The energy outside Soldier Field was different this time, but the result felt eerily familiar. If you're looking for the final score of the bears game, Chicago dropped a heartbreaker to the Green Bay Packers, losing 20-19. It wasn't just a loss. It was a complete gut-punch that felt like a microcosm of the last decade of Chicago football. You had the rookie quarterback showing flashes of brilliance, a defense that held its water for three quarters, and then—the collapse.
Actually, calling it a collapse might be too kind. It was a blocked field goal. Cairo Santos lined up for a 46-yard attempt with three seconds on the clock. The city held its breath. Then, the sound of leather hitting a hand instead of sailing through the uprights echoed through the stadium.
Karl Brooks got a finger on it. Game over.
Breaking Down the Final Score of the Bears Game
Let’s be real: the 20-19 scoreline doesn't tell the whole story. Caleb Williams actually looked like the guy everyone hoped he would be when they drafted him first overall. He went 23-of-31 for 231 yards. He didn't throw an interception. He ran when he had to. Honestly, he played well enough to win, which makes the outcome even harder to swallow for a fanbase that is practically starving for a consistent winner.
The Packers didn't necessarily dominate this game. Jordan Love had some shaky moments, throwing a bad pick in the red zone to Terell Smith. But the Packers do what the Packers always do against the Bears—they find a way to let Chicago beat themselves. Whether it's a lapse in protection or a special teams breakdown, the narrative remains stuck on repeat.
It sucks.
Matt Eberflus is now under a microscope that might actually be a magnifying glass in the midday sun. His decision-making in the final minute will be debated on 670 The Score for the next six months. Why didn't they try to get closer? Why run the ball into the middle of the line to settle for a 46-yarder when you had a timeout and time on the clock? These are the questions that keep coaches up at night and eventually get them fired.
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The Offensive Identity Crisis
Thomas Brown took over the play-calling duties for this game after Shane Waldron was shown the door. You could see the difference immediately. The pace was faster. The ball was coming out of Caleb’s hands quicker. There were actually designed rollouts that utilized his athleticism instead of keeping him a sitting duck in a collapsing pocket.
D’Andre Swift finally found some lanes. He finished with 71 yards and a touchdown, including a spectacular 39-yard burst that reminded everyone why the Bears paid him in the offseason. But when you look at the final score of the bears game, those individual successes feel like footnotes.
Defensive Stands and Fumbles
The defense played lights out for a good chunk of the afternoon. T.J. Edwards was everywhere. The secondary held Christian Watson in check for most of the game, though he did break loose for a massive 48-yard gain that set up the Packers' go-ahead score. That’s the margin of error in the NFL. It’s razor-thin. You play 58 minutes of perfect football and two minutes of "just okay" football, and you're staring at a loss.
People talk about "Bear Weather" like it's an advantage. It wasn't. The wind was swirling, but it didn't stop Jordan Love from finding Jayden Reed when it mattered most.
Why the Blocked Field Goal Happened
Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower is going to have to answer for the protection scheme on that final play. If you watch the replay—and I don't blame you if you've deleted it from your DVR already—the push from the middle of the Packers' line was instantaneous. Brooks didn't even have to dive. He just stood his ground and reached up.
A 46-yard field goal is not a "gimme," but for Cairo Santos, it's usually well within his range. He's been the most reliable part of this franchise for years. To have the game end on his foot—or rather, the hand of a defender—is peak Chicago irony.
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The Playoff Picture Post-Loss
With the final score of the bears game ending in favor of Green Bay, the Bears' playoff hopes are basically on life support. They’ve dropped several games in a row now. The NFC North is arguably the toughest division in football this year. The Lions are a juggernaut. The Vikings are reinventing themselves. And the Packers? Well, they own the tiebreaker and the psychological edge.
It's not just about the math; it's about the vibes. And right now, the vibes in Lake Forest are immaculate for all the wrong reasons. There is a sense of "here we go again" that is hard to shake off.
Is Caleb Williams the Answer?
If there is a silver lining—and I know, Chicago fans are tired of silver linings—it's #18. Caleb Williams didn't look like a rookie who was overwhelmed by the rivalry. He looked like a veteran who was let down by the circumstances around him. His ability to extend plays is elite. His accuracy on the move is improving.
The problem isn't the quarterback. For the first time in maybe thirty years, the problem isn't the guy under center. It’s the infrastructure. It’s the situational coaching. It’s the inability to close out games against divisional rivals.
Historic Context of the Rivalry
This loss marks the 11th straight defeat for the Bears at the hands of the Packers. That is a staggering statistic. Think about that. High schoolers in Chicago haven't seen a Bears win over Green Bay since they were in middle school. It’s a lopsided affair that has ceased to be a "rivalry" and has turned into a "dominance."
The final score of the bears game adds another brick to the wall that the McCaskey family has to figure out how to tear down. Whether that means a complete coaching overhaul in the offseason or a massive shift in how they approach late-game management, something has to give.
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Impact on the Locker Room
Reports from the locker room were predictably somber. You could hear a pin drop. Big guys like Jaylon Johnson were visibly frustrated. When you put in the work and the game plan actually starts to click, losing on a freak special teams play feels like a personal insult from the universe.
Caleb Williams told reporters that they just have to "keep swinging." It’s a nice sentiment. But the fans are tired of swinging and missing. They want contact. They want a win that doesn't require a miracle in the final seconds.
Actionable Steps for the Bears Front Office
If the Bears want to avoid seeing another final score of the bears game go against them in similar fashion, several things need to happen immediately:
- Audit the Special Teams Protection: The line shouldn't be getting pushed back three yards on a field goal attempt. That is a fundamental technique issue that needs addressing in practice this week.
- Trust the Rookie Sooner: The offense looked better under Thomas Brown. They need to lean into that aggressiveness earlier in the game rather than waiting until they are playing from behind.
- Situational Drills: Matt Eberflus needs to run "end of game" simulations until they can do them in their sleep. Knowing when to use a timeout to gain five more yards for your kicker is the difference between a win and a 20-19 loss.
- Commit to a Direction: The front office needs to decide if this coaching staff is part of the future or if they are just placeholders for whoever will eventually lead Caleb Williams in his prime.
The season isn't technically over, but the path to the postseason is now a mountain climb in a blizzard. For now, Chicago has to sit with the reality of 20-19. It’s a score that will haunt the city until they get another crack at the Pack.
Watch the film, tighten the protection, and for heaven's sake, find a way to get the ball through the uprights when it counts.