It’s actually happening. If you walked through the Loop last week, you felt it. That specific, frantic energy that only shows up when the Chicago Bears in playoffs conversation isn't just a mathematical "what-if" scenario.
For a decade and a half, Chicago fans lived on a diet of "wait until next year." We watched 23 different starting quarterbacks come and go since the 2006 Super Bowl run. But right now, as of January 18, 2026, the vibe has shifted from desperate hope to legitimate expectation.
The Bears are back.
And they aren't just back as a "happy to be here" Wild Card fluke. They entered the 2025-2026 postseason as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. That’s a sentence most of us haven't been able to say without laughing for a long time.
The Comeback That Changed Everything
You can't talk about the current run without talking about what just happened at Soldier Field against Green Bay. Honestly, it felt like an exorcism.
The Bears were down by 18 points at halftime. In the old days—basically any time between 2011 and 2024—that was the cue to turn off the TV and go find something better to do. But Caleb Williams had other plans. In his playoff debut, the kid looked like he’d been there a dozen times.
That 31-27 Wild Card win over the Packers wasn't just a victory. It was the largest postseason comeback in the history of the franchise. Think about that. A team founded in 1920 just set a playoff comeback record in 2026.
The turning point was a fourth-and-8 play that I still can't quite wrap my head around. Williams scrambled, pointed Rome Odunze toward the pylon, and lofted a 27-yard beauty that basically blew the roof off the stadium. Well, if Soldier Field had a roof.
Why This Team Is Actually Different
Most people think the Bears are still a "defense-first" team because that’s the Chicago brand. It’s the 1985 "Monsters of the Midway" ghost that haunts the sidelines. But look at the numbers for the 2025 season.
- Scoring Offense: 9th in the NFL (25.9 PPG).
- Total Yards: 6th in the league.
- Turnovers: 1st (fewest in the NFL).
Ben Johnson, the first-year head coach who came over from Detroit, flipped the script. He stopped trying to win 13-10. Instead, he built a machine. He’s got Caleb Williams protected by a line that includes All-Pro Joe Thuney and a legit cornerstone in Darnell Wright.
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And then there’s Colston Loveland. The rookie tight end from Michigan is a matchup nightmare. In that Wild Card game, he hauled in 8 catches for 137 yards. A tight end! In Chicago! It’s basically unheard of since the Mike Ditka era.
The Massive Hurdle: Rams in the Divisional Round
Tonight is the big one. The Los Angeles Rams are coming into Soldier Field for the Divisional Round, and it’s going to be a bloodbath.
The Rams have the No. 1 offense in the league, averaging nearly 400 yards a game. Matthew Stafford is still slinging it, and he knows exactly how to play in the cold. People think L.A. teams crumble when the temperature drops below 40 degrees, but Stafford spent years in Detroit. He doesn't care about the wind chill.
Chicago’s defense, led by Montez Sweat and veteran Grady Jarrett, has been "bend-but-don't-break" all year. They rank 23rd in points allowed, which sounds bad until you realize they lead the league in takeaways. They’ll give up the 15-yard completion, but then Kevin Byard will bait a quarterback into a back-breaking interception in the red zone.
It’s high-risk, high-reward football.
Key Matchups to Watch Tonight
- Caleb Williams vs. The Rams' Pass Rush: Williams was sacked 68 times as a rookie in 2024. This year? He’s been much better at getting the ball out fast. If he holds it too long tonight, he's in trouble.
- D'Andre Swift vs. The Front Seven: Swift had a career year with 1,087 rushing yards. If the Bears can't run the ball, they can't set up the play-action that makes Odunze and DJ Moore so dangerous.
- The Soldier Field Surface: It’s January in Chicago. The grass is going to be a mess. The Rams rely on timing and speed; the Bears need to turn this into a muddy, ugly street fight.
What History Tells Us (And What It Doesn't)
The Chicago Bears in playoffs history is... complicated. We’ve made it 29 times since 1932. But since that 1985 Super Bowl, it’s been a lot of "one-and-done."
We remember the "Double Doink" in 2018. We remember the 2020 Wild Card loss where the offense looked like it was playing in slow motion. Before this year, the last time the Bears actually won a playoff game was 2010 against the Seahawks.
That’s a 15-year gap.
That history weighs on the city, but this locker room feels detached from it. Most of these guys weren't even in high school when Jay Cutler was leading the team. They don't have the "Bears Trauma" that the fans do.
The Ben Johnson Effect
There was a lot of skepticism when Ryan Poles hired Ben Johnson. People wanted a "tough guy" or a defensive guru. Instead, Poles went for the brightest offensive mind in the game.
It paid off.
Johnson’s scheme is why the Bears finished 11-6 and won the NFC North. He’s managed to blend a dominant rushing attack with a vertical passing game that actually works. He’s also the guy who convinced the front office to go get Joe Thuney in free agency. That move alone saved Caleb Williams' career.
Looking Ahead: Is a Super Bowl Run Real?
If the Bears win tonight, they’re one game away from the Super Bowl. Just writing that feels weird.
The NFC is wide open. The Seahawks are the top seed, and the 49ers are always there, but Chicago has already shown they can hang with the heavyweights. They beat the Eagles on Black Friday. They took down the Cowboys in Week 3.
The path is there.
But it requires Caleb Williams to stay mistake-free. He’s only thrown 7 interceptions all year, which is incredible for a second-year guy. If he plays like a veteran tonight, the Bears aren't just a "good story"—they’re the favorites.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the Weather: The forecast for tonight’s 5:30 p.m. CT kickoff is brutal. Frigid temperatures favor the Bears' run game and their ability to force fumbles.
- Player Prop Focus: Look at Colston Loveland’s over/under on receptions. He’s become the safety valve for Williams, and the Rams struggle against athletic tight ends.
- Early Scoring: The Bears have won 7 games this year coming from behind. If they fall behind 7-0 early, don't panic. This team is built for the long haul.
The drought is over. The "Chicago Bears in playoffs" era is officially back, and for the first time in a generation, it feels like it's here to stay.
Next Steps for the Weekend:
Keep an eye on the official injury report leading up to the 5:30 p.m. kickoff. Darnell Wright’s status is huge for the right side of the line. Also, if you’re heading to the lakefront, dress like you’re going to the Arctic. The wind off Lake Michigan is no joke tonight.