The silence in the Green Bay locker room was heavy enough to feel. It’s been a week, and honestly, fans are still trying to figure out how a 21-3 lead evaporated into the freezing Chicago air. If you are looking for the score of tonight’s Packer game, the reality is a bit of a gut punch: the Packers aren’t playing tonight. Their season officially hit a wall last Saturday night at Soldier Field, losing 31-27 to the Chicago Bears in a Wild Card thriller that most of Wisconsin would like to erase from their memory.
It feels weird. Usually, January in Green Bay means the heat is cranked up and the playoff run is just getting started. But tonight, while other NFC teams are duking it out in the Divisional Round, Jordan Love and company are likely at home, rewatching that fourth-quarter collapse.
What Actually Happened at Soldier Field?
Basically, it was a tale of two halves. The first thirty minutes looked like a clinic. Jordan Love was dealing, throwing three touchdowns on the first three possessions. He hit Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs with the kind of precision that makes you think this team is destined for a Super Bowl. They went into the locker room up 21-3. The Bears looked lost. Caleb Williams looked like a rookie in over his head.
Then the second half started.
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Green Bay’s offense went cold. Like, ice cold. Three-and-out, three-and-out, punt, punt. The defense, which had been a brick wall, started showing cracks. It wasn’t a sudden explosion from Chicago; it was a slow bleed. A field goal here, a D’Andre Swift touchdown there. Suddenly, that 18-point cushion was down to 21-16.
The Fourth Quarter Meltdown
Even with the momentum shifting, the Packers had a chance to put it away. Rookie Matthew Golden—who has been a bright spot in an up-and-down year—broke three tackles on a 23-yard catch-and-run to make it 27-16. But then the wheels fell off. Brandon McManus missed the extra point.
That one point mattered.
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Chicago marched back, Caleb Williams found Olamide Zaccheaus for a score, and a two-point conversion to Colston Loveland made it a three-point game. Green Bay had the ball back with a chance to milk the clock or kick a field goal to extend the lead. They got to the Chicago 21-yard line. Then, McManus missed a 44-yard field goal wide right.
You could almost feel the soul leave the Packers’ sideline at that moment. Caleb Williams took the ball and drove 66 yards in just over a minute, hitting DJ Moore for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:43 left on the clock.
Why the Packers Aren't Playing Tonight
The score of tonight’s Packer game is effectively 0-0 because the 2025-2026 campaign is over. Green Bay finished the regular season at 9-7-1. They were the 7th seed, and they played like a team that hadn't quite figured out how to close out games. Losing four straight to end the regular season, including a 16-3 loss to the Vikings where Matt LaFleur rested his starters, might have robbed the team of its rhythm.
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People are pointing fingers at everything:
- The Kicking Game: Missing an extra point and a crucial 44-yarder is a death sentence in the playoffs.
- The Defensive Scheme: Letting a rookie QB hang 25 points on you in a single quarter is hard to defend.
- Second Half Adjustments: The Bears’ coach, Ben Johnson, clearly out-adjusted the Packers’ staff at halftime.
What Comes Next for Green Bay?
The offseason started earlier than anyone wanted. While the Bears move on to face the Rams, the Packers are looking at a 2026 schedule that looks brutal. They’ll be facing the NFC South and the AFC East next year. They also know their home and road opponents, which includes hosting Dallas and Houston.
Honestly, the biggest question is whether this core can take the next step. Jordan Love finished the playoff game with 323 yards and four touchdowns, which is elite by any standard. He wasn't the problem. The problem was a lack of killer instinct when the game was on the line.
If you're looking for football tonight, you'll have to watch the Rams and the Bears. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a fan base used to January dominance. The Packers showed they belong in the conversation, but until they can play a full 60 minutes without a meltdown, they'll be watching the Divisional Round from the couch.
Next Steps for Packers Fans:
- Watch the Divisional Round matchups to see how the NFC North rivals fare; it gives a good gauge of the gap Green Bay needs to close.
- Keep an eye on the defensive coordinator rumors, as changes are widely expected after the fourth-quarter collapse in Chicago.
- Monitor the health of the receiving corps; seeing how Jayden Reed and Christian Watson bounce back from a physical season will be key for 2026.