Outings against the Falcons, Buccaneers and Steelers are one thing. Chicago Bears fans would like to beat any team, but everybody knows the time to get serious is at hand. The Mike Glennon Packers test is at hand. Head coach John Fox seems so convinced that this former backup can be the guy to help the Bears win, then he’ll have to prove it.
There is no team in the NFL or throughout history who has been a better judge of how good or more often bad a Bears starting quarterback is than Green Bay. Glennon has never played them during his career. Some might consider that a red flag already. In fact some might be shocked at the results of how most of the notable starting Bears QBs throughout history fared in their first Packer encounters.
- Sid Luckman: W 30-27
- George Blanda: W 17-13
- Kyle Orton: W 19-7
- Rex Grossman: W 21-10
- Jim McMahon: L 31-28
- Billy Wade: L 24-0
- Jay Cutler: L 21-15
- Jim Harbaugh: L 14-13
- Erik Kramer: L 33-6
- Ed Brown: L 24-3
- Bob Avellini: L 28-7
- Rudy Bukich: L 17-3
- Jim Miller: L 20-12
- Jack Concannon: L 17-13
- Bobby Douglass: L 17-14
That’s right. Only four Bears starters out of 15 total managed to win their first game. Not only that but of the 11 who failed only one managed to put up more than 20 points and that was McMahon. He along with Wade and Cutler managed to have long careers after that first loss but it’s not entirely due to their singular feats.
McMahon was often injured during his Bears career. Much of his success was due in large part to playing with Walter Payton and a great defense. The same goes for Wade during his run in the early ’60s. Cutler had one good year in 2010 but was average the rest of the time, finishing 51-51 as a starter in Chicago.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
As for the winners? Luckman and Blanda are Hall of Famers. Grossman and Orton weren’t anything special but they are still fondly remembered today. If for no other reason than they passed the test. Okay to be fair Grossman went to a Super Bowl and Orton had two winning seasons in Chicago before being traded for Cutler.
So what’s the point of this?
Mike Glennon Packers test will likely determine if Trubisky sits or starts
Everybody knows Glennon is on a short leash. Fans have called for rookie Mitch Trubisky for weeks now. The last thing the veteran can afford is another rough performance. Especially against the Packers. Rest assured the coaches, front office and ownership know how much more important these games are than the rest. Wins over Green Bay matter, both for the team and players.
Don’t believe it? The last two championships the Bears have won involved season sweeps of the Packers. In 2006 during their Super Bowl run they lost to them in the season finale. Coincidence? The point being that players who are instantly hued with a losing aura against this team tend not to last long. Meaning there’s a strong chance if Glennon plays poorly and the Bears lose that Trubisky will get his first start the next week.
