The Chicago Bears erased a late deficit and beat the Green Bay Packers 22–16 in overtime at Soldier Field. Caleb Williams won it on a 46-yard strike to DJ Moore, capping a wild finish that also included a last-minute, game-tying drive in regulation. The comeback keeps Chicago atop the NFC North at 11–4, while Green Bay fell to 9–5–1.
How it unfolded (quick recap)
- Love leaves, Willis enters: Packers QB Jordan Love was ruled out with a concussion after a second-quarter helmet-to-helmet hit; Malik Willis took over and piloted multiple scoring drives.
- Packers control the middle rounds: Green Bay dominated on the ground (nearly 200 rushing yards) and led 13–3 with ~11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
- The rally: Williams orchestrated a two-minute drill, hitting rookie Jahdae Walker for the tying TD with :24 left. In OT, after a Packers turnover on downs/fumble sequence, Williams uncorked the walk-off to DJ Moore down the right sideline. Final: 22–16 (OT).
Five plays that swung it
- Love’s concussion exit (Q2): It changed Green Bay’s play-calling ceiling and red-zone confidence. Willis was poised but the offense lost some rhythm.
- Cairo Santos’ steady points: Three field goals kept Chicago in touch while the offense sputtered early.
- Onside-kick recovery late: Special teams’ chaos extended Chicago’s chance to set up the tying drive.
- Jahdae Walker TD (0:24): Clinical situational drive from Williams to force OT.
- DJ Moore walk-off bomb (OT): A play-action shot over Keisean Nixon sealed it and sent Soldier Field into bedlam.
Box-score vibes (what the numbers say)
- Final: Bears 22, Packers 16 (OT).
- Yards: GB 384, CHI 400.
- 1st downs: GB 24, CHI 20.
- Possession: GB 38:57, CHI 26:13.
- Penalties: GB 4-40, CHI 10-105.
- Red zone: GB 0/5, CHI 1/2.
Green Bay moved the ball but couldn’t finish drives; Chicago’s penalties nearly sank them—until late-game execution flipped the script.
Notables
- Caleb Williams: ~250 yards, 2 TD (game-tying to Walker, OT winner to Moore).
- Bears rushing D struggled for long stretches; Packers rushed for 192 (Emanuel Wilson 82).
- Malik Willis: came in cold, delivered a TD and explosive OT throw to Jayden Reed, but the overtime mistake loomed large.
What it means for the NFC North
- Bears (11–4): This was a two-for-one—a rivalry win and a division stabilizer. With two games left, Chicago holds pole position and the head-to-head momentum after splitting the season series.
- Packers (9–5–1): Still very much alive, but the margin shrinks. Love’s health becomes the week-to-week story; the staff must balance Willis’ athletic upside with ball security and red-zone plans.
The rivalry context
Bears–Packers is the NFL’s oldest and most-played rivalry. Entering the weekend, Green Bay led the all-time series by double digits; Chicago’s win trims the gap and adds a fresh, modern chapter to a century-long feud.
Coach’s tape: quick tactics
- Chicago: Ben Johnson leaned conservative early, then unlocked play-action + verticals once the Packers committed to the run. The final two drives showcased spacing and trust—Moore isolated on a speed corner, Walker in the compressed red zone.
- Green Bay: Even post-Love, the wide-zone + gap mix gashed between the tackles. But five red-zone trips yielding 16 points tells the story—settling for kicks and a key OT error.
What to watch next
- Love’s concussion protocol: Timelines vary; follow mid-week reports before projecting Week 17.
- Bears’ closing stretch: With the division in sight, expect tighter early scripts and more tempo to avoid playing from behind.
Sources & live trackers
- Reuters game wrap with scoring sequence, records and injuries.
- ESPN box (final score, team stats, possession, penalties, red-zone).
- Chicago Sun-Times on the OT TD and finish details.
- CBS Sports live blog framing the comeback and division picture.
- Packers.com OT explosive to Jayden Reed (video).
- Rivalry history snapshots: Football Database & Wikipedia overview.
