Packers have history of exciting season openers against archrival Bears
On Monday, we learned that the Bears and Packers will square off to kick off the 100th season of the NFL, clashing on "Thursday Night Football" on Sept. 5.
RELATED:Packers to open NFL's 100th season in Thursday night game vs. Bears at Soldier Field
You may be aware that this is not the first time the Packers and Bears have met in the first week of the season. Just last year, the teams battled in what wound up being the best game of the year for the Packers.
RELATED:The top seven moments in which Aaron Rodgers ripped out the hearts of the Chicago Bears
Behold: a full rundown of Packers-Bears clashes in the first week of the NFL season.
2018
Green Bay 24, Chicago 23
You haven't forgotten this one yet, have you?
Topped off by a 75-yard catch and touchdown run by Randall Cobb, Aaron Rodgers returned from what looked like a significant first-half injury and led the Packers to a stunning 24-23 win on "Sunday Night Football." The Bears got the last laugh and won the division, but it was a great night to be a Packer.
RELATED:Seven memorable moments from departing Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb
RELATED:Packers ‘ain’t seen nothing like’ Rodgers’ comeback against Bears
2015
Green Bay 31, Chicago 23
Randall Cobb's touchdown with 10:26 left put the Packers ahead, 24-16, and Eddie Lacy added a short touchdown to put the Packers up big with less than 2 minutes to go. Future Packer Martellus Bennett caught a TD with 34 seconds left for the Bears to make things interesting, but Davante Adams secured the onside kick. That felt especially notable, in the team's first game since a failed attempt to field an onside kick in the 2014 postseason led to ... you know. Clay Matthews had a 48-yard interception return of a Jay Cutler pass.
2009
Green Bay 21, Chicago 15
This was another thriller on "Sunday Night Football,: and the Packers prevailed when Greg Jennings caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers with 1:11 to go, mere moments after Robbie Gould's field goal put the Bears up, 15-13. Jay Cutler's first pass after the ensuing kickoff was intercepted by Al Harris to seal the game.
2006
Chicago 26, Green Bay 0
It had been a decade since the Bears and Packers met in Week 1, but this reunion was grisly. Robbie Gould kicked four field goals, Devin Hester returned a punt for touchdown and Brett Favre was intercepted twice as the Packers took one on the chin at Lambeau Field. The Packers finished 8-8 that season.
1997
Green Bay 38, Chicago 24
In the afterglow of winning Super Bowl XXXI, Green Bay returned to the field at Lambeau on "Monday Night Football" and delivered a sharp performance, scoring 20 straight points in the middle of the game to pull away. Favre threw for two scores, and Santana Dotson's sack of Bears quarterback Erik Kramer turned into a Packers touchdown when Gabe Wilkins recovered the resulting fumble. The Packers closed the season in the Super Bowl again, though, well ... you know. It was the first time the Packers opened the season against the Bears in 16 years.
1981
Green Bay 16, Chicago 9
The rare opening-week game that took place at Soldier Field, but a Packers win all the same. Eddie Lee Ivery and Gerry Ellis scored early touchdowns, and Jan Stenerud added a field goal in the fourth quarter. Green Bay held Walter Payton to 81 yards rushing and a touchdown. Ivery sustained a knee injury in the game and was lost for the season.
1980
Green Bay 12, Chicago 6
One year earlier, the teams met at Lambeau to start the year and finished the game in overtime, capping it on a memorable play by kicker Chester Marcol.
Marcol kicked two field goals and ran a blocked field goal attempt 25 yards in overtime for the winning points.
RELATED:Sept. 7, 1980: Chester Marcol's touchdown run vs. Bears
1979
Chicago 6, Green Bay 3
Packers football in the late 70s and 1980s wasn't for the faint of heart. Kickers were obviously at the center again, with Marcol scoring once and Bob Thomas twice.
1969
Green Bay 17, Chicago 0
The glory years of the Packers may have been fading, but not at the outset of the 1969 season, two years removed from back-to-back Super Bowl championships. Travis Williams caught a 31-yard touchdown from Bart Starr, and Jim Grabowski scored a short touchdown to account for the bulk of the Packers' points.
1964
Green Bay 23, Chicago 12
Bart Starr threw for two touchdowns, including one to Max McGee, and the Packers pulled away with two field goals by Paul Hornung.
1963
Chicago 10, Green Bay 3
Jerry Kramer's 41-yard field goal were the only Packers points of the day.
1960
Chicago 17, Green Bay 14
The Bears scored all 17 of their points in the fourth quarter, capped with a John Aveni field goal to send the Packers to defeat. Green Bay won the rematch, 41-13, and won the West Division.
The 1950s
1959: Green Bay 9, Chicago 6
1958: Chicago 34, Green Bay 20
1957: Green Bay 21, Chicago 17
1952: Chicago 24, Green Bay 14
1951: Chicago 31, Green Bay 20
The 1940s
1949: Chicago 17, Green Bay 0
1947: Green Bay 29, Chicago 20
1946: Chicago 30, Green Bay 7
1945: Green Bay 31, Chicago 21
1943: Green Bay 21, Chicago 21 (tie)
1942: Chicago 44, Green Bay 28
Overall in season openers: Green Bay Packers 13, Chicago Bears 10 (with one tie)
JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.