If you’re checking your phone or refreshing your browser to see what's the score of green bay packers game right now, January 13, 2026, I have some news that’s gonna sting a bit. There is no game today. Honestly, the season is over.
Green Bay’s 2025-26 campaign hit a brick wall this past Saturday night in Chicago. If you missed it, the final score was Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27.
It was a total collapse. There’s really no other way to put it. One minute the Packers were coasting toward a dominant playoff win over their oldest rival, and the next, they were watching Caleb Williams celebrate on the Soldier Field turf. It felt like a bad dream.
The Wild Card Disaster: How a 21-3 Lead Vanished
The game on January 10 was a tale of two halves that will haunt Matt LaFleur for a long time. Green Bay came out firing. Jordan Love looked like an absolute superstar in the first 30 minutes, carving up the Bears' secondary like it was a preseason scrimmage. By halftime, the Packers held a commanding 21-3 lead.
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You probably thought it was over. Most of us did.
Then the third quarter happened. The offense went completely cold, managing only one first down across four straight possessions. Meanwhile, the special teams—an old ghost for this franchise—fell apart. They gave up huge returns that gifted the Bears short fields. Bit by bit, Chicago clawed back.
Key Plays That Ruined Everything
- The Missed Points: Kicker Brandon McManus had a rough night. He missed a long field goal at the end of the first half, then missed an extra point after a late touchdown that would have given Green Bay a more comfortable lead. Finally, he missed a 44-yarder that would have tied it up late.
- Matthew Golden's Spark: The one bright spot was rookie Matthew Golden. He caught a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, leaping over a defender to put the Packers up 27-16. It felt like the momentum was shifting back, but it was short-lived.
- The Final Drive: Trailing 31-27 with under two minutes left, Jordan Love drove the team inside the Chicago 25-yard line. The season was right there. But the drive stalled out, and the clock hit zero.
A Season of Streaks and "What Ifs"
Looking back at the full schedule, the 2025 season was a wild ride. The Packers finished with a bizarre 9-8-1 record. Yeah, that tie against the Cowboys back in Week 4 really mattered in the end.
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They started the year looking like Super Bowl contenders, sweeping the Lions and looking dominant at Lambeau. But the end of the year was a disaster. Green Bay lost five straight games to close out the season, including a miserable 16-3 loss to the Vikings in Week 18 where the offense barely crossed midfield.
Despite the late-season slide, they still managed to sneak into the playoffs as the #7 seed. But facing the #2 seed Bears in the Wild Card round proved to be one hurdle too many. Caleb Williams finished with 361 yards and two touchdowns, finding DJ Moore for the game-winner with just 1:43 left on the clock.
Looking Toward the 2026 Season
Since the Packers are officially out of the hunt, the focus has already shifted to the 2026 schedule. We already know who they'll be playing next year, even if the dates aren't set yet.
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Because of the NFL’s rotation, the NFC North is matched up with the NFC South and the AFC East for 2026. That means Jordan Love and company will be facing off against teams like the Buccaneers, Saints, Bills, and Jets. It won't be an easy path back to the postseason.
The front office has some massive questions to answer this spring. The defense struggled to stop the run in the second half of the year, and the kicking situation is clearly a liability. If they don't fix the special teams, we're going to see a lot more 31-27 heartbreakers in the future.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Stop Checking the Score: The Packers' next game won't happen until the 2026 preseason in August. Take a breath and enjoy the rest of the playoffs as a neutral observer.
- Monitor the Draft: Green Bay will likely have a mid-round pick. Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl and Combine for defensive line prospects; that's where the team needs the most help.
- Review the Roster: Follow the "Packers Inbox" or local beats like Wes Hodkiewicz to see which veterans might be on the chopping block to clear up cap space for the 2026 free agency period.
The sting of the Chicago loss will linger, especially since it was the first time the Bears have knocked the Packers out of the playoffs in recent memory. But the foundation with Love and young receivers like Golden and Reed is still there. It’s just going to be a long, cold winter in Wisconsin.