So, you’re looking for the damage from the most recent showdown. If you missed the ending of the Green Bay Packers' playoff run, honestly, consider yourself a little bit lucky. It was a rough one.
The Green Bay Packers lost to the Chicago Bears with a final score of 31–27.
This wasn't just any regular-season loss either. This was the NFC Wild Card round, played on Saturday night, January 10, 2026. It happened at Soldier Field, and for about two hours, it looked like Green Bay was going to cruise into the next round. Then the fourth quarter happened. If you’re a Packers fan, it’s probably best to stop reading here—or keep going to see exactly how a 21–3 halftime lead evaporated into thin air.
The Score of the Green Bay Packers Game: A Tale of Two Halves
The final score tells you who won, but it doesn't tell you how weird the game actually was. Green Bay absolutely dominated the first thirty minutes. Jordan Love looked like he was playing a video game on easy mode, throwing three touchdown passes before the teams even headed to the locker rooms.
By the time the halftime whistle blew, the Packers were up 21–3.
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But the second half was a different story entirely. Chicago’s defense, led by the mid-season acquisition of defensive minds under Ben Johnson, basically put a lid on the Packers' offense. Green Bay’s first four drives of the second half resulted in exactly one first down. You read that right. One.
Scoring Breakdown
- First Quarter: Bears 3, Packers 7 (Love to Christian Watson)
- Second Quarter: Packers 14 (Reed and Doubs TDs)
- Third Quarter: Bears 3 (Cairo Santos field goal)
- Fourth Quarter: Bears 25, Packers 6
The fourth quarter was a nightmare. Caleb Williams, the Bears' young signal-caller, found a rhythm that Green Bay simply couldn't break. D’Andre Swift punched in a touchdown, and then Williams connected with Olamide Zaccheaus. Suddenly, that "safe" 18-point lead was down to a three-point margin.
Why the Score Flipped So Fast
What really killed the Packers was the "failure in all three phases" that Matt LaFleur talked about in the post-game presser. It wasn't just the offense stalling. The special teams unit had a rough night, too. Brandon McManus, the Packers' kicker, missed a 44-yard field goal with under three minutes left. If he makes that, Green Bay goes up by six. He missed.
Chicago took over, and Williams orchestrated a 66-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore.
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That was the go-ahead score. With 1:43 left on the clock, Green Bay still had a chance. Love drove them down into Chicago territory—they got as close as the 23-yard line. But a false start penalty and a fumbled snap on the final play (which Love desperately tried to turn into a miracle heave) ended the season. The ball was batted down by Jaquan Brisker, and that was that.
Looking Back at the 2025-26 Season Stats
Green Bay finished the year with a record of 9–8–1. It was a season of massive "what ifs." They started 5–1–1 and looked like world-beaters. Then, the injuries started piling up. Losing Micah Parsons to a torn ACL in Week 15 was the turning point that most analysts, like those at Pro Football Reference, point to as the moment the defense lost its edge.
Honestly, the fact that they even made the playoffs as the 7th seed was a testament to Jordan Love’s growth. He finished the Wild Card game with 323 passing yards and four touchdowns, which usually wins you a game. But when your run game—led by Josh Jacobs—only averages 2.9 yards per carry in the postseason, you’re putting way too much pressure on the quarterback.
Key Performance Figures from the Game
- Jordan Love: 24/46, 323 Yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT
- Romeo Doubs: 8 Receptions, 124 Yards, 1 TD
- Josh Jacobs: 19 Carries, 55 Yards
- Bears Comeback: 18 points (The largest in Chicago postseason history)
What Happens Now for the Packers?
The locker room clean-out happened on Monday, January 12. There is a lot of talk about the future of the coaching staff. When asked if he’d be back next year, LaFleur was pretty short with the media, saying "now is not the time" to talk about it.
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The Packers are now locked into the 2026 NFL Draft with the 22nd overall pick. The immediate focus is going to be on the health of the roster. Zach Tom is looking at surgery for a patellar tendon issue, and they need to figure out the kicker situation after McManus left seven points on the field in a four-point loss.
If you’re tracking the 2026 offseason, keep an eye on the defensive coordinator search. Even though they had a decent year, giving up 25 points in a single quarter of a playoff game usually leads to some pretty uncomfortable meetings in the front office.
For now, the score is settled: Chicago 31, Green Bay 27. The rivalry adds another chapter of heartbreak for the folks in Wisconsin.
Actionable Next Steps
Keep an eye on the NFL Draft order updates as the rest of the playoffs finish up; the Packers’ exact slotting at 22 could shift slightly depending on tiebreakers, but their needs are clearly at offensive line depth and kicker. You should also monitor the injury reports for Micah Parsons and Tucker Kraft, as their recovery timelines will dictate how aggressive Green Bay needs to be in free agency this March.