For way too long, the Chicago Bears had to look up to the Green Bay Packers. Things got so ugly that there was no real way to hit back at Aaron Rodgers when he proclaimed ownership of the Bears. It wasn't pretty.
Fortunately, sports always leave the door open for revenge. Nothing is forever, and teams that are up one day might be bottom-feeders the very next year. Likewise, punching bags can turn into Super Bowl contenders overnight.
The Bears have done an amazing job of rebuilding the roster and stacking up talent under general manager Ryan Poles. To make it even sweeter, the NFC North rivals from Wisconsin have done pretty much the opposite.
That's why it's not much of a surprise to see the Packers ranked No. 29 in Aaron Schatz's annual ranking of teams by under-25 talent. Conversely, the Bears are right there on the podium in the third spot.
The Bears are trending up, and the Packers are in trouble
Of course, saying the Packers don't have talented players or a good head coach would be unfair and a flat-out lie. However, outside of Micah Parsons and Xavier McKinney, they don't have any top-5 or even top-10 players at any position.
More than that, the Packers have swung-and-missed with their draft picks pretty often under general manager Brian Gutekunst. Even last year, Matthew Golden didn't look anything close to a first-round-caliber wide receiver.
In the meantime, the Bears have revamped their roster with young talent and potential superstars. Caleb Williams, Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and Ozzy Trapilo could all be building blocks for years to come. On defense, Dillon Thieneman could also be a difference-maker.
The Packers' Super Bowl window might shut down right before their eyes. They don't have much margin for error, and that's a terrible spot to be when you're not even the best team in the division. The NFC North is brutal, and they won't have their best player for at least the first month of the season.
With all the pressure mounting on Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur, plus all the draft miscues by Brian Gutekunst, it feels like the Packers are dangerously approaching 'blow it up' territory. Who can they count on to lead the way if things don't go well in the next couple of years? Do they have enough young talent to be a contending team for years to come? It certainly doesn't look that way.
The Bears have to endure some tough times, but they're right back on track. Now, watching their most hated rival on their way down while they keep trending up will only make this journey sweeter for the fans.
| More Bears News and Rumors |
Add us as a preferred source on Google