his career, Rodgers has thrown 19 touchdown passes versus just six picks for 2,486 yards. That adds up to a 102.7 quarterback rating.

In terms of team stats heading into the contest on Monday night, the 5-2 and NFC North-leading Packers have the advantage over the 4-3 Bears.

The Packers are ranked second in the NFL in total offense, while the Bears are ranked 10th.

The offense of the Packers, even with some key players injured, is playing exceptionally well. The Pack is ranked fifth in passing offense (297.4 yards a game average) and third in rushing offense (141.4 yards a game average).

That all bodes well against a Chicago defense which is ranked 27th in the league in total defense. The Packers should have success both running and passing against the Bears.

Chicago is only ranked 27th in the league in pass defense and just 25th in run defense.

The Bears offense will be facing a Green Bay defense, which is improving each week, even though it too has had to deal with injuries to key players. The Packers are ranked 11th in the NFL in total defense.

The Packers are fourth in the NFL in run defense, and are 21st in pass defense. The Packers will have one of their key secondary players ready to go against the Bears on Monday night however, as Casey Hayward will available to play.

That will be important, as the Bears have two very dangerous receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Marshall has 46 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns, while Jeffery has 33 catches for 561 yards and two touchdowns.

The quarterback who will be throwing the ball to both Marshall and Jeffery is not Jay Cutler, who is out with a groin injury. Believe it or not, that's probably a good thing for Chicago.

Cutler is just 1-7 in his career versus the Packers, and has thrown nine touchdown passes, compared to 16 interceptions. His overall quarterback rating against the Pack is just 61.5.

Instead of Cutler, the Bears will have Josh McCown at quarterback. McCown is 0-2 against the Packers in his career, and has just a 63.3 quarterback rating.

Bottom line, the Packers are playing very good football as of late, as the team has won four straight games. The team is getting healthier too, and that does not bode well for the Bears, as they prepare to face the Packers for the 185th time in their history on Monday night.