The Chicago Bears authored one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent NFL playoff history on Saturday night, erasing an 18-point deficit to defeat arch-rivals the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in a wildcard showdown.
A Playoff Debut to Remember for Williams
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, making his postseason debut, delivered when it mattered most. With just 1 minute and 43 seconds left on the clock, he connected with DJ Moore on a 25-yard touchdown pass to seize the lead. Williams, the number one overall draft pick from last year, shook off a shaky start and two interceptions to finish with 361 passing yards and two crucial late touchdowns.
The NFC North champion Bears, in their resurgent first season under head coach Ben Johnson, looked dead and buried for three quarters. They trailed 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 heading into the final period, utterly dominated by a Packers team seeking revenge.
The Fourth-Quarter Onslaught
The final quarter, however, belonged entirely to Chicago. They outscored Green Bay 25-6 in an astonishing 15-minute blitz. The comeback began with a 5-yard rushing touchdown from D’Andre Swift. After Packers rookie Matthew Golden scored to extend the lead to 27-16 (with a missed extra point), the Bears responded swiftly.
Williams found Olamide Zaccheaus for an 8-yard score and then hit rookie Colston Loveland for a vital two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to just three points. The Packers had a chance to extend their lead but Brandon McManus missed a 44-yard field goal, setting the stage for Chicago's game-winning drive.
Defensive Stand Seals Historic Win
Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love, who threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns, had one last chance to respond. He drove the Packers into Chicago territory, but on the game's final play, Bears safety Jaquan Brisker broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired.
The victory triggered wild celebrations at Soldier Field and marked Chicago's first playoff win in 15 years, since the 2010 season. It also signalled a potential shift in the NFL's oldest rivalry, with the Bears now having beaten the Packers three times in their last five meetings.
The Bears, who finished the regular season 12-6, will now host a divisional-round game next weekend. For the Packers (9-8-1), a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations ended with a fifth consecutive defeat and a crushing exit from the postseason.
