Image Source: Frank Schwab
Key Takeaways:
- The Chicago Bears completed a historic comeback against the Green Bay Packers, overcoming an 18-point deficit to win 31-27.
- The Bears’ quarterback, Caleb Williams, led the team to 25 points in the fourth quarter, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore with 1:43 remaining.
- The Packers’ offense stalled in the second half, and a trio of missed kicks cost them seven points, allowing the Bears to mount their comeback.
- The Bears will play either the Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round in Chicago.
- The Packers’ loss marks one of the biggest collapses in their history, made especially painful by having it happen against their biggest rival.
Introduction to the Game
The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have a long and storied history, and their recent matchup was no exception. As Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur noted in an interview at the end of the first half, "Obviously this one is going to hurt for a really, really long time." The Bears, down 18 points in the first half and 11 points with less than five minutes to go, had another miracle comeback to go with their miracle comeback against the Packers in Week 16. The Packers’ offense stalled in the second half, and a trio of missed kicks cost them seven points, allowing the Bears to mount the franchise’s greatest playoff comeback and one of the most exciting comebacks in NFL playoff history.
The Packers’ Early Lead
The Packers took a big lead in each of their first two meetings with the Bears, and the start to the third meeting was familiar. Jordan Love, who hadn’t played since suffering a concussion against the Bears on December 20, was sharp from the start of the game. He threw for three touchdown passes on the Packers’ first three drives, including one after a big gamble by Bears head coach Ben Johnson on fourth down. The Packers led 21-3 after that, and it seemed like they were on their way to an easy win. As LaFleur said, "We just couldn’t stop it from happening. At this point, it’s in the Bears’ DNA to dig a big hole and then produce a ridiculous comeback."
The Bears’ Comeback
However, the Bears were not ready to give up. They chipped away at the Packers’ lead, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore with 1:43 remaining. The Packers couldn’t answer, running out of time after a drive into Chicago territory, and their 21-3 first-half lead became a 31-27 loss. As Williams said, "We just kept plugging away and finally pulled off the wild rally." The Bears’ comeback was led by Williams, who put together two huge drives in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning touchdown pass to Moore.
The Packers’ Collapse
The Packers’ loss marks one of the biggest collapses in their history, made especially painful by having it happen against their biggest rival. The team’s offense stalled in the second half, and a trio of missed kicks cost them seven points. As LaFleur said, "We just couldn’t finish it off. We had our chances, but we couldn’t capitalize on them." The Packers’ collapse was also marked by a series of mistakes, including a missed extra point and a fumbled kickoff return.
The Aftermath
The Bears’ win sets up a divisional round matchup against either the Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia Eagles in Chicago. The team’s comeback was a testament to their resilience and determination, and it will be remembered for a long time. As Johnson said, "We just kept believing in each other and kept fighting. We knew we had the talent and the ability to come back and win the game." The Packers, on the other hand, will have to regroup and try to bounce back from a tough loss. As LaFleur said, "This one is going to hurt for a really, really long time, but we’ll learn from it and move on."
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