Lead: On Jan. 10, 2026 in Chicago, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams delivered a dramatic playoff debut, connecting with DJ Moore on a 25-yard touchdown with 1:43 left as the Chicago Bears rallied from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in a wild-card game. The NFC North champion Bears (12-6) completed their seventh fourth-quarter comeback of the season and earned their first postseason win since 2010. Green Bay (9-8-1), which led 21-6 after three quarters, saw a late drive stopped by Jaquan Brisker in the end zone as time expired. The victory sends Chicago to a divisional-round game at Soldier Field next weekend.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27; game played Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago.
- Caleb Williams completed 24 of 48 passes for 361 yards, two fourth-quarter touchdown passes and two interceptions in his playoff debut.
- Jordan Love passed for 323 yards and four touchdowns after returning from a head injury sustained in Week 16.
- Chicago outscored Green Bay 25-6 in the fourth quarter, overturning a 21-6 deficit entering the final period.
- Key plays: DJ Moore 25-yard TD with 1:43 left; Jaquan Brisker break-up in the end zone on Green Bay’s last third-down attempt to end the game.
- Special teams miscues affected the Packers: Brandon McManus missed one PAT and a 44-yard field goal late in the fourth.
- Top targets: Colston Loveland had eight catches for 137 yards; D’Andre Swift scored on a 5-yard run in the fourth.
- Injuries: Bears LB T.J. Edwards carted off with a left ankle injury; Packers RT Zach Tom remained inactive (knee) after missing the final three regular-season games.
Background
The Bears entered the postseason as the NFC North champions and the NFL’s most-watched rebuild story after selecting Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in 2025 and hiring Ben Johnson as head coach in the offseason. Chicago’s 12-6 mark reflected a season of close finishes: the team closed the regular season with narrow losses but had accumulated several late comebacks, demonstrating resilience under Johnson. Green Bay began the year with Super Bowl expectations but stumbled late, finishing 9-8-1 after a five-game losing streak to close the season.
The Bears-Packers rivalry is the league’s longest-running, and recent results have shifted momentum. Chicago’s win on Saturday marked the third Bears victory in the last five meetings with Green Bay, prompting discussion about a changing balance in the division. For the Packers, a midseason stretch hampered by injuries and missed kicks undone early-season promise and left the roster facing offseason questions.
Main Event
Green Bay controlled much of the first half, building a 21-3 lead by halftime with three first-half touchdown catches from Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. The Packers’ offense looked in rhythm as Jordan Love connected on multiple scoring strikes, while Green Bay’s defense contained Chicago through most of the first three quarters. Chicago managed only a field goal through three periods and trailed 21-6 entering the fourth.
Momentum swung in the fourth as the Bears opened with a D’Andre Swift 5-yard touchdown run to make it 21-16. Green Bay answered when rookie Matthew Golden broke multiple tackles on a 23-yard catch-and-run for his first NFL touchdown, but kicker Brandon McManus missed the extra point, leaving the Packers with a precarious three-score edge.
Chicago methodically responded with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Olamide Zaccheaus and a successful two-point conversion to Colston Loveland, narrowing the gap to 27-24 with 4:18 remaining. After McManus then missed a 44-yard field goal attempt that would have extended Green Bay’s lead, Williams led a 76-yard drive capped by his 25-yard touchdown strike to DJ Moore with 1:43 left, giving the Bears a 31-27 advantage.
On Green Bay’s final possession, Love drove into Chicago territory but could not convert on third-and-long at the 28 when Jaquan Brisker broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired. The play triggered jubilant celebration on the field and a brief, formal handshake between coaches Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur.
Analysis & Implications
Chicago’s comeback underscores the Bears’ late-game poise under Ben Johnson and the impact of drafting Williams. Despite 48 pass attempts and two interceptions, Williams’ ability to orchestrate late drives and finish with 361 yards suggests the Bears’ offense can be dangerous when it finds rhythm. The win validates Chicago’s offseason decisions and gives the franchise renewed momentum heading into the divisional round at Soldier Field.
For Green Bay, the loss magnifies a pattern of missed opportunities and special-teams mistakes that plagued the stretch run. Missing both a point-after attempt and a long field goal in the fourth quarter left points off the board and ultimately proved decisive. The Packers now enter a major offseason evaluation: roster additions, kicking consistency and injury recovery will be central topics for coach Matt LaFleur and general manager leadership.
Nationally, the result shifts playoff narratives: a Bears home-field advantage next weekend could present matchup problems for either the Rams or Eagles because of Chicago’s balanced rushing and passing weapons and an opportunistic defense. Conversely, Green Bay’s season-end slide—from early Super Bowl talk to a wild-card exit—will prompt scrutiny of depth and late-game situational management.
Comparison & Data
| Player/Stat | Chicago | Green Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yds | Caleb Williams 361 | Jordan Love 323 |
| Receiving Leader | Colston Loveland 137 | – |
| Fourth-Quarter Scoring | 25 | 6 |
| Final Score | 31 | 27 |
The table highlights the statistical storyline: Williams outgained Love slightly and Chicago’s fourth-quarter surge (25 points) was the decisive swing. Loveland’s 137 receiving yards provided a consistent chain-mover for the Bears, while Green Bay’s scoring was concentrated earlier in the game. Those splits illustrate why late-game adjustments and execution became the determining factors.
Reactions & Quotes
Postgame responses mixed relief and respect; Chicago celebrated a long-awaited playoff breakthrough while Green Bay confronted the sting of a season that slipped away late. Media and fans noted Williams’ composure in a high-pressure debut and Brisker’s decisive play in the final seconds.
“We fought all the way back and found a way to win when it mattered most.”
Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears (postgame)
The head coach framed the win as collective resilience; Johnson emphasized offensive adjustments and defensive commitment in the fourth quarter. Reporters also highlighted Williams’ growth through adversity in his first postseason appearance.
“There were explosive plays on both sides, but the missed kicks changed the math for Green Bay.”
League analyst (national broadcast)
That observation summarized the late special-teams miscues that compounded Green Bay’s difficulties. Analysts pointed to the Packers’ five-game losing streak to end the season as a context for offseason urgency.
Unconfirmed
- The long-term severity of T.J. Edwards’ left-ankle injury has not been disclosed beyond being carted off and fitted with an air cast.
- Jacob Monk’s biceps injury that forced him out in the first half has not yet been given an official timeline for recovery.
- Updates on Zach Tom’s knee and his availability for the Packers’ offseason program remain pending official medical reports.
Bottom Line
Chicago’s 31-27 victory over Green Bay on Jan. 10, 2026, is a milestone for the Bears’ rebuild: a first playoff win in 15 years, validation of the Williams-Johnson direction, and home-field continuation into the divisional round. The comeback underscores the Bears’ late-game identity while reinforcing questions about Green Bay’s roster depth and special-teams reliability.
Looking ahead, the Bears will prepare to host either the Rams or Eagles; matchup planning should center on protecting Williams, leveraging Loveland and Moore, and maintaining the defensive edge that produced the final stop. For the Packers, the offseason will be a thorough evaluation of personnel, kicking, and health as they seek to return to contention.