If you’re a Green Bay fan looking for the score of the Packer game last night, you probably already know the number. 31-27. But honestly? The number doesn't even come close to explaining the sheer, unadulterated chaos that went down at Soldier Field.
It was one of those games where, at halftime, you’re looking at the TV thinking about who the Packers might play in the Divisional Round. 21-3. Total dominance. Jordan Love looked like he was playing a video game on easy mode, throwing three touchdowns in the first half alone. But as the old saying goes in the NFC North, it’s never over until the clock hits zero—especially when Caleb Williams decides he’s done being a rookie and starts playing like a superstar.
The Packers didn't just lose; they collapsed in a way that’s going to haunt Wisconsin for an entire off-season.
The Tale of Two Halves: How 21-3 Became a Nightmare
Look, we have to talk about that second half.
Green Bay’s defense, which had been a brick wall for thirty minutes, basically turned into a swinging door. Chicago’s comeback wasn't just a slow burn; it was a fourth-quarter explosion. The Bears outscored the Packers 25-6 in the final frame. 25 points. In one quarter. That’s the kind of stat that makes defensive coordinators lose their jobs.
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Key Stats That Actually Matter
- Jordan Love: 24-of-46, 323 yards, 4 touchdowns.
- Caleb Williams: 24-of-48, 361 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
- Romeo Doubs: 8 catches for 124 yards and a score.
- The Kicking Situation: Brandon McManus missed a PAT and a 44-yard field goal.
Those misses from McManus? They’re the difference. If he makes that PAT after the Matthew Golden touchdown, it's a four-point lead later on instead of three. If he hits that 44-yarder with 2:51 left, the Bears are forced to go for a touchdown just to tie, or at least the pressure is vastly different. Instead, he pushed it wide right, and Chicago took over with all the momentum in the world.
The Drive That Broke the Packers
With 2:51 left on the clock and the Packers clinging to a 27-24 lead, Caleb Williams marched the Bears 66 yards in just over a minute. It was efficient. It was cold. It was everything Packers fans feared when Chicago drafted him.
The dagger was a 25-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore with 1:43 remaining. Moore was just... open. A miscommunication in the secondary—a theme of the night—left him with a clear path to the end zone. Soldier Field sounded like it was going to literally collapse under the weight of the cheering.
Green Bay had one last shot. Love got them down to the Chicago 23-yard line. Thirteen seconds left. The dream was still alive. Then, a false start. Then, a desperation heave that fell incomplete as the clock bled out.
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Game over. Season over.
What Went Wrong? (It’s Not Just the Kicker)
It’s easy to blame the kicker. McManus had a rough night, no doubt. But the score of the Packer game last night was a reflection of a total team breakdown.
The running game vanished. Josh Jacobs had a solid first half, but by the third quarter, the Bears' defensive front was living in the backfield. When you can’t run the ball, you can’t kill the clock. When you can’t kill the clock, you give Caleb Williams more chances.
And the special teams? Beyond the missed kicks, they gave up huge returns that gifted the Bears short fields. It was a "death by a thousand cuts" scenario, except several of those cuts were actually giant axe wounds.
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The Silver Lining (If You Can Call It That)
If you're looking for a reason to not throw your jersey in the trash, look at Jordan Love. He was phenomenal for most of that game. 323 yards and 4 touchdowns in a playoff environment on the road is elite stuff. He’s the guy. He’s the future.
Rookie Matthew Golden also looked like a budding star, breaking tackles on that 23-yard catch-and-run touchdown that briefly restored the lead. The weapons are there. The talent is undeniable.
What Happens Now?
- Evaluate the Kicking Game: Expect a high-stakes competition for the kicker spot in training camp.
- Secondary Overhaul: The late-game lapses in coverage were too frequent to ignore.
- Off-season Conditioning: Staying fresh in the fourth quarter was clearly an issue for the front seven.
The reality is that the Packers finish the season at 9-8-1. They exceeded expectations by making the playoffs as the 7th seed, but losing to your biggest rival after being up 18 points is a bitter pill to swallow.
For those tracking the score of the Packer game last night, the 31-27 final mark represents the end of a wild ride. It’s going to be a long winter in Green Bay, but the foundation is solid. Next year's schedule is already set, with home games against the Cowboys and Texans. The road back to the playoffs starts with fixing the consistency issues that turned a 21-3 lead into a flight home with nothing but "what ifs."
Watch the highlights if you have the stomach for it, but honestly, focusing on the upcoming draft and the development of the young receiving corps is probably better for your blood pressure.