Packers vs. Bears NFC Championship Game: 15 Fun Facts About This NFL Rivalry

The Bears and Packers gear up to play in what is sure to be the most important game of this storied rivalry. Never, even with all the bad blood, have the stakes ever been this high.

For the players, it’s a chance to play for the Lombardi Trophy and an opportunity at football immortality.

For the fans, it’s a chance to remember what has long dominated football,as one of the all-time great rivalries.

In their long history of back and forth which has produced interesting results, strange occurrences, and a host of other fun happenings.

Here are some fun facts to know about footballs oldest rivalry.

15.This Year Is Rare

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 and Brandon Jackson #32 of the Green Bay Packers celebrate as they walk off the field after the Packers won 48-21 against the Atlanta Falcons during their 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Georgia Dome on Jan

It has never happened that the Bears and the Packers have fought in the NFC title game. What’s equally as rare is the that they both made it into the playoffs in the same season.

Only four times in their history (1941, 1994, 2001, and 2010) have the Bears and the Packers both made it to the post-season.  

14.Same Same

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26 Jan 1997: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers celebrates during Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

The Bears and the Packers have had the same number of playoff appearances(including championship games) and the same number of NFL title game appearances.

13.Hall of Fame Franchises

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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: Hall of Fame Chicago Bears Dick Butkus (L) and Gale Sayers share a laugh on the sidelines before a game between the Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 20, 2009 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated t

The Chicago Bears have more Hall of Famers than any other franchise. They have 29 players.

The team that trails them? That’s right, the Green Bay Packers with 26.

12.181

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Kahlil Bell #32 of the Green Bay Packers carries the ball against Pisa Tinoisamoa #59 and Anthony Adams #95 of the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Im

No two teams have ever faced off as many times as the Bears and the Packers.

They have played an astounding 181 times.

The Bears have won 92 games of those games.

11.54 Points

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Walter Payton #34 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball during a game against the Green Bay Packers.

The largest margin of victory was a 61-7 Bears victory in 1980.

No other game between these two foes has ever been that lopsided. 

10.Uncommon Ground

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 7: Tight end John Davis #82 of the Chicago Bears hauls in a touchdown pass in the second quarter under pressure from cornerback Tod McBride #27 of the Green Bay Packers during their game on October 7, 2002 at Memorial Stadium at t

Every Bears/Packers game has been played in either Chicago or Green Bay…except for one.

On Monday October 7, 2002, the Bears hosted the Packers at the University of Illinois stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Solider Field was going through massive renovations and the game was moved to a neutral site. 

9.Bears Lead 6-3

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Chester Taylor #29 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Of the nine decades that the Bears and the Packers have played in (discount the current decade) the Bears have won the decade battle six times. 

8.Win by 2

Not every game between these two teams has been an offensive explosion.

Twice, in 1928 and 1932, the game has been decided by a final score of 2-0. 

7.Win Streaks

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8 Dec 1996: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers drops back to pass during a game against the Denver Broncos at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 41-6. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

Rivalries of this caliber don’t tend to build winning streaks.

However, from 1994-1998 (the Brett Favre era), the Packers amassed an impressive 10 game winning streak. 

6.Goose Eggs

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is sacked by Henry Melton #69 and Brian Urlacher #54 of the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Im

When these teams face off, it’s likely someone is putting on a defensive clinic.

28 times in the history of this rivalry has at least one team pitched a shut out.

I say “at least one team” because…..

5.The Joke Becomes Reality

Often people have joked about a scoreless tie. Rarely has it happened.

On September 25, 1932, the Packers and the Bears ended in a scoreless tie. 

4.Packing Lambeau Field

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 05: A cheerleader for the Green Bay Packers performs during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on December 5, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the 49ers 34-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty

This rivalry has seen its fair share of big crowds, but last season took the cake.

On Sunday September 13, 2009, the attendance at the NFL’s most storied stadium was 70,920.

3.The Free Kick Rule

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GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 13: Referees watch as a ball kicked by Robbie Gould of the Chicago Bears sails through the uprights for 3 points against the Green Bay Packers on September 13, 2009 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated t

The Bears and the Packers, in 1964, featured the first time a team made a free kick.

Paul Hornung kicked 52 yard field goal to end the first half. 

2.Sunday Bloody Sunday

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GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 16: Defensive end Alex Brown #96 of the Chicago Bears and guard Daryn Colledge #73 of the Green Bay Packers battle at the line of scrimmage during NFL action at Lambeau Field on November 16, 2008 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Pack

In 1924, the Bears and Packers made football history.

Frank Hanny and Walter Voss were the first two players to ever be ejected for fighting in a game. 

1.Winning It All

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: A replica of the Vince Lombardi trophy at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

At the end of the day, all that matters is that you win the whole thing.

The Packers have the edge there. They have won three Super Bowls to the Bears one.

And the Packers have a total of 12 NFL Championships(including Super Bowls).

The Bears have nine.

Both teams are hoping for a chance to change those numbers, but the road to Super Bowl glory goes through the NFL’s most storied rivalry.