Until there were 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter on Saturday, the Green Bay Packers held a 13-3 lead over the Chicago Bears. From that point on, the Packers lived through an absolute walking nightmare,
a path that ended in a 22-16 loss to the team’s bitter rival.
If you happened to miss Saturday’s action, here’s your full recap of the game, a total team collapse where the offense, defense and special teams shot themselves in the foot to earn this loss.
First Quarter
Penalties by the Bears on the opening kickoff essentially gave the Packers the ball at midfield for their first play of offense on the day. Speaking of that opening play, it set the tone for what Green Bay wanted to do personnel-wise for the game.
The Packers came out in 11 personnel (1 back, 1 tight end, 3 receivers) with Darian Kinnard playing the tight end position. Kinnard had previously replaced Zach Tom, who was out in this game with a knee injury, at right tackle. Instead, to keep Kinnard available with only two tight ends on Green Bay’s gameday roster, the Packers started Jordan Morgan at right tackle.
A roughing penalty on this drive kept the chains moving, ultimately coming down to a fourth-and-one in the red zone. The team adjusted this play-call several times, with head coach Matt LaFleur calling a timeout and then quarterback Jordan Love checking at the line of scrimmage. The play ended up being an out route at the front pylon against the Bears’ man coverage, but Love wasn’t able to connect.
I’m sure plenty of people will have opinions on whether that call was the best margin of error available to the offense, considering that the Packers lined up in shotgun with Chris Brooks lined up in the backfield, giving Chicago the obvious tell that Green Bay was going to throw the ball.
On the Bears’ first drive of the game, Chicago carried the ball eight times for 46 yards, moving like a hot knife through butter against the Packers’ defense, before a fourth-and-one of their own. But Green Bay survived the drive thanks to a high snap on a trick play where the running back was supposed to be snapped the ball after the Bears presented a quarterback sneak (with a tight end under center) look.
Second Quarter
The Packers made it deep into the red zone on the next drive, too, but again fell short because of the passing game. Love attempted to target receiver Christian Watson on the backline on third down, but as Tom Brady pointed out, the strong winds actually pushed the ball away from the receiver. Green Bay settled for a field goal, drawing first blood to go up 3-0.
With help from a false start penalty, the Packers were able to get off the field on the Bears’ next offensive drive, after quarterback Caleb Williams threw the ball away on a third and 13 at around midfield. By the way, Javon Bullard started at safety in this game, instead of Zayne Anderson, for the injured Evan Williams. In place of Bullard in the slot, $48 million free agency signing Nate Hobbs took over the nickel position.
A coffin corner punt on that drive placed the Packers at the five-yard line to start what would be the most hold-your-breath moment of the game.
After moving the chains, Love was hit helmet-to-helmet by Bears defensive lineman Austin Booker, resulting in Love taking a trip to the blue medical tent and then eventually the locker room. Later on during the drive, the Packers officially announced that Love was being evaluated for a concussion after benefiting from the 15-yard penalty on Booker.
From there, Malik Willis was the quarterback under center for Green Bay. He made a fourth-and-one option pull to keep the drive alive, leading to the Packers pushing into the red zone for the third time of the day. Willis wasn’t able to finish the series in the end zone, though, and Green Bay had to settle for another field goal, giving them just six points for three red zone visits.
During this drive, the Packers’ bench heaters had their power cut out, too, according to FOX’s broadcast crew.
The Bears were given the ball with 1:42 seconds left in the half after McManus kicked the ball out of the end zone, a recurring issue throughout the year. Several times, both LaFleur and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia have said that McManus was specifically instructed not to kick out of bounds at the end of halves, only for McManus to repeat the mistake.
Chicago only moved the ball 15 yards in the two-minute drill, punted to the Packers and Willis kneeled out the half, with the Bears set to start the next half with the ball.
Third Quarter
Coming out of the half, Love was ruled out with a concussion and the Packers’ bench heaters began working again. The Bears basically had one major play on their first drive of the half, a long swing to Kyle Monangai against a Packers blitz front on second and nine.
Mostly due to that one play, the Bears were put in field goal position, cutting Green Bay’s lead to 6-3. Kicker Cairo Santos’ kick looked like it was going to go wide left off his foot, but the wind took it all the way to the right upright by the time the field goal attempt traveled 46 yards.
Willis started the drive off well, connecting on a deep seam throw to tight end Luke Musgrave and scrambling for a first down. He even ran a quarterback sneak on a third-and-short situation, but once Green Bay got to the goal line, tragedy struck again.
Running back Josh Jacobs fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Bears. For four trips inside the 10-yard line, the Packers only had a three-point lead and six total points to show for their offensive effort.
Luckily, the Bears did nothing with the possession and punted the ball after getting one first down. A false start from Luke Musgrave nearly killed Green Bay’s next drive, but the Packers survived long enough for Willis to connect with Romeo Doubs on a fade route for a long touchdown. After a PAT, Green Bay was up 13-3.
Fourth Quarter
The Bears were able to push the ball to the edge of the red zone before sputtering out on their next drive. After an intentional grounding penalty on third down, Santos hit a 51-yard field goal through crosswinds.
The Packers responded by kicking another field goal from inside the 10-yard line, giving Green Bay a 16-6 lead with about five minutes left in the game. Willis continued to produce magic, helped by the fact that Chicago safety Jaquan Brisker was flagged for a late hit that got the Packers over midfield.
Williams drove down the field with his legs and was bailed out by Packers defensive tackle Warren Brinson, who took Williams down on a facemask on a 3rd and 20 sack, giving Chicago a new set of downs. Pressed by the clock, both receiver DJ Moore and kicker Cairo Santos took their sweet time lining up, leading to a 43-yard field goal going through on the wrong end of the two-minute warning.
Down seven points with less than two minutes left, the Bears kicked an onside attempt, which receiver Romeo Doubs failed to cover on the hands team, giving Chicago possession of the ball with a chance to win. To add injury to insult, Doubs also went down on the play and needed medical attention before getting up and walking to the sideline.
On 4th and 4 with 28 seconds left from the six-yard line, Williams was able to find undrafted rookie receiver Jahdae Walker in the back of the end zone. Going into this game, Walker had all of eight snaps for all of the 2025 regular season. With a PAT attempt, the Bears tied the game for the first time since the scoreboard was 0-0.
Willis was sacked on first down on the next possession, the final play of regulation.
Overtime
It got worse, folks. I’m sorry. This is going to be painful to read if you didn’t get to experience it live.
On 4th and 1, to keep their overtime drive alive, Willis, who had been playing great all game, lost the football on a fake jet sweep to cornerback Bo Melton.
When the Bears got the ball back, Williams connected with Moore on a 46-yard touchdown throw that had no margin for error, with cornerback Keisean Nixon all over Moore at the catch point. Ballgame: Bears 22, Packers 16.
