Whenever the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers game pops up on the schedule everyone starts popping off about it being the oldest rivalry in league history. NFL Network even ran commercials leading up to last night's game stating as much. I wish that everyone would stop. It's irresponsible of the NFL to advertise this rivalry as something that it's not. The Bears-Packers rivalry is not the oldest rivalry in league history. They've played each other a bunch. They just haven't played as long as another rivalry. The Packers didn't join the new league until 1921. The Bears and the Chicago Cardinals started their heated rivalry over Windy City bragging rights in 1920. Of course that rivalry lost what little luster it had when the Cardinals moved to St. Louis in 1960 and then Arizona in 1988. Bears-Cardinals just doesn't have the appeal of Bears-Packers. Bears-Packers just screams football. It's probably the most historically significant rivalry in the league history. It's just not the oldest.
Last night's edition of the second longest rivalry in league history went the Packers way. Good thing too. If the San Francisco 49ers take care of the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings take apart the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Vikings will be on top of the NFC North. WooHoo!
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