At a Glance
- The Chicago Bears erased a 21-3 halftime deficit to defeat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in wild-card weekend.
- Caleb Williams rallied late, throwing for 361 yards and the game-winning touchdown to D.J. Moore.
- Brandon McManus missed two field goals and an extra point, leaving seven points off the board for Green Bay.
- Why it matters: Chicago snaps a 15-year playoff-win drought and advances to face either the Eagles or Rams next week.
Chicago’s Soldier Field erupted as the Bears turned a 21-3 hole into a 31-27 triumph, outscoring the Packers 25-6 in the fourth quarter alone.
How the Comeback Unfolded
Green Bay controlled the first half, with Jordan Love tossing three touchdown passes and the defense bottling up Chicago’s offense. The Packers took a 21-3 lead into the locker room and looked poised to cruise.
The script flipped after halftime. Caleb Williams shook off two interceptions and engineered four second-half scoring drives. His final strike-a perfect deep ball to D.J. Moore-gave Chicago its first lead with under two minutes left.
Love’s last gasp on 3rd-and-15 ended in chaos: a scramble, a near-interception, and an incomplete heave as the clock hit zeros.
Key Performances
Winners
- Caleb Williams: 24-of-48, 361 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT; came alive when it mattered most.
- Jordan Love: 24-of-46, 323 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT; kept Green Bay afloat despite the collapse.
- Soldier Field: First playoff victory since 2010; crowd noise tilted momentum in the fourth.
Losers
- Matt LaFleur: Second-half game plan faltered; offense managed only two field goals after halftime.
- Brandon McManus: Missed from 41 and 48 yards, plus a critical PAT; any one of those swings the result.
| Category | Packers 1H | Packers 2H |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 21 | 6 |
| Pass Yards | 210 | 113 |
| Time of Poss. | 17:03 | 11:57 |
What’s Next
The Bears await Sunday’s results to learn whether they host the No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles or travel to face the No. 5 Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. Either opponent presents a steeper challenge than the division-rival Packers.
Key Takeaways
- Chicago’s 15-year playoff-win drought is over.
- Caleb Williams delivered under pressure in his postseason debut.
- Green Bay’s kicking woes cost them a winnable game.
- The Bears’ defense held Love to zero second-half touchdowns.
With momentum and a raucous home crowd, Chicago believes this run is just getting started.
