Fresh off an upset win, the Chicago Bears (1-0) will battle the Green Bay Packers (0-1) on Sunday Night Football.
The Bears haven’t fared well in their rivalry with the Packers, as Chicago has lost 20 of the last 23 regular-season meetings, and they haven’t won since 2018. The Bears will look to finally turn the tide in this one-sided rivalry, but it’s not going to be easy against a talented Green Bay squad fresh off a disappointing defeat.
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Here’s what Bears players and coaches said this week ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the Packers.
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
“It means a lot. I want to win every game I play. But it’s the tradition of this rivalry. Means a lot to us as a team, to the fan base, to the people upstairs. It just means a lot to everyone in this building.”
Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
“The guy is one of the greatest to ever play the game, and as a competitor myself, I love going against people like that. I’m sure he’ll be a little bit [angry] after this last game. Hey, you wouldn’t want it any other way — get the best version of him, then we get the dub, and it will be even sweeter.”
AP Photo
“They don’t like us, and we don’t like them. We already know what type of game it’s going to be.”
AP Photo/David Banks
“I’m not going to sit here and bash an organization because I wouldn’t be here today standing with you all if it weren’t for the opportunity afforded to me. I had a lot of memories there with close family and friends. I know you guys probably don’t like to hear this, but we have personalities and feelings. I have some friends still there. So, yeah, I’ll definitely have some gratitude and some emotions, but at the end of the day, I have a job to do, and I’ve got to execute that job.”
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
“I don’t look at it that way. I really just focus on our process and what we want to get done and how we want to improve every week. We’re writing our book, and we’re turning our pages, and we’re going to do that one game at a time.”
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
“Familiarity with the personnel is probably the advantage. That’s it. I mean those guys are really good. [Defensive coordinator] Joe Barry’s a stud. Those guys are all good up there. They got good players, good scheme. So, it’s a challenge; it’s a fun challenge. It’ll be cool to go compete against your friends. It’s gonna be fun.”
AP Photo/Matt Ludtke
“Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers regardless of who he has. He’s bound to make something happen. I’m not in that locker room, but I think he’s going to bring everyone up to his standards. I’m sure he’s a future Hall of Famer, and I’m sure he wants everyone to rise up to his level.”
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
“[I’m] just more so focused on the future and this game here because that’s all that matters. This game here matters more than any other game we’ve played against those guys because it’s the next one. So that’s where my mindset is, and I really don’t care about the past. [We] just got to go out and stick it to them this week.”
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
“I’m from here. This is a big deal for me. To play in this game is just an honor in itself. This game means a lot to me. As a kid growing up and rooting for this team, this game means a lot to a lot of people.”
Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
“They say it’s crazy over there so I’m expecting it to be super loud, crazy hype, the fans to be all about the game and into the game, and I’m expecting it to be a wild atmosphere.”