Well, that game stunk. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears met Saturday night at Soldier Field in a game that would see the winner take sole possession of the NFC North. It was windy, it was cold, and the game was off to a slow start. With the Packers up 6-0, Jordan Love went down after a play that was flagged for roughing the passer. After Love was ruled out with a concussion, backup Malik Willis kept the team in it, and then the collapse happened. The Bears bested the Packers in OT, 22-16,
and retained control of the division with their win. Check out the best and worst from a sad one.
Winner: Luke Musgrave
If you told me a season ago that on December 20th, 2025, Luke Musgrave would be the Packers’ last standing TE (until he inevitably falls down), I’d smack you in your mouth. With Tucker Kraft dealing with The Big One, and Josh Whyle out with a concussion, the team was already thin at the tight end position. Saturday night, they got even thinner when John FitzPatrick went down with what looks to be a devastating Achilles injury.
The team is certainly not going to be able to do much with the position on the field until they get their guys back, but Luke Musgrave has been filling in, dare I say, OKAY? He had a couple of really great catches last night, and it looks like his hands are getting stronger. His legs, on the other hand…you’d think the below ball from Malik Willis was a freight train. Luke. My baby boy. STAY ON YOUR FEET. Musgrave finished the night catching all 3 targets for 38 yards.
Winner: Emanuel Wilson
With Josh Jacobs on a pitch count again, we saw a bit more of Emanuel Wilson Saturday night. After Jacobs ended up losing a fumble in the third quarter, it was all Wilson moving forward. The backup RB led all players on the field in rushing yards last night, with 82 on 14 attempts (5.9 avg!!). He had some really nice little bursts that picked up first downs, including his longest of the night, a 14-yarder, which set the Packers up for first and goal. There are unfortunately no readily available highlights on social media of this nifty little performance, because nice little bursts don’t get the people going, so you’re all going to have to trust me.
Winner: Malik Willis
Malik Willis running onto the field means two things: Packers fans are in a world of pain as their starting QB is obviously hurt, and we’re all about to watch some of the most fun football we’ve ever seen in our lives. Every time Willis sees extended playing time for the Packers, I find myself wondering, “Is this the game? Is this the game he finally shows us why no other team wanted him as their QB?” So far, Saturday night included, the answer has always been no!
Don’t get me wrong—if Jordan Love doesn’t suffer a concussion in the second quarter, I think the Packers handily win the football game, and overtime isn’t even on the table. However, with limited resources, Willis was able to keep the team in it until the end, which is exactly what you want from your backup quarterback. He looked outstanding on his feet last night, picking up 44 yards on 10 carries. Consistently, we saw him turn seemingly doomed plays into good yardage pickups.
And it wasn’t just the run plays we know so well. He had some really great throws last night, like this second-half TD pass to Romeo Doubs. He finished the night 9/11 for 121 yards, 1 TD, and a 142.8(!) rating. With Willis set to enter free agency this offseason, it’s possible we’ve seen him play his last meaningful snaps as a Packer, because another team is definitely going to pay big bucks to get him on their roster next year. To Malik: thank you for everything, and get that bag, good sir.
Winner: Javon Bullard
Javon Bullard’s redemption arc continued Saturday night, and I think it’s safe to say the “bust” label has been removed from the second-year safety for now. He made some key stops, including saving a touchdown after a big play by DJ Moore during the Bears’ first drive. He also had a great pass breakup on what should’ve been the Bears’ final drive of the game, before Warren Brinson…you’ll see. Bullard was outstanding against the Bears and finished the night with 10 tackles, 5 of them solo.
Loser: Warren Brinson
WARREENNNNNNN. It should’ve been the Bears’ final drive of the game. The game was so close to being over. It was 3rd and 20! And then Warren Brinson grabbed Caleb Williams’ facemask, giving them a free first down and setting them up for a field goal. And then…you’ll see.
Loser: Romeo Doubs
ROMEOOOOOOOOO. It should’ve been the Bears’ final drive of the game!!! The game was so close to being over!!! It was just an onside kick that needed to be recovered!!! And he couldn’t. Doubs had some really great moments during Saturday’s game, but every single one of those moments was overshadowed by the botched onside kick recovery, which the Bears ended up grabbing, and then…you’ll see.
Loser: Keisean Nixon
KEISEANNNNNN. IT SHOULD’VE BEEN THE BEARS FINAL—you get where I’m going with this. The Bears marched their way down the field and into the endzone in 1 minute and 35 seconds, due in part to Nixon leaving some guy named Jahdae Walker completely open in the back corner.
It unfortunately did not end there. After some back and forth in overtime, the game was officially in “next score wins” status. With Keisean Nixon in coverage, Caleb Williams and DJ Moore for a 46-yard score, and the game was over. It’s been mentioned time and time again: the point of catch has been an issue for Nixon (along with other things), and it burned the Packers in the worst way last night.
Had any one of the “losing” moments not happened Saturday night, the Packers probably would’ve come away with the win, and would be sitting at the top of the NFC North. Instead, they’re 9-5-1 and currently sitting in the 7th spot of the NFC playoff race. Between their own schedule and that of the Detroit Lions, they’ll need the stars to ever-so-slightly align in order to make the playoffs.
Next Saturday at 7 pm local time, the Packers play their final home game of the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens, who are 7-7 at the time of publishing. Can they bounce back, or will the late-season slide continue?
