Some Chicago Bears players don’t really get a grasp of the rivalry with the Green Bay Packers until after their first or second years. It takes that long to understand how seriously fans take it and how much hatred there is for that team up north. Especially given how often the Packers have dominated lately due to their decisive advantage at quarterback. However, certain players don’t need an education because they grew up in that environment. Cole Kmet is one of them.
The rookie tight end grew up in the Chicago suburbs. He was a Bears fan since he was in diapers. So one can imagine he doesn’t need any sort of encouragement to hate the Packers. In fact, he seems to pride himself on it these days. When asked about it during his recent press conference ahead of Sunday’s game, Kmet smirked and made his stance on Green Bay crystal clear.
Obviously, he’s been conditioned well.
Kmet’s first taste of the rivalry was a sour one. He went up to Lambeau Field and watch the Packers destroy the Bears 41-25. A game where he made just one catch for eight yards. Since then the top draft pick seems to have found some momentum down the stretch. He’s steadily becoming a bigger factor in the passing game and is establishing himself as a quality blocker.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Bears try to get him more involved this time around. Green Bay is a solid defense but they haven’t always been stellar defending opposing tight ends. He and Jimmy Graham could prove valuable targets for Mitch Trubisky what with the Packers certain to focus on stopping David Montgomery and Allen Robinson.
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Cole Kmet hopes to change the culture in Chicago
When he arrived, two things were clear regarding the Bears. Their offense is always bad and they always lose to the Packers. That held true through the first three months of the season. Then things started to shift. The Bears have averaged over 35 points per game during their three-game win streak in December culminating with 41 against the lowly Jaguars last Sunday. So it appears they may have solved one issue.
This weekend marks a chance to solve another. The Bears are playing a Packers team at its peak. This isn’t the team they managed to beat back in 2018 to win the division. Green Bay is riding high at 12-3. Their offense is humming and the defense is playing aggressive and confident. They have no reason to fear or even respect Chicago.
If the Bears want it, they’re going to have to take it.
When was the last time they hand a season-defining win against the Packers when the Packers were actually good? One would have to go all the way back to 1963 when Chicago swept them twice in the regular season to set up their appearance in the NFL championship game. This is the kind of history Cole Kmet and his teammates are working against. It’s going to take one heck of an effort to change it.
