So, you’re looking for the damage. If you missed the ending to this season, I’ve got some bad news for the cheesehead faithful. The Green Bay Packers saw their 2025-2026 campaign come to a screeching, heart-wrenching halt.
Basically, the final score that effectively ended their season was Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27.
This wasn't just any game; it was the NFC Wild Card round on January 10, 2026. If you're checking the score today, January 19, keep in mind the Packers are already out of the mix. While the Divisional Round wrapped up yesterday, Green Bay was watching from the couch. It’s a tough pill to swallow because, for about thirty minutes of football, it looked like Matt LaFleur’s squad was going to waltz right into the next round.
The Meltdown at Soldier Field: How it Happened
Honestly, the first half was a masterclass. Jordan Love looked like the MVP candidate everyone hoped he’d be. The Packers went into the locker room at halftime with a massive 21-3 lead. You’ve seen this story before—Chicago fans were booing, the Lake Michigan wind was biting, and Green Bay was dominant.
Christian Watson caught a 7-yard heater to start the scoring. Then Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs both found the end zone. It felt like a blowout.
But then, the fourth quarter happened.
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Caleb Williams, the Bears' young gun, turned into a different human being. The Bears outscored the Packers 25-6 in the final frame. The backbreaker? A 25-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore with only 1:43 left on the clock.
Green Bay had one last chance, but the magic had run out. That 31-27 final score became the definitive answer to what happened to the Packers this year.
Why There Was No Game Yesterday
If you were searching for a score from "yesterday" (Sunday, Jan 18), it’s because that was the NFC Divisional Round.
Since the Packers lost that Wild Card game to Chicago, they weren't on the field. Instead, the team that beat them—the Chicago Bears—hosted the Los Angeles Rams yesterday at Soldier Field.
The Packers finished their regular season with a weird 9-7-1 record. That tie against Dallas back in September really set the tone for a season that was consistently "almost great" but never quite "dominant."
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A Quick Look at the Final Stretch
To understand the vibe of this team, you kinda have to look at the last few weeks of their schedule. It wasn't pretty.
- Week 17: Lost to the Baltimore Ravens 41-24. (Lambeau was quiet that day.)
- Week 18: Lost to the Minnesota Vikings 16-3. (They rested some starters, but it still stung.)
- Wild Card Round: Lost to the Chicago Bears 31-27.
Losing three straight games to end the year is a nightmare scenario.
The Matthew Golden Bright Spot
Look, it wasn't all misery. One of the coolest things to happen in that final game was rookie Matthew Golden. Late in the fourth, when things were starting to slip away, Golden caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Love. He literally leapfrogged a defender. It made the score 27-16 and gave everyone a glimmer of hope.
Unfortunately, Brandon McManus missed the extra point. In a four-point game, that missed kick loomed large.
What’s Next for Green Bay?
Now that the season is officially buried, the front office is looking at a massive offseason. The biggest concern? Health.
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Losing Micah Parsons to a torn ACL in Week 15 against the Broncos was the "beginning of the end" for the defense. Without that pass rush, Caleb Williams had all day to throw in the playoffs. General Manager Brian Gutekunst is going to have to figure out how to bolster the depth because when the stars went down this year, the ship sank fast.
If you are looking for the next time the Packers actually play, you're looking at the 2026 Preseason in August. The 2026 regular season will officially kick off on September 13.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since the season is over, here is what you should keep an eye on over the next few weeks:
- Monitor the Injury Reports: Watch for updates on Micah Parsons and Tucker Kraft's rehab. Their readiness for training camp will define the 2026 ceiling.
- The 2026 NFL Draft: The Packers will likely be picking in the middle of the first round. Draft experts are already mocking offensive line help and secondary depth to Green Bay.
- Coaching Changes: While Matt LaFleur is safe, keep an ear out for any shifts in the defensive staff following that fourth-quarter collapse in Chicago.
The 31-27 loss to the Bears will haunt Green Bay all winter, but the window for Jordan Love and this young receiving corps is still wide open.