The energy at Soldier Field was weird on Saturday. Honestly, for the first thirty minutes, it felt like the 2025 dream was dying a slow, painful death in the Chicago cold. If you were looking for the NFL Chicago Bears score at halftime, you probably wanted to look away. 21-3. It was ugly. People were already typing their "same old Bears" tweets.
But Caleb Williams had other plans.
What happened next wasn't just a win. It was a 31-27 statement that effectively erased fifteen years of postseason misery. We haven't seen a comeback like that around here since, well, ever. It was officially the largest comeback in Bears playoff history.
The NFL Chicago Bears Score Everyone Is Talking About
The final score of 31-27 against the Green Bay Packers doesn't even begin to tell the story of the Wild Card round. You've got to look at the "how" behind the "what." Jordan Love was surgical in the first half. He carved up the secondary with touchdowns to Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs. Chicago looked slow. Ben Johnson, the first-year head coach who has turned this franchise around, looked like he had run out of answers.
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Then the third quarter happened.
The defense, led by Kevin Byard, suddenly decided to play like the '85 crew. They forced four straight punts. That gave Caleb Williams the window he needed. D'Andre Swift punched in a 6-yarder to make it 21-16. Suddenly, the lakefront was shaking.
- Final Score: Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27
- Halftime Score: Packers 21, Bears 3
- The Turning Point: A two-point conversion to Colston Loveland that cut the lead to three late in the fourth.
Caleb Williams and the 2025 Regular Season Context
A lot of people are acting like this 11-6 season came out of nowhere. It didn't. If you followed the game logs, the signs were there. This team survived a brutal 0-2 start after losing to Minnesota and Detroit in September. They actually finished 1st in the NFC North for the first time in seven years.
Caleb Williams finished the regular season with 3,942 passing yards. That's a rookie record. He also set a new NFL mark for players under 25 with seven fourth-quarter comebacks in a single season. The kid is basically a walking heart attack for opposing defensive coordinators.
The defense isn't just a supporting act anymore either. They finished 3rd in the league in sacks. When the game is on the line, they've developed this "bend but don't break" identity that drives fans crazy but somehow works.
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Breaking Down the Wild Card Stats
Let's get into the weeds for a second. Williams threw for 361 yards in his playoff debut. That is the second-most passing yards for a playoff debut in NFL history, trailing only Matthew Stafford’s 380-yard game back in 2011.
DJ Moore was the hero again. He caught the go-ahead 25-yard touchdown with 1:43 left on the clock. It felt like a replay of the Week 16 overtime win against Green Bay. The guy just owns the Packers at this point.
The Packers had a chance. They got down to the Bears' 28-yard line with seven seconds left. Jordan Love fumbled the snap, scrambled, and heaved a prayer that Kyler Gordon swatted away as the clock hit zero. Game over. Drought over.
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What This Means for the Divisional Round
So, the Bears are 12-6 now. They are heading into a Divisional Round matchup at Soldier Field against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams are coming in hot after a 34-31 win over Carolina. Matthew Stafford vs. Caleb Williams is the kind of matchup that networks dream about. The Bears have the home-field advantage, and if the weather holds up, it’s going to be a nightmare for a dome-adjacent team like LA.
Basically, the Bears have moved from "lucky to be here" to "legitimate threat."
Key Takeaways for Sunday
Don't expect a blowout. The Bears play close games—it's their brand. They had seven wins this year where they trailed in the final two minutes. If the NFL Chicago Bears score is close in the fourth quarter, you should probably bet on the guys in navy and orange.
- Watch the Offensive Line: Joe Thuney and Darnell Wright have been elite, but the Rams' front is a different beast.
- The Loveland Factor: Rookie TE Colston Loveland has become Williams' security blanket in the red zone.
- Home Field: Soldier Field is officially a fortress again.
If you're looking to follow the next game, it kicks off Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC. Secure your tickets now because the secondary market is already hitting stupid prices. Check the official Bears app for the latest injury reports on D'Andre Swift, who was seen limping slightly after the Packers game, though the team says it's just a bruise. Keep an eye on the practice reports through Friday to see if he's a full participant.