Packers collapse in Chicago, Bears complete second-half comeback
Packers fans react to playoff collapse
The Packers lost to the Bears in Saturday's NFC Wild Card game after a second-half collapse. Here's what fans had to say after the game.
CHICAGO - The Green Bay Packers collapsed in the second half, squandering an 18-point halftime lead, as the Chicago Bears rallied to win Saturday's NFC Wild Card game 31-27 at Soldier Field.
By the numbers:
The Bears (12-6) trailed the Green Bay Packers 21-3 at halftime and 27-16 with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter before Williams threw a pair of touchdown passes. His 25-yard TD toss to D.J. Moore put Chicago ahead 31-27 with 1:43 remaining.
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Jordan Love then led Green Bay into Chicago territory. But on third down at the 28, Jaquan Brisker broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired, setting off a wild celebration – and a curt handshake between Johnson and Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
Chicago trailed 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 through three quarters, only to outscore Green Bay 25-6 in the fourth on the way to its first playoff win in 15 years.
Jordan Love throws a pass against the Chicago Bears during the NFC Wild Card game at Soldier Field on Jan. 10. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Love threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers – Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden – without a turnover and tallied 323 yards through the air. The fourth-quarter score for Golden was the first of the rookie's NFL career.
The Packers defense twice intercepted Williams, Carrington Valentine and Ty'Ron Hopper each securing a turnover in Green Bay territory.
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The Packers (9-8-1) finished the season with five straight losses. They were 9-3-1 before All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL in a loss to Denver on Dec. 14.
The NFC North champion Bears extended their resurgent first season under coach Ben Johnson with their seventh fourth-quarter comeback victory. They split two down-to-the-wire games with Green Bay in the regular season, and this one turned out to be a thriller when it looked like it would be a breeze for the Packers.
Luther Burden of the Chicago Bears tackles Carrington Valentine after he intercepted a pass in the NFC Wild Card game at Soldier Field on Jan. 10. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LaFleur, Love postgame comments
What they're saying:
LaFleur and Love addressed the media after Saturday's game. Here's what they had to say.
Scoring summary
Timeline:
Fourth quarter
- Bears 31, Packers 27 at 1:43: Caleb Williams 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore, extra point good.
- Packers 27, Bears 24 at 4:18: Caleb Williams 8-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus, Williams to Colston Loveland for two-point conversion.
- Packers 27, Bears 16 at 6:36: Jordan Love 23-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Golden, extra point missed.
- Packers 21, Bears 16 at 10:08: D'Andre Swift 5-yard touchdown run, extra point good.
- Packers 21, Bears 9 at 13:34: Cairo Santos 51-yard field goal good.
Third quarter
- Turnover at 10:07: Ty'Ron Hopper intercepts Caleb Williams at the Green Bay 3-yard line.
- Packers 21, Bears 6 at 10:11: Cairo Santos 34-yard field goal good.
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Second quarter
- Packers 21, Bears 3 at 1:56: Jordan Love 1-yard touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs, extra point good.
- Packers 14, Bears 3 at 6:46: Jordan Love 18-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed, extra point good.
- Turnover at 12:30: Carrington Valentine intercepts Caleb Williams at the Green Bay 12-yard line.
First quarter
- Packers 7, Bears 3 at 2:06: Jordan Love 7-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson, extra point good.
- Bears 3, Packers 0 at 7:06: Cairo Santos 27-yard field goal.
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End-of-season snapshot
Big picture view:
Chicago won the NFC North for the first time since 2018, earning its first playoff berth since 2020. Green Bay made the postseason as a Wild Card team for the third straight year.
The Packers (9-8-1) finished the regular season with four straight losses, and starting quarterback Jordan Love sat out the last two. The team's last win, against Chicago no less, came at Lambeau Field in Week 14. The Bears (11-6) lost their last two games to close the season and, ironically, got their last regular-season win against Green Bay at Soldier Field in Week 16.
Saturday's playoff game was just the third between two of the NFL's most storied franchises. It also marked just the third time in Packers history that the team played the same opponent three times over a six-game span in a single season, including the playoffs.
The Source: FOX6 News referenced information from the Packers and FOX Sports with contributions from The Associated Press.