The air in Chicago on January 10, 2026, was the kind of cold that gets into your bones and stays there. For the Green Bay Packers, that chill turned into a season-ending freeze in a way nobody—literally nobody—saw coming at halftime. If you’re looking for the final Green Bay Packers score, it was a gut-wrenching 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Wild Card round.
It was a total collapse.
Honestly, for thirty minutes, it looked like the Packers were going to cakewalk into the divisional round. Jordan Love, back after missing the end of the regular season, was slicing the Bears' secondary like he never left. He threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns. By the time the whistle blew for halftime, the Packers were sitting on a 21-3 lead. It felt over. Soldier Field was quiet. The "Go Pack Go" chants were louder than the home crowd.
Then the fourth quarter happened. And that’s where the wheels didn't just come off; they basically disintegrated.
The Brutal Reality of the Final Green Bay Packers Score
The final Green Bay Packers score reflects a second-half margin that is hard to wrap your head around. Chicago outscored Green Bay 25-6 in the final frame. How does that even happen in a playoff game? It started with the offense stalling. After scoring on their first three drives, Matt LaFleur’s squad produced exactly one first down across their first four possessions of the second half.
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The Bears' defense, led by the aggressive play-calling of coach Ben Johnson, started sending blitzes that the Packers’ offensive line simply couldn't handle. Edge blitzes, safety creeps—it didn't matter. Love was under fire. Josh Jacobs, who looked like a tank in the first half with 49 yards, was held to a measly six yards on seven carries after the break. You can't win playoff games when your run game vanishes into thin air.
- Halftime Score: Packers 21, Bears 3
- Final Score: Bears 31, Packers 27
- The Turning Point: A 25-yard Caleb Williams strike to DJ Moore with 1:43 left.
Special Teams and Kicking Nightmares
If you want to blame someone, Brandon McManus is probably going to be the name on most people's lips in Wisconsin for a while. The kicking game was a disaster. McManus left seven points on the field. That’s the game right there. He missed an extra point after rookie Matthew Golden scored a spectacular leap-frog touchdown to make it 27-16.
Think about that. If he hits that PAT, it’s a 12-point game. Instead, the lead stayed at 11, and the door remained cracked open for Caleb Williams. Later, McManus pushed a 44-yard field goal wide right that would have effectively iced the game. You just can’t do that in January.
Why the Defense Wore Out
It’s easy to look at the 31 points and blame the defense, but they were actually the only reason the game stayed close as long as it did. Ty'Ron Hopper had a massive interception near the goal line in the third quarter. But because the offense couldn't stay on the field, the defense just ran out of gas.
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Caleb Williams, in his playoff debut, looked like the real deal when it mattered most. He threw for 361 yards, with 283 of those coming in the second half. Tight end Colston Loveland was a nightmare matchup, hauling in eight catches for 137 yards. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Packers' pass rush was non-existent. They were gassed.
Looking at the 2025-2026 Season as a Whole
The final Green Bay Packers score in the playoffs was the exclamation point on a weird, streaky season. The Packers finished the regular season 9-7-1. They started hot, beating Detroit 27-13 in Week 1 and cruising through October. But the end of the year was a slide. They lost their final four regular-season games, including a 16-3 dud against the Vikings where they rested most of their starters.
Injuries were the silent killer. Losing Micah Parsons was a blow the pass rush never truly recovered from. Then you had the offensive line issues with Zach Tom being out. It’s a "what if" season. What if they stayed healthy? What if they didn't blow four games this year where they had multi-score leads in the second half?
Key Takeaways from the Season Ending
- Jordan Love is the guy: Despite the loss, his 103.8 passer rating in a playoff game proves he belongs.
- The Secondary needs help: Giving up nearly 300 yards in one half to a rookie QB is a red flag.
- Kicking is a priority: Expect the Packers to look for a new kicker the second the free agency window opens.
- Closing Games: Matt LaFleur mentioned in his post-game presser that "putting teams away" is the theme of the 2026 offseason.
What Happens Next for Green Bay?
The locker room was predictably quiet on Monday. Cleaning out lockers in early January is never the plan in Titletown. Christian Watson, who has dealt with his fair share of injury scares, summed it up by saying the finality of the loss is the hardest part to swallow.
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The Packers are now heading into an offseason where they have to figure out how to stop the bleeding in the fourth quarter. They have the talent. They have the quarterback. But they clearly lack the "killer instinct" needed to finish off a rival like the Bears when they have them on the ropes.
Watch the transactions over the next few months. You’re going to see a focus on the offensive line depth and almost certainly a competition at kicker. The 2026 NFL Draft will likely see the Packers looking for another playmaker in the secondary to help Jaire Alexander, who can't do it all himself.
If you’re a fan, it’s a bitter pill. But the window isn't closed. It’s just been slammed shut for this year.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
- Evaluate the Special Teams Coaching: The McManus situation wasn't an isolated incident; the unit struggled with coverage all year.
- Prioritize O-Line Depth: When Zach Tom went down, the protection schemes fell apart under pressure.
- Address the "Prevent" Mentality: The defensive scheme late in games has been too soft, allowing teams like the Bears to dink and dunk their way back into games.
- Secure a Reliable Backup RB: Josh Jacobs is a workhorse, but the drop-off when he needs a breather is too steep.