If you're looking for the Green Bay score now, I've got some bad news for the frozen tundra faithful. The Packers aren't playing today, January 17, 2026. Their season actually slammed shut exactly one week ago in one of the most stomach-churning ways possible.
The final score was Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27.
It wasn't just a loss. It was a collapse.
The Wild Card Meltdown at Soldier Field
Green Bay walked into the NFC Wild Card round on January 10 looking like they were about to steamroll their oldest rivals. Honestly, for the first thirty minutes, they did. Jordan Love was absolutely surgical, tossing three touchdowns in the first half alone. By the time the teams headed to the locker rooms, Green Bay held a commanding 21-3 lead.
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Fans were already looking ahead to the Divisional Round. But then, the second half happened.
Chicago, led by Caleb Williams, mounted an 18-point comeback. It was the kind of game that leaves a fanbase staring at the wall for three days straight. The Packers' offense, so potent early on, went cold. They managed just six points in the entire second half. Meanwhile, the Bears' "cardiac" offense started clicking, culminating in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Williams to DJ Moore with only 1:43 left on the clock.
Why the Packers Faltered
You can point to a lot of things. Matt LaFleur's play-calling got surprisingly conservative when it should've been aggressive. The defense, which had been a bend-but-don't-break unit all year, finally snapped under the pressure of Williams' mobility.
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- Brandon McManus' Misses: Two missed field goals and a botched extra point were the difference-makers. In a four-point game, those are the points that haunt your dreams.
- The Second-Half Ghosting: Green Bay had four possessions in the third quarter where they earned exactly one first down.
- Defensive Fatigue: Losing star pass rusher Micah Parsons to a torn ACL back in Week 15 finally caught up to them. Without that elite pressure, Caleb Williams had too much time to create magic.
A Season of "What Ifs"
The Packers finished the 2025-2026 campaign with a weird 9-8-1 record. It was a rollercoaster. They started hot, looked like Super Bowl contenders at 9-3-1, and then completely fell apart, losing their last five games including the playoffs.
Jordan Love’s stats look great on paper—323 yards and four scores in the playoff loss—but the inability to close games became the theme of the winter.
Key Performance Marks from the Final Game
Romeo Doubs was a bright spot, hauling in 8 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Matthew Golden also showed why he was a first-round pick, breaking tackles for a 23-yard score that briefly gave Green Bay a 27-16 lead in the fourth.
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But it wasn't enough.
What’s Next for Green Bay?
The 2026 offseason is going to be a long one in Wisconsin. The front office has some massive decisions to make regarding the roster and the coaching staff’s approach to late-game management.
Here is what is currently on the horizon for the Green Bay Packers as they look toward the 2026 season:
- Injury Rehabilitation: The biggest priority is getting Micah Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft (torn ACL) back to 100% before training camp starts in July.
- Kicking Game Overhaul: After the McManus disaster in the playoffs, expect a wide-open competition for the kicker spot.
- 2026 Opponents Set: We already know who they'll be playing next fall. Because they finished second in the NFC North, they’ll face a gauntlet including the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans at Lambeau, plus road trips to play the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Rams.
- Draft Focus: With the defense struggling to finish games, look for GM Brian Gutekunst to prioritize secondary depth and interior defensive line help in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Green Bay score now reflects a team in transition. They have the quarterback, they have the young receivers, but they lack the "finisher" instinct that separates playoff winners from early exits.
To keep track of off-season roster moves and draft picks, keep an eye on the official team transactions. The road to the 2026 opener begins with fixing the holes exposed during that frigid night in Chicago.