The Cardiac Bears. The Comeback Kids. The 2025 Chicago Bears.
After a lackluster first half, a different Chicago Bears team stepped onto the field to pull off an improbable 31-27 comeback win over the Green
Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round.
With this win, not only did the Bears advance to the Divisional Round, but they also ended a 15-year playoff win drought, a 85-year playoff win drought against the Packers, and finally got the monkey off their back that was the Packers dominance they held over the Bears. The Bears-Packers rivalry is officially back.
This was one of the most historic comebacks in the history of the NFL. Let’s get into the Windy City Honors: Wild Card Round Playoff Edition.
Definition of Grit and Mental Toughness
Entering the second half of the game, the Bears were down 21-3. Multiple failed fourth-down conversions, dropped passes, and a couple turnovers in the first half might’ve derailed a team, leaving them deflated going into the second half. Not this team. They came into the second half unfazed as they trailed by 18.
On Saturday, they did just that. The defense came back with Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen making half-time adjustments. They only gave up six points in the second half, successfully keeping the Packers off the field and allowing the Bears offense to play catch up.
Offense got to work as well as they put together a good opening drive resulting in a field goal. They started to get into a rhythm, and quarterback Caleb Williams was in control. They got to work and took the lead with 1:43 left in the game. The Packers had no response, sealing the Bears’ victory.
This was the largest comeback in Bears’ playoff history. They’re only the fourth team to win a postseason game when entering the fourth quarter trailing by 15-plus points.
Head coach Ben Johnson has prepared this team for these moments. During his postgame presser, Johnson describes how during training camp he showed the players the film from the Falcons-Patriots Super Bowl when the Patriots pulled off a 34-28 comeback win.
In the locker room at halftime, Johnson reminded the team of that game, highlighting the lesson that a game is never over.
“This is a great opportunity for us to turn this thing around into a game that we’ll never forget. And that’s what they did.”
The coaching staff and players have said it time and time again throughout the course of the season: this is a team that’s never out of a game. They’re going to play for the entire 60 minutes and fight tooth and nail for that next victory.
Earlier in the week, Johnson told the press: “Teams understand when they play us now that they have to earn it. They have to really close us out of it if they want the victory because we can score points in bunches. We can do it in a short amount of time, and we’ve proven that.”
Johnson has coached mental toughness, fortitude, and resiliency into this team. We’ve seen it come up all season. They will take that with them as they head into the Divisional Round.
Most Naturally Gifted Quarterback
Caleb Williams does not falter in big moments. Instead, he displays the raw talent he has.
There were some incredible throws that Williams made on Saturday, but none of them topped his fourth-and-8 pass to wide-receiver Rome Odunze.
On fourth-and-8 with the game on the line, Williams made the most important throw of his career thus far. Rolling out to the left, he delivered an absolute dime to Odunze. Williams did it on the run with a defender chasing him, across his body, without his feet on the ground.
The anticipation and accuracy were just perfect as he thread the needle with four Green Bay defenders in the area. Just a huge play, on the biggest stage, in a defining moment.
Wide-receiver DJ Moore said it best: “When the lights are bright, he’s brighter than them.”
Most Valuable Kicker (MVK)
After watching Packers’ kicker Brandon McManus miss two field goals and an extra point, Cairo Santos’ performance deserves extra praise. Santos went 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts and 2-for-2 on extra points. His 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was the longest in Bears’ postseason history.
Especially in windy conditions, he came through for the Bears and played a crucial part in this victory. Give the man his flowers.
Saturday was a game that altered the narrative and changed the course of this rivalry. Next week, the Bears will host the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round. What are your predictions for the game?
