How does Aaron Rodgers staying in Green Bay affect the Chicago Bears?
Aaron Rodgers is staying in Green Bay, much to the demise of many Chicago Bears fans. It looked like there was a real chance Rodgers would finally be out of the NFC North, but the Packers were able to lock up their superstar quarterback on a deal that will keep him in Green Bay for a reported four years.
The #Packers and MVP QB Aaron Rodgers have agreed to terms on a 4-year, $200M deal that makes him the highest paid player in NFL history, sources say. He gets a whopping $153M guaranteed and his cap number goes down. A monstrous commitment by GB for years to come. 💰 💰 💰
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022
The Chicago Bears will get another four years of Aaron Rodgers
While this news means that the NFC will stay with a clear favorite, Bears fans should not be so quick to get upset. Obviously, it would have been much easier to compete in this division if Aaron Rodgers left town, the Bears need to beat the Packers with Aaron Rodgers. Beating a team that features Jordan Love at quarterback and possibly no Davonte Adams would not be as meaningful as beating Aaron and company.
The Chicago Bears have had little success over the last decade and on against their biggest rivals. There is a reason that Rodgers told the city of Chicago that he owns the Bears. How great of a first impression would it be for Matt Eberflus the Bears to take at least one game from the Packers this year?
The rest of the NFC is a tossup next season. Both the Bears and the Vikings are going through roster and staff overhaul, and the Lions are still rebuilding. If Rodgers left then there would not be a clear favorite, but him remaining in this division keeps the Packers on top. The Bears have a new staff and could rewrite their narrative by beating Green Bay with Rodgers. While a win over any Packer team would be nice, it would feel especially good if it came over Rodgers.
The Bears should look to compete in the coming years. While Green Bay does have superstar talent, they will be forced to cut some players this offseason. They might look somewhat different next year on defense especially. The Bears will have Justin Fields developing as well as a hopefully improved roster around him. The Packers have dominated the Chicago Bears over the last few matchups, leading to some very lopsided scores. Hopefully, the new-look Bears can compete with the Packers rather than getting folded over.
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While a road to the playoffs would have been much easier without Aaron Rodgers in the division, it will be a testament to the new team and staff whether they can produce a different result against the Packers. The road to being a contender means beating good teams, and they will get the chance to prove it plenty more times against Aaron Rodgers.