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When our resident Chicago Bears historian, Jack M Silverstein, isn’t researching incredibly deep dives into long snappers and the creation of the modern special teams units, he’s dropping well thought out threads on his Twitter account.
He’s earned the nickname “The Thread King” for his mastery of the Twitter platform, and since I know not all of you guys frequent social media, I had to share his latest here at WCG.
I was talking to a Bears fan friend today after the press conference, discussing the basis for Bears fan fury, and it led me to look at some key numbers of the past 25 years comparing us, the Packers, and the Lions. And frankly, we're closer to being the Lions than the Packers. pic.twitter.com/BVMKN9gtHx
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
I summed up my personal Bears frustration with this, but even that wasn’t quite right, because no one is the Patriots. I’d settle for being a millionaire in this scenario, and that’s Green Bay. pic.twitter.com/grp2qqNhqZ
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
I know we all got annoyed when Lions fans tried to equate a six-game winning streak to the entire damn history of our two franchises. That was a ballsy maneuver for one of only two clubs from prior to the Super Bowl era that has never been to a Super Bowl.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
But they had a point. pic.twitter.com/nd3vJp6EQb
Why did I look at 25 years? I think that's the peak of one's fandom, give or take. You become a fan at about 5 years old, you start to understand what you're seeing at about 10, you start learning history at about 15.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
25 is the best mix of knowledge, experience and emotion.
But 25 years is also important because that puts us outside of our last Super Bowl. The Bears brass skates by on a ton of b.s. because of our history. And you know I love history but let's get real. A 25-year-old Bears fan should have lived through a championship.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
Alright, the gory details. Since 1995, Packers-Bears-Lions:
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
Champs: 2-0-0
Super Bowls: 3-1-0
NFC CG: 8-2-0
Div champs: 14-5-0
Playoffs: 19-6-6
Losing seasons: 4-14-18
10-loss seasons: 2-10-15
Last in division: 1-10-11
Are we more Packers or more Lions? pic.twitter.com/NE1qp2TWWh
The head-to-head totals since 1995 aren’t any better. We’re two games better than Detroit head to head, but we’re worse than Detroit against the Pack.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
Bears vs. Lions: 27-25
Packers vs. Bears: 40-13
Packers vs. Lions: 37-15 pic.twitter.com/g38DLEL9fm
Frustratingly, we’ve had talent. Just not at QB.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
Since 1995, Packers-Bears-Lions:
First team All Pro players: 11-16-8
First team All Pro seasons: 18-21-15
Pro Bowl QBs: 2-1-1
Pro Bowl QB seasons: 18-1-1
4,000-yard QB seasons: 15-0-11 pic.twitter.com/SAvPcFNa5L
What kills me is that the McCaskeys and the greater NFL still touts the Bears-Pack rivalry as one of equity. Yet talk to Bears fans under 30 and they'll tell you they don't see it that way. They've seen a nearly 30-game swing in their life for the Pack.https://t.co/TnsIGqrK3Y
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
The Bears-Pack conversation used to be this:
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
"We've got more HOFers. They've got a few more titles. We've got the all-time series. They have better QBs. We've got better RBs and LBs. What a rivalry."
Now they crush us with few exceptions, and George and Ted just don't ACT.
It's weak to tout history when you have no present. We've won one championship in 35 years. We've won two championships since the team was integrated. Seven of our nine titles came before the NFL ended the two-way player era.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
You want to understand the fan fury? There you go.
So when Bears leadership sits in front of us and acts as if all is well after another dud season, brings back the guy who just four years ago set the franchise back a decade and boasts about "culture" over actually winning games and championships, it's an insult.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
George McCaskey, Ted Phillips and Ryan Pace are Jerry and George enamored with the crop circles.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
We're the vendor trying to get their priorities straight.
"Culture? Why don't you win something." pic.twitter.com/jLmgzY55qN
When Bears ownership wants to raise ticket prices, they do it. When they want to curtail tailgating in the parking lots, they do it. When they want to get rid of players we love, they do it. There are consequences for everyone except themselves, Pace included.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
Listen, it's #BearDown until I die. That's just what it is. But this leadership has turned the Bears into a Cubs-esque generational heartbreak machine. We're not who the McCaskeys think we are. We're who Packers fans, and Lions fans, know we are. I'm sick of it.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 14, 2021
For you guys that do the Twitter thing, you sure as heck better be following Jack for not only his Bears takes, but his takes on all of Chicago sports.
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