If you’re a fan of either of these teams, your biological clock basically resets every April when the NFL drops the schedule. You aren't just looking for games; you’re looking for the games. The rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears is the oldest in the league. It's 100-plus years of bad blood, frozen tundras, and enough "Go Pack Go" versus "Bear Down" screaming matches to fill a lifetime of Sundays.
But here’s the thing. People always ask when do the Packers and Bears play like it’s a simple answer they can just set in stone for the next decade. It isn't. Because they’re both in the NFC North, they are guaranteed to meet twice a year—once at Lambeau Field and once at Soldier Field. That's the baseline. Beyond that, the NFL treats this matchup like the crown jewel of television programming, which means the dates are a moving target designed to maximize your eyeballs on a screen.
The 2025-2026 Schedule Breakdown
Right now, we are looking at the tail end of the cycle for the current season. If you're trying to figure out the timing for the 2025-2026 matchups, you have to understand how the NFL logic works. Generally, one of these games lands in the late autumn—think crisp November air where you still have feeling in your toes—and the second often falls in the "frozen" window of December or early January.
For the 2025 season, the NFL usually announces the official calendar in mid-May. While the specific dates aren't public until that schedule release event, we know for a fact they will play two games. One in Green Bay. One in Chicago.
Historically, the league loves to put this game in a primetime slot. Whether it's Sunday Night Football on NBC or a high-stakes Monday Night Football matchup, you can bet that at least one of these games will be under the lights. Why? Because even when one team is having a "rebuilding year" (sorry, Bears fans, it's been a long decade), the ratings remain massive.
Why the Late Season Matchup Matters More
There is a specific reason why you often see the second meeting scheduled for Week 17 or 18. The NFL wants divisional drama. They want Caleb Williams facing off against Jordan Love when the playoffs are on the line. They want the drama of a win-and-you're-in scenario.
Take a look at the 2024 season. The Packers and Bears didn't even see each other until Week 11. That's bizarrely late in the year. Usually, you’d expect a Week 3 or Week 4 teaser. By waiting until November, the league guaranteed that the rivalry would have maximum impact on the divisional standings. Expect the 2025-2026 schedule to follow a similar "back-loaded" strategy to keep the tension high through the holidays.
Decoding the NFL Schedule Formula
You might wonder how they decide who hosts when. It isn't a coin flip. The NFL uses a rotation, but the divisional games are the bedrock.
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If you're asking when do the Packers and Bears play because you're trying to book a flight to Titletown or the Windy City, you need to watch out for the "Flex Scheduling" trap. This is where things get annoying for fans who like to plan. Starting as early as Week 5, the NFL can move games from a Sunday afternoon slot to Sunday night. This means you might buy a ticket for a 12:00 PM CST kickoff, only to find out twelve days before the game that it’s been moved to 7:20 PM.
It’s a headache. It’s also the reality of being a fan of a "legacy" franchise. The networks—ESPN, CBS, FOX, and NBC—basically fight over this game.
The Soldier Field Factor
Chicago’s home games are currently in a state of flux. With the Bears exploring a move to Arlington Heights or a new domed stadium on the lakefront, the "when" of these games is often tied to the "where." For now, it’s Soldier Field.
If the game is scheduled for September or October, it's a beautiful tourist experience. If it's scheduled for December? You’re dealing with the "Monsters of the Midway" weather. The wind off Lake Michigan can turn a standard passing game into a chaotic ground war. That's exactly what the schedule makers want. They love the visual of snow falling on the orange "C" and the green and gold.
The Jordan Love vs. Caleb Williams Era
We can't talk about when these teams play without talking about who is under center. For thirty years, the Packers dominated this "when" because they had Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. It turned the rivalry into a bit of a lopsided affair.
But things have changed.
The 2025 and 2026 seasons are widely viewed by analysts like Peter King and the folks over at The Athletic as the dawn of a new competitive era. Jordan Love has solidified himself as the heir to the throne in Green Bay. Meanwhile, the Bears have finally—hopefully, for their sake—found a franchise savior in Caleb Williams.
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When these two play now, it isn't just about history. It’s a preview of the next ten years of the NFC North. This "New Age" rivalry is why you'll see these games pushed to the 3:25 PM CST "Game of the Week" slot on FOX more often than not.
Stat Check: The All-Time Series
Honestly, the lead Green Bay has built is significant.
- Total Games Played: Over 200.
- Current Leader: Green Bay (as of 2024, they hold a slight edge that flipped the historical script).
- Longest Win Streak: The Packers recently went on a tear that left Chicago fans questioning their existence.
Because the series is so close in the grand scheme of a century, every single game matters for the "all-time" bragging rights.
Predicting the 2025 Windows
Based on decades of NFL scheduling patterns, we can make some educated guesses about the "when."
- The Early Window: One game likely between Weeks 4 and 8. This is usually a standard Sunday afternoon game.
- The Prime Window: One game between Weeks 14 and 18. This is the "Winter Classic" style game.
If you are looking for the exact date, the NFL Schedule Release traditionally happens the second week of May. That is when the specific calendar dates and kickoff times are locked in. Until then, you are looking at the "Opponents List," which has been confirmed: the Bears and Packers will play twice.
How to Get Tickets Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re planning to attend, the "when" is less important than the "how fast."
Packers-Bears tickets are usually the most expensive divisional tickets in the NFC. Once the schedule drops in May, the secondary market (StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster) explodes. If you wait until the week of the game to see when do the Packers and Bears play, you're going to pay a "rivalry tax."
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Pro tip: The game at Soldier Field is often slightly easier to get into just because of the stadium capacity and the sheer volume of tickets in a larger market, but Lambeau Field is the holy grail. If the "when" lands on a Monday night in Green Bay, expect prices to double.
The Travel Logistics
- For Green Bay games: If the game is a noon kickoff, you can drive up from Milwaukee or Chicago the morning of. If it’s a night game, you better have a hotel room booked six months in advance. The city essentially shuts down for this game.
- For Chicago games: Public transit is your friend. Don't try to park near Soldier Field on a Packers-Bears day. It's a nightmare. Take the Metra.
What the Experts Say
Football insiders like Adam Schefter often hint at these big-ticket games weeks before the official release. The NFL uses these legacy matchups to anchor their international expansion, too. While it's unlikely the Packers and Bears would play each other in London or Germany—since both fanbases would revolt at losing a home rivalry game—the league does use the timing of these games to balance out the rest of the NFC North's travel schedule.
There’s also the "Rest Disadvantage" to consider. When looking at when they play, check if one team is coming off a Thursday Night Football game. A team with 10 days of rest playing a team on a short week is a massive betting edge.
Surprising Facts About the Timing
Did you know the Packers and Bears once played each other three times in a single calendar year? It doesn't happen often, but when they meet in the playoffs, the "when" becomes the only thing that matters in the sports world. The 2010 NFC Championship game is still talked about in hushed, reverent tones (or cursed, if you’re in Illinois).
Also, the "noon vs. night" debate is real. Older fans tend to prefer the noon kickoff—it’s traditional. Younger fans and the networks want the 7:15 PM start. The NFL tries to split the difference by giving each team one "early" game and one "late" game most years.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're serious about tracking this matchup, don't just wait for a random news alert.
- Mark your calendar for May 15th: This is the approximate "safe" date for the NFL Schedule Release. This is when the question of when do the Packers and Bears play finally gets a concrete answer.
- Set up "Conflict" Alerts: Use apps like ESPN or the NFL app to follow both teams specifically. This ensures you get a notification the second a "Flex" change occurs.
- Check the TV Map: If you’re out of market, remember that this game is almost always "nationally televised" or at least covers 80% of the country on the FOX regional map. You probably won't need Sunday Ticket to see it, but check 506 Sports during the week of the game to be sure.
- Book Refundable Travel: If you’re planning a trip to Lambeau or Soldier Field before the schedule is out, only book hotels with free cancellation. The NFL loves to surprise people with Saturday games in December, which could ruin a Sunday-to-Monday travel plan.
The rivalry isn't just a game; it's a season-long narrative. Whether they meet in the heat of September or the sub-zero temperatures of January, the timing dictates the strategy. Keep your eyes on that mid-May window for the final word on the 2025-2026 dates.