CHICAGO — Caleb Williams made a magic play. He dropped back, faked a pass, and threw to DJ Moore. Moore was wide open down the side of the field. It was a 25-yard touchdown with 1:43 left on the clock. That pass gave the Chicago Bears the lead. It powered their huge comeback win over the rival Green Bay Packers. The final score was 31-27 in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday night.
The Bears are champions of the NFC North. They finished the regular season at 12-6. This was their first playoff win in 15 years. They came back from 18 points down. At halftime, they trailed 21-3. After three quarters, it was 21-6. But in the fourth quarter, Chicago scored 25 points to Green Bay’s 6.
Quarterback Caleb Williams shone in his first playoff game. He threw for 361 yards and two key touchdowns. He completed 24 of 48 passes but had two picks. Tight end Colston Loveland had a big night with eight catches for 137 yards. Rookie Loveland helped with a 2-point conversion later.
Bears coach Ben Johnson called it “true belief.” The team trusts their coaches and players to make big plays. This was their seventh comeback win in the fourth quarter this season. They play a divisional-round game at home next weekend against either the Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia Eagles.
How the Game Turned
Early on, it looked bad for Chicago. The Packers led big. Jordan Love threw four touchdown passes for 323 yards. Receivers Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed scored in the first half. Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper picked off Williams near the goal line in the third quarter.
But the Bears fought back. Running back D’Andre Swift scored on a 5-yard run to make it 21-16. Green Bay answered with rookie Matthew Golden’s 23-yard touchdown catch-and-run. He broke three tackles and jumped over a defender. It made the score 27-16. Kicker Brandon McManus missed the extra point.
Chicago drove 76 yards next. Williams hit Olamide Zaccheaus for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Then he found Loveland for two points. Score: 27-24 with 4:18 left. The Packers drove to the Bears’ 21-yard line. But McManus missed a 44-yard field goal wide right.
Williams struck again with the go-ahead touchdown to Moore. The Bears led 31-27. Love led a final drive into Chicago territory. On third down at the 28, he fumbled the snap, ran, and threw a desperate pass to the end zone as time ran out. Safety Jaquan Brisker tipped it away. Bears fans went wild. Coaches Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur shared a quick handshake.
Rivalry Shifts
Green Bay owned this NFL’s oldest rivalry for years. But Chicago has won three of the last five games. The Bears split two close regular-season games with the Packers. Williams, the No. 1 draft pick last year, said he’s here to stay and win more. Coach Johnson added, “We keep fighting. That’s who we are.”
The Packers finished 9-8-1. They lost their last five games. Star rusher Micah Parsons got hurt late in the season. Their defense struggled without him. Love said they started strong but couldn’t hold the lead. Coach LaFleur said the team fought injuries but fell short.
Injuries Hit Both Sides
Packers: Right tackle Zach Tom (knee) did not play. Backup Jacob Monk (biceps) left early.
Bears: Linebacker T.J. Edwards has a broken left fibula. He’s out for the season. Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo hurt his knee on the final drive. Cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin) returned from injury.
Up Next
Packers head into offseason. Bears host divisional round: Eagles at 49ers or Rams beat Panthers already.
Special Moment: Cancer Survivor’s Big Night
Before kickoff, breast cancer survivor Cheryl Moeller helped unfurl the giant Bears flag at Soldier Field. Her daughter Alyssa joined her. Moeller finished treatment at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. She’s now cancer-free. What an inspiring start to the game!
