As far as “Worst year in the Chicago/GB rivalry,” then, yes, absolutely. Even though Favre regularly slayed the Bears in the ’90s, it was only twice a year – they never had to endure a playoff loss to the hated Pack. In 2011, not only did we have to watch the Cheeseheads win the SB, but the Bears had two chances to stop them and failed.

However, worst year in terms of general football? No. You’d have to go back to the Wannstedt days for that. I’d say 2011 offered a lot of bright spots for the Bears (Cutler maturing, Forte blossoming, drafting Carimi, etc.). If the Bears play their cards right in 2012, there could be good things ahead for this team.

Going 0-4 against GB certainly sucks.

I can think of seasons that were worse in that they offered little hope of success from the outset and expectations were low.

However, I cannot think of a year that showed such promise only to disintegrate in the manner of a trainwreck in slow motion.

1. Losing to the Packers at the end of last regular season allowed them into the playoffs.
2. Losing to the Packers in the NFC Championship game put them into the Super Bowl.
3. Cutler’s injury in the NFC Championship game brought his toughness into question (unfair as it was).
4. A few good plays by Hanie in that game made the Bears and most fans comfortable with him as our backup.
5. Signing Lovie to an extension just because he won one playoff game in 4 years (and that was against the worst playoff team in history) now has us having to put up with mediocrity for at least one more season.
6. Listening to Martz regarding Roy Williams and not listening to him regarding Hanie.
7. Another year of Angelo/Lovie personnel moves.
8. Season ending injuries to Cutler & Forte.
9. Possible career threatening injury to Knox.
10. Not being able to finish for a second straight season, despite injuries.

That’s a lot of negative stuff for a 12 month period.

but definitely up there – unable to keep the Packers out of the playoffs last year, getting beat in the NFCCG in large part to Cutler’s injury, then this year hitting good momentum in the middle of the season only to lose multiple starters due to injury and get whuped by the Pack twice (again). The numerous gut punches we’ve endured in ’11 at the hand of the Pack and injuries is pretty horrible.

4 losses to the Packers in a single calendar year makes me want to crawl in a hole, curl up in a fetal position and think about pancakes.

worse? no.