Background and Context
After 15 years, the Chicago Bears have made a remarkable return to the top eight teams competing for the NFL Super Bowl title. Their dramatic comeback against the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Wildcard round has brought them back to the Divisional Round, a stage they last reached in 2010.
Bears’ Recent History
- The Bears last reached the Divisional Round in 2010, defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Wildcard but losing to Green Bay Packers.
- They had a few attempts between 2018 and 2020 but were eliminated in Wildcard by Eagles and New Orleans Saints, respectively.
- From 2021 to 2024, the Bears failed to advance past the playoffs.
Ben Johnson’s Impact
In 2025, Ben Johnson took charge as head coach at the young age of 39 with no prior experience in that role. Under his leadership, the Bears secured the second-best record in the NFC with 11-6, just behind Seahawks’ 14-3. This achievement allowed them to host the Wildcard game at Soldier Field in front of over 60,000 enthusiastic fans.
The Dramatic Comeback
Trailing by 18 points at halftime, the Bears rallied with quarterback Caleb Williams (24 complete passes, 2 touchdowns) leading the charge. Williams reflected on the game-winning play: “Once we aligned, I knew we were about to score. The offensive line did an incredible job blocking.”
Packers’ Struggles
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed his team’s inconsistency in maintaining the lead: “We’re focusing on correcting our mistakes without lengthy discussions. Our team seemed to lose control in the second half.”
This was LaFleur’s seventh season with Green Bay, having reached the NFC Conference Championship in 2019 and 2020 but now facing two consecutive Wildcard eliminations (2024 against Eagles).
Quarterback Jordan Love expressed disappointment: “We played a game we couldn’t define, allowing them to come back and beat us. It’s very disappointing to end the season this way; we’re all very disappointed.”
Next Opponent for Bears
If the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the San Francisco 49ers this upcoming Sunday, they will face the Bears in the Divisional Round as the third seed against the second seed in the NFC. If San Francisco wins, the Bears will instead face the Los Angeles Rams, who secured their spot in the Divisional Round by defeating the Carolina Panthers 34-31.
