The Green Bay Packers travelled to challenge the Chicago Bears Saturday night as part of the NFC Wild Card slate of games. The Packers looked strong early, but ended up on the wrong side of history. Fox Sports confirms this is the first playoff game the Bears have won over their opponents in 85 years. It was also the first game since the 28-9 Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots in 2017, in which a playoff team entered the fourth quarter down by fifteen or more.
The Packers were dominant in the first half. Quarterback Jordan Love was making clutch throws, and even the defense pitched in with an interception. Love had already thrown three touchdowns when the team entered halftime up 21-3.
The Bears’ defense seemed to adjust well in the second half, keeping the Packers scoreless in the third quarter. That said, the game didn’t feel like it had swung the other way, even by the end of the third. It was 21-6 heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter is when this game completely turned on its head. The Bears opened it up with ten unanswered points in the first five minutes. Love did lead the team down the field for another touchdown after that, but placekicker Brandon McManus missed a crucial extra point. The score was then 27-16. McManus was also 0/2 on field goal attempts, struggling at the worst time of year.
Bear quarterback Caleb Williams made things intriguing with 4:18 left in the game. After hitting wide receiver Olamide Zaccheus for an eight-yard touchdown, the team was successful on the two-point conversion to get within three points.
Tensions built in the two-minute warning as Williams marched the team down the field. With 1:43 remaining, Bearreceivereciever DJ Moore was the recipient of the game-winning 25-yard touchdown. The Packers were outscored 25-6 in the fourth quarter, letting this game slip away.
The Packers will go home, largely needing some of their key pieces to return healthy. The Bears await Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers to determine their opponent in the next round. Chicago would play the Eagles if the 49ers lose, but would get the Rams if they are victorious.
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