If you’re scrambling to find the packers and bears game time right now, you’re probably feeling that specific brand of anxiety only a football fan knows. The "did I miss kickoff?" panic. It's real. Especially with this rivalry.
Look, we’ve just come off one of the most chaotic weekends in NFC North history. The 2025-2026 NFL season has been a absolute fever dream. If you were looking for the Wild Card matchup that happened on Saturday, January 10, 2026, the game has wrapped. The Chicago Bears actually pulled off a 31-27 thriller at Soldier Field.
But if you’re here looking for the next time these two titans clash, or why the scheduling for this specific rivalry has become such a headache lately, we need to talk about how the NFL is changing the rules of the game—literally.
Why Finding the Packers and Bears Game Time is Getting Harder
Honestly, the league is messing with us. Remember when you could just count on a 12:00 PM CST kickoff for a divisional game? Those days are basically dead.
Between Amazon Prime Video taking over more exclusive windows and the NFL’s "flexible scheduling" reaching new levels of aggression, the packers and bears game time is never set in stone until about two weeks before. Take the recent January 10th Wild Card game. It wasn't even confirmed for the Saturday night slot until the final results of Week 18 rolled in.
- Flexing: The NFL can now flex games into Thursday Night Football or Monday Night Football with relatively short notice.
- Streaming Exclusives: In 2025, we saw the Bears and Packers play on everything from FOX and CBS to Peacock and Amazon.
- Global Expansion: While this specific matchup stayed stateside this year, the league is eyeing international slots for divisional rivals soon.
It makes planning a tailgate kind of a nightmare. You’ve basically got to keep your Saturdays and Sundays entirely clear until the league office decides which time slot will generate the most ad revenue.
The 2025 Season: A Recap of the Times and Outcomes
Let’s look at the actual data from the season we just lived through. It’s the best way to predict what happens in 2026.
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The first meeting was December 7, 2025, at Lambeau Field. Kickoff was at 4:25 PM ET (3:25 PM local time in Green Bay). The Packers took that one 28-21. Jordan Love looked like the second coming of, well, the guy before him.
Then things got weird.
The rematch happened just two weeks later on December 20, 2025. It was a Saturday game. Why? Because the NFL loves a holiday-adjacent ratings boost. That one kicked off at 7:15 PM CT and the Bears managed to claw back an overtime win, 22-16.
Finally, the big one. The Wild Card playoff. Saturday, January 10, 2026. * Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT
- Broadcaster: Amazon Prime Video
- Result: Bears 31, Packers 27
If you missed it, you missed Caleb Williams finally having his "arrival" moment against the Green Bay defense. It was loud. It was cold. It was everything a January game in Chicago should be.
Why the Time Matters for the "Ownership" Narrative
There’s a lot of talk about who "owns" who. For decades, the Packers held a psychological grip on the city of Chicago. But when the packers and bears game time shifted to primetime three times in a single season (counting the playoffs), the pressure shifted.
Night games at Soldier Field are different. The grass is slicker, the wind off the lake has more bite, and the crowd is... let's say "well-hydrated." The Bears winning two out of three this season, specifically in those late-night windows, suggests that the tide might finally be turning.
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What to Expect for the 2026-2027 Schedule
You're probably wondering when the next packers and bears game time will be announced.
The NFL usually drops the full schedule in mid-May. For the 2026 season, expect that announcement around Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Here’s the thing: because the Bears won the Wild Card matchup but the Packers lead the all-time series 109-98-6, the NFL is going to milk this. I would bet my last dollar that at least one of their 2026 meetings is a "protected" game—meaning it will be slated for Sunday Night Football on NBC.
When you see a "TBD" next to a late-season matchup, don't ignore it. That's a red flag. It usually means the league is waiting to see if both teams are still in the playoff hunt before locking in a late-afternoon or evening kickoff.
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Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
Stop relying on Google snippets that might be pulling data from three years ago. If you want to be at the stadium or on your couch at the right time, do this:
- Sync the Calendar: Both the Packers and Bears official apps offer a "Sync to Calendar" feature. Use it. It updates automatically when the NFL flexes a game time.
- The 12-Day Rule: Remember that the NFL can flex games from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night starting in Week 5, but they have to give at least 12 days' notice. Mark your calendar two Tuesdays before the game to check for time changes.
- Check the Provider: Don't just assume it's on local TV. With the 2026 season likely seeing more streaming-only games, you might need a subscription to a service you don't usually use.
The rivalry is the most played in NFL history for a reason. Whether it's a noon kickoff in the September sun or a sub-zero night game in January, the packers and bears game time is the only clock that matters in the Midwest.
Keep an eye on the May schedule release. That’s when the next chapter of this 105-year-old war officially gets its timestamp.