It would be fair to say "Bear down" has turned into "lay down" when it comes to games against thePackers. The Monsters of the Midway haven't lived up to the nickname recently when they play Green Bay.
It's OK to admit you switched over "The Walking Dead" when things got ridiculous at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
Here are five reasons the Bears are no longer a rival to the Green Bay Packers.
1. In a rivalry, both teams have to win somewhat consistently. The Bears don't.
Even though the Bears still cling onto a 93-91-6 overall record against the Packers, the feeling of a rivalry isn't the same. Disasters like Sunday night's loss can't happen if a team claims to have rivalry. Otherwise, it's just another game the Packers won't take seriously.
2. When was the last time the Bears were better than the Packers?
Trust me, it seems like forever. The days of Walter Payton running wild along with Richard Dent, Mike Singletary and Dan Hampton running roughshod over Green Bay are a distant memory. In recent seasons, Brett Farve passed the torch (a fitting word after Sunday) to Aaron Rodgers.
3. The Vikings are the Packers' top rivals. Their fans have said that since the '90s.
I hate to break it to Bears fans, but the Packers haven't seen Chicago as its rival in some time. Minnesota is 22-30-1 against Green Bay since 1990. Which isn't great, but the Vikings can claim they have beaten the Pack in a playoff game recently.
4. Aaron Rodgers won't stop kicking the Bears' butts.
Full disclosure, Rodgers is my fantasy QB. That may be grounds for treason around these parts, but I'm a realist. Rodgers has 10 touchdowns passes versus the Bears this season. This quote from "The Simpsons"says it best, "Stop! Stop! He's already dead."
5. It's disrespectful to the Packers.
The Bears haven't held up their end of the bargain, period. Since the Bears won five of eight against the Packers during the 2005-07 seasons, they have lost 12 of 15 against their alleged rivals. That includes a six-game losing streak.
That's not the stuff rivalries are made of.
Evan F. Moore is a RedEye special contributor.