In a rivalry that rarely needs extra fuel, the Bears and Packers delivered a wild-card chapter that will live in Chicago lore. Down 21–6 early in the fourth quarter, the Bears stormed back to beat Green Bay 31–27, completing a comeback built on explosive quarterback play, late-game composure, and a Packers offense that couldn’t land the finishing blows.
The centerpiece was rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for 361 yards and delivered the defining play: a late touchdown pass to DJ Moore that flipped the game with under two minutes to go. For Chicago, it wasn’t just a win it was a statement that the franchise’s long search for a playoff-driving quarterback may finally have a real answer.
The game’s texture was classic rivalry chaos. Green Bay controlled long stretches, taking a multi-score lead behind steady scoring and what looked like a comfortable second-half script. But as the fourth quarter opened, momentum turned sharply. Chicago’s offense began attacking the field more aggressively, converting chunk plays and forcing the Packers defense into uncomfortable coverage decisions.
The comeback also exposed a familiar postseason truth: when you leave a team alive, you invite volatility. Penalties, missed opportunities, and clock-management pressure compound quickly, especially against an opponent that suddenly plays with “nothing to lose” freedom. A late missed field goal loomed large in the postgame narrative, because it represented points that would have forced Chicago to chase a different math problem in the final minutes.
For the Bears, the most encouraging element was not just the highlight touchdown it was the pace of adjustment. In playoff football, teams that can diagnose what’s failing early and correct it fast tend to last. Chicago’s shift toward higher-tempo execution and perimeter creation opened lanes and simplified reads. The offense looked like it understood exactly what the moment demanded.
For Green Bay, the loss ends a season with painful aftertaste. A rivalry defeat is already brutal; a rivalry defeat that happens after holding a commanding late lead is the kind that sparks offseason structural questions scheme, situational discipline, roster balance, and whether the organization has enough explosive offense to match the elite contenders still alive.
The Bears now move forward with a different kind of pressure: expectation. Winning a wild-card thriller creates belief, but it also puts a spotlight on repeatability. Can Chicago protect the football, avoid the slow starts, and keep Williams upright against a stronger opponent? If they can, this game might be remembered as the moment their rebuild turned into a real window.