LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers have faced each other more than any other two teams in the NFL.
Postseason pairings between the two, however, are a rarity.
They’ll add another chapter to the league’s longest rivalry when they meet again Saturday night in a wild-card playoff game at Soldier Field. It will be just the third time the franchises once led by coaching legends George Halas (Chicago) and Vince Lombardi (Green Bay) have faced off beyond the regular season, and the significance wasn’t lost on current members of the NFC North Division rivals.
“It’s a crazy rivalry … and the fact that we’re playing them in the playoffs, too, it just magnifies it another notch almost,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. “And it makes it that much more important.”
Bears tight end Cole Kmet grew up in the Chicago area and developed a strong rooting interest for any Green Bay opponent. He now has a personal tie to the Packers: His sister is dating Green Bay defensive tackle Lukas Van Ness.