Bears Outlast Packers in a Gritty Playoff Fight

In a game that felt equal parts survival test and coming-out party, the Chicago Bears punched through the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card matchup that ultimately said more about resilience than aesthetics.

Let’s start with the obvious. Caleb Williams made plays. Not highlight-reel fluff, but real, playoff-level throws under pressure. He put the ball where it needed to be, on time, and consistently gave the Bears a chance to win.

The issue for Green Bay was on the other end of those throws. Their receivers simply did not return the favor for their quarterback. Between dropped passes, missed opportunities, and a noticeable lack of elite separation, the Packers left too much meat on the bone. In January football, that’s a death sentence.

Since the injury to Tucker Kraft, Green Bay has struggled to find a reliable, chain-moving presence in the passing game, and that trend continued tonight. The timing was off. The trust wasn’t there. When the moment demanded someone step up, no one consistently answered the call.

From a roster-building standpoint, this game served as a flashing red light. If the Packers run this group back unchanged, they risk the same outcome. They need a true WR2, someone defenses actually have to account for. Whether that comes via free agency or a trade, the upgrade feels mandatory, not optional.

On the other sideline, the Bears won this game the hard way. They didn’t dominate, they endured. Chicago made the plays that were required, including the uncomfortable ones over the middle and on critical third downs. That’s playoff football.

Offensively, the X-factors came through when it mattered most. Loveland and Monongai weren’t the headliners entering the night, but they were clutch, extending drives and giving Williams answers late. That’s how young quarterbacks survive in January, someone has to show up when the script breaks down.

Bottom line, this wasn’t pretty, but it was real. The Bears showed toughness, composure, and belief. The Packers showed flashes, but flashes don’t win in the postseason.