The Chicago Bears pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in recent memory on Saturday night, absolutely stunning the Green Bay Packers 22-16 in overtime at Soldier Field. With the Packers holding a win probability of 99% late in the fourth quarter, Caleb Williams led the Bears on a miraculous rally that will go down as one of the most incredible moments in this historic rivalry. What made this win even sweeter for Bears fans is that it represents something the franchise hadn’t experienced in far too long — a meaningful regular season victory over their division rivals when it actually mattered.
The moment everyone will remember came in overtime when Williams launched a 46-yard strike to DJ Moore for the game-winning touchdown. Williams felt it as soon as the ball left his fingertips, and the entire city of Chicago erupted knowing exactly what they’d just witnessed. The Packers, who were absolutely in control for most of the game, couldn’t believe what happened. This was the Bears’ sixth win this season after trailing in the final two minutes this one was by far the most dramatic. The comeback truly was shocking, with Green Bay’s probability of winning at 99 percent with less than two minutes on the clock.
Looking back at the game itself, the Packers came out and dominated early. They built what looked like an insurmountable lead even though they were never up by more than a touchdown because they limited what the Bears could do offensively. Jordan Love was effective for Green Bay, though he would unfortunately leave the game with a concussion that limited him down the stretch. The Packers seemed like they had the Bears figured out, especially after beating them just two weeks ago at Lambeau Field in Week 14 by a score of 28-21. Chicago looked like they might be headed for another heartbreaking loss in this rivalry.
But that’s not who these Bears are anymore. The defense tightened up, the offense found rhythm, and somehow Williams orchestrated one of the most powerful comebacks you’ll ever see. The fourth quarter was all Chicago, as the Bears scored 13 unanswered points to force overtime. Then in the extra period, one perfect throw from Williams to Moore ended it.
The bigger picture here is the division race and what this win means for the Bears’ path to winning the NFC North. The Bears now have a 1.5-game lead over the Packers with just two games remaining. If Chicago wins one more game against either the 49ers or Lions in their final two contests, they’ll clinch the division championship. The Packers, now sitting at 9-5-1, have to win both of their remaining games to have a shot at catching the Bears. That’s an enormous swing based on one game, but that’s what Saturday night accomplished.
Here’s the part that will resonate most with long-suffering Bears fans. This is the first time the Bears have won a regular season game against the Packers that actually mattered since the Lovie Smith era. Think about that for a moment. Lovie Smith took over in 2004 as Head Coach and preached that his number one goal was to beat Green Bay. He had incredible success against the Packers early in his tenure. Chicago had multiple wins over Green Bay during Smith’s time, including a dominant 35-7 victory at home in December 2007. Smith actually moved to 4-1 against the Packers in his first season alone. But the last regular season win the Bears had against Green Bay during the Lovie Smith era came on December 22, 2008, a nail biting 20-17 victory.
Since that 2008 win, the Packers have absolutely dominated this matchup during the regular season. The Bears had lost 11 consecutive games to Green Bay before finally breaking through on January 5, 2025, with a 24-22 overtime win in Green Bay. Now, just over two weeks later, they’ve knocked off the Packers again, and this time it’s a win that keeps their division dreams alive with the calendar flipping to late December. That’s nearly 17 years between meaningful regular season victories in this rivalry for the Bears organization. Seventeen years.
Here’s the thing, folks: Saturday night proved that this Bears team is fundamentally different from the teams that had to endure that drought. Williams is the real deal, the defense has returned to form, and the resilience in this group is unmistakable. They don’t quit, they don’t fold, and they certainly don’t accept losing to a division rival, especially not one they need to pass to win the NFC North. The Packers will get a chance to respond in their final two games, but momentum is entirely with Chicago right now.
With that… There are two games left in the season and the Bears control their own destiny. They can win the division and secure the two-seed playoff position in the NFC with one more victory. The Packers, meanwhile, need to win both remaining games and hope Chicago stumbles. Saturday night’s comeback wasn’t just about one incredible game — it was about slaying a demon that’s haunted the Bears franchise for nearly two decades when it comes to meaningful regular season football against Green Bay. And in a rivalry this historic, with 210 total meetings between these teams, that kind of breakthrough matters.
If you can’t play with them, them maybe it’s time to Bear Down Chicago and root for them!