Do NFL Teams Choose Charter Buses Over Flying for Divisional Games?

In the National Football League (NFL), teams generally fly for away games, especially for longer distances. However, for divisional matchups among teams that are relatively close in proximity, such as the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions, bus travel is often chosen over flying. This approach helps reduce travel time and provides a more flexible schedule for game days.

For example, the Packers and Bears are both located in the Midwest and are only a few hours apart by bus. Similarly, the Vikings and Lions are in close range. While each team's travel decisions can vary based on logistics, weather, and scheduling, it is common for teams in the same division to use charter buses for these matchups. This method not only cuts down on travel time but also allows for a more flexible schedule on game day.

Once upon a time, the Packers would travel by train. Early Packers history is full of stories of sendoffs as the team boarded their train to Chicago or welcomed them back at one of Green Bay’s train stations upon returning. However, it seems that today, these teams travel to each other's stadiums almost exclusively by aircraft.

For instance, this week, the Packers flew to play the Bears in Chicago, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The trip between Green Bay and Chicago is the shortest of the rivalries, followed by Green Bay-Minneapolis and Chicago-Detroit. If the Packers fly for this game, it's hard to imagine that any other team in the NFC North would travel by bus for these matchups, unless something unusual, like airport closures due to bad weather, occurred.

Minneapolis to Detroit is more than a 10-hour drive, and even Chicago to Detroit, which is nearby in NFL terms, can be a five-hour drive at minimum. Including the notorious traffic of Midwest metro areas, these travel times can extend by several hours. This is grueling for the players and cuts down on practice time. Therefore, flying, especially when teams charter their planes, is much easier and more convenient. Often, teams may be coming off a road game on the East or West coast, making air travel even more beneficial.

Conclusion: Despite the convenience and flexibility of chartered buses for shorter distances, the majority of NFL teams, including the Packers, Vikings, Bears, and Lions, primarily opt for aircraft for divisional matchups. This choice helps minimize the impact on players' schedules and ensures they have ample time for preparation and training.