Late on Saturday night at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears rallied from a 10-point deficit to tie Green Bay 16-16 in the final 1:59 of regulation and then won 22-16 in overtime when Caleb Williams connected on a 46-yard touchdown to DJ Moore. The victory improved the Bears to 11-4 and gave them a 1.5-game lead over the Packers (9-5-1) in the NFC North with two games remaining. The win avenged Chicago’s Week 14 loss in Green Bay and marked the franchise’s sixth game this season in which it trailed in the final two minutes of regulation, a league-high and team record. Head coach Ben Johnson praised the group’s toughness after the win and commended special teams and late-game execution.
Key Takeaways
- The Bears beat the Packers 22-16 in overtime after scoring 10 points in the final 1:59 of regulation and a 46-yard OT TD from Caleb Williams to DJ Moore.
- Chicago improved to 11-4; Green Bay fell to 9-5-1; the victory extended the Bears’ run to seven wins in eight games.
- Caleb Williams finished 19-of-34 for 250 yards, two TDs (both on the Bears’ final two possessions), no turnovers and a 98.9 passer rating.
- DJ Moore led Chicago with five catches for 97 yards; Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III were inactive with injuries.
- Kicker Cairo Santos made all three field-goal attempts (46, 51 and 43 yards) in windy conditions and received a game ball.
- The Packers opened drives into Chicago territory on their first six possessions but were held to three field goals and one touchdown; the Bears stiffened in the red zone.
- Jordan Love left the game in the second quarter with a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit; Malik Willis replaced him and later suffered a critical fumble on a botched exchange in OT.
- Chicago will clinch a playoff berth with a Lions loss to the Steelers and can secure the division with a win in either of its final two games or specific outcomes in other NFC North matchups.
Background
The Bears entered Week 16 facing a pivotal NFC North matchup with the Packers, a game that had division and playoff implications for both clubs. Chicago had rebuilt momentum through the second half of the season, stringing together wins and overcoming prior late-game deficits; the Week 14 loss in Green Bay added significance to Saturday’s meeting. Green Bay, meanwhile, came in with designs on narrowing the gap in the standings and relied on veteran kicking and steady drives to pressure Chicago’s defense. Injuries shaped personnel decisions: Chicago was without receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, and Green Bay’s Jordan Love suffered a concussion in the second quarter, forcing Malik Willis to step in.
The two teams’ stylistic contrast — Green Bay’s methodical drives and Chicago’s opportunistic, clutch scoring late — set up a classic NFC North duel. Special teams and turnover margin loomed as decisive factors: Chicago’s ability to recover an onside kick and Green Bay’s failure to convert short-yardage in overtime each proved decisive. Across the league the Bears’ ability to rally in the final minutes had become a recurring theme, reflecting both in-game adjustments and a growing team belief cultivated by the coaching staff and front office.
Main Event
The game’s first half produced only field goals as Brandon McManus converted from 26 and 22 yards and Green Bay led 6-0 at the break. Chicago’s defense allowed 178 yards before halftime but repeatedly tightened near its goal line, forcing the Packers to settle for three-point kicks after reaching the Chicago 8, 5 and 4. Early offensive miscues stalled Bears scoring chances, including a shotgun snap that sailed over a wildcat-run alignment and resulted in an 18-yard loss on fourth-and-1 in the first half.
Jordan Love exited with a concussion late in the second quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit by Austin Booker, and Malik Willis took over under center for Green Bay. Willis led a pair of extended drives, including a 33-yard touchdown connection to Romeo Doubs late in the third quarter that pushed the Packers’ lead to 13-3. Chicago responded with a 51-yard field goal from Cairo Santos to make it a one-score game heading into the fourth.
Late in the fourth quarter, Santos drilled a 43-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 16-9 with 1:59 remaining. The Bears successfully executed and recovered the onside kick at their own 47, and Caleb Williams systematically moved the offense, completing 6 of 8 passes for 53 yards on the sequence. On fourth-and-4 with :24 left, Williams escaped pressure and found undrafted rookie Jahdae Walker for a 6-yard touchdown to tie the game 16-16.
In overtime the Packers reached the Chicago 36 but failed to convert on fourth-and-1 when a botched exchange between center Sean Rhyan and Malik Willis led to a fumble recovered by Emmanuel Wilson short of the line to gain. On the ensuing possession, an 11-yard run by Kyle Monangai set up Chicago, and Williams’ 46-yard rainbow to DJ Moore ended the game instantly and sparked jubilant scenes at Soldier Field.
Analysis & Implications
The comeback underscores both Chicago’s red-zone resistance and late-game poise. Defensively, the Bears allowed multiple long drives but clamped down inside the 10-yard line, forcing field goals rather than touchdowns on five Red Zone attempts — a difference of potentially 14 points. Offensively, Williams’ composure on high-leverage plays — notably a fourth-down touchdown and the OT heave — strengthened his standing as a late-season closer for a young offense missing two key receivers.
Special teams were decisive: Santos’ three long field goals in windy conditions preserved scoring opportunities and provided the margin that kept Chicago within striking distance. The onside kick recovery and disciplined execution on the final possessions highlight preparation and practice-room carryover, two recurring themes Coach Ben Johnson emphasized postgame. Conversely, Green Bay’s mishandled OT exchange and inability to finish drives with touchdowns proved costly despite overall ball-movement success.
In standings terms, the result puts the Bears one-and-a-half games clear of the Packers with two to play, boosting their path to an NFC North title. Multiple paths remain for Chicago to clinch the division or a playoff berth, but the team now controls its fate to a greater extent. For Green Bay, the loss tightens the margin for error and elevates the importance of upcoming matchups against Baltimore and Minnesota.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Chicago 22, Green Bay 16 (OT) |
| Bears Record | 11-4 |
| Packers Record | 9-5-1 |
| Caleb Williams | 19/34, 250 yards, 2 TD, 98.9 rating |
| DJ Moore | 5 receptions, 97 yards, game-winning TD |
| Cairo Santos | 3 FGs (46, 51, 43 yards) |
| Late comebacks (trailing in final 2 mins) | Bears: 6 this season (NFL-high, franchise record) |
The table highlights the core numbers that decided the game and season context. The Bears’ six late comebacks this season are notable both as a team trait and as a statistical outlier; Chicago’s special teams and clutch passing on the final two possessions were the proximate causes of victory. The Packers’ string of drives into Chicago territory contrasts with their inability to convert in the red zone, which ultimately swung the game.
Reactions & Quotes
“This is a special group,”
Ben Johnson, Bears head coach
Johnson credited the roster construction and mental toughness of players and coaches, highlighting previous late wins earlier in the season as catalysts for belief.
“He did a phenomenal job,”
Ben Johnson, on K Cairo Santos
Johnson singled out Santos’ handling of wind and field-goal preparation as a critical factor in keeping Chicago within striking distance heading into the final minutes.
Unconfirmed
- The long-term prognosis and exact timelines for receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III were not disclosed publicly after the game and remain unconfirmed.
- The full medical evaluation and expected recovery timeline for Packers quarterback Jordan Love following the concussion have not been released.
- Any internal roster moves or practice-designated changes related to Saturday’s injuries have not been officially announced as of the postgame update.
Bottom Line
Chicago’s 22-16 overtime victory over Green Bay is a signature result for the 11-4 Bears: it avenges an earlier loss, secures a stronger division position and reinforces the team’s identity as one that closes games. Special teams reliability, timely defensive stands in the red zone and Caleb Williams’ late-game accuracy were the decisive elements. The outcome tightens the NFC North race but gives Chicago a clearer path to the postseason — while also raising questions for Green Bay about finishing drives and protecting the ball in clutch moments.
With two regular-season games remaining, the Bears control multiple routes to the division crown and a playoff berth. The most immediate takeaways for fans and analysts are the team’s late-game resiliency and the importance of depth — particularly at receiver and special teams — as Chicago navigates the stretch run.