The Chicago Bears pulled off a stunning 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, erasing a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes of regulation to seize first place in the NFC North. Caleb Williams’ 46-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore in overtime capped a miraculous comeback that left the Packers reeling and put the Bears on the brink of their first playoff berth since 2020.
Trailing 16-6 with under two minutes remaining, the Bears’ hopes seemed slim. Cairo Santos kicked a 43-yard field goal to cut the lead to 16-9, then Chicago successfully recovered an onside kick, with Josh Blackwell securing the ball at the Bears’ 47-yard line. Williams then engineered a frantic drive, culminating in a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jahdae Walker on fourth down with 24 seconds left. Coach Ben Johnson opted for the extra point to tie the game, sending it to overtime.
In the extra period, the Packers had a chance to win but faltered. Backup quarterback Malik Willis, who had played well after Jordan Love’s concussion, fumbled a snap on fourth-and-1 at the Chicago 36-yard line. The Bears took over and, four plays later, Williams found Moore deep downfield for the game-winning score, with Moore making the catch despite tight coverage from Keisean Nixon.
The Packers’ loss was compounded by the early exit of starting quarterback Jordan Love, who suffered a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears defensive tackle Austin Booker in the second quarter. Love had been effective before the injury, completing 8 of 13 passes for 77 yards. Willis stepped in and performed admirably, throwing for 121 yards and a touchdown, but critical mistakes in key moments proved costly.
Green Bay dominated much of the game, outgaining Chicago and controlling time of possession, but repeatedly failed in the red zone, going 0-for-5 on opportunities inside the 20-yard line. This included a fumble by Josh Jacobs at the goal line in the third quarter. The Packers also botched the onside kick recovery, with Romeo Doubs unable to secure the bouncing ball, allowing the Bears to maintain possession for their tying drive.
The victory marks a significant turnaround in the historic rivalry, where the Bears had lost 14 of their last 15 games at Soldier Field to the Packers. Chicago improved to 11-4 with the win, extending their lead to 1.5 games over Green Bay, which fell to 9-5-1. The Bears have now won six consecutive home games and have a knack for late comebacks, with this being their sixth win this season after trailing in the final two minutes.
With two games remaining, the Bears are in prime position to clinch a playoff spot. They face the San Francisco 49ers on the road before hosting the Detroit Lions in Week 18. Meanwhile, the Packers must regroup quickly, as they host the Baltimore Ravens next Saturday and then visit the Minnesota Vikings, likely needing to win both to keep their postseason hopes alive.
This dramatic win not only avenges a loss to the Packers two weeks earlier but also underscores the Bears’ resilience under pressure. As the NFC North race tightens, Chicago has positioned itself as a formidable contender, while Green Bay faces an uphill battle to salvage its season.
