Packers/Bears

The big story in Wisconsin this week, of course, is today's NFC Championship Game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. If you've been paying attention to football at all, you know that this is the 182nd meeting between the two teams, that it's the NFL's oldest rivalry, that the two teams only met in the postseaon once, in 1941, etc.

Intellectually, I know that, win or lose, it's been a good season for the Packers. During the last half of the season, no one in Packerland was talking Super Bowl. They were just playing to make it to the playoffs. They had to win their last two games just to claim the last playoff spot. So, if they lose, it's really not that bad, right? Except....

It's the Bears. You never want to lose to the Bears. The Packers could go 2-14 on the season, and if the two wins are against the Bears, the season wasn't a total loss.

Also, all week long, many of the talking heads have been predicting the Packers to win. Even though the game is in Chicago, and the Bears have the better record. So now, if the Packers lose, those same talking heads turn around and say that the Packers choked, and they just didn't live up to the hype. I don't want to listen to that.

Finally, I just broke down and ordered a Ray Nitschke jersey from eBay. It will probably get here in time for the Super Bowl, and I'd love an excuse to wear it.

So, "Go Pack!" While I've been typing, the game has started, and the Pack is already up 7-0. So that's a good start.