The Chicago Bears just wrapped up their latest contest, and honestly, the scoreboard tells a story that stats alone can't quite capture. If you’re looking for a quick answer on who won the Bears game, the Green Bay Packers walked away with a 20-19 victory at Soldier Field. It was one of those games that makes you want to stare at a wall for twenty minutes. A blocked field goal as time expired. That’s how it ended. Cairo Santos stepped up for a 46-yard attempt, a distance he usually nails in his sleep, and the ball never even had a chance to gain altitude.
Football is cruel.
The atmosphere in Chicago was actually electric for once, mostly because people wanted to see if the coaching change—firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and elevating Thomas Brown—would actually move the needle. It did. Sorta. The offense looked more fluid, Caleb Williams looked like a human being instead of a sacked-and-confused rookie, and the run game had some actual life to it. But none of that matters when your rival blocks a kick to extend a winning streak that feels like it’s been going on since the Stone Age. This makes it 11 straight wins for Green Bay over Chicago.
The Moment the Game Was Won (And Lost)
Everyone is going to talk about that final play. It’s the headline. But the reality of who won the Bears game was decided in the trenches about three seconds before the whistle blew. Karl Brooks, a defensive tackle for the Packers, got a fingertip on the ball. Just a fingertip. In the NFL, that’s the difference between a week of "Chicago is back" headlines and "Fire everybody" radio rants.
The Bears had orchestrated a beautiful drive to get into field goal range. Caleb Williams made two massive throws on that final possession—one to Rome Odunze on 4th and 3 and another chunk play to Keenan Allen. He showed the poise that made him the number one pick. He did his job. The protection held up just long enough. Then, the special teams unit blinked. You could see the penetration from the middle of the Packers' line immediately.
Why didn't they try to get closer? That’s the question Matt Eberflus is going to be answering for the next several days. With 35 seconds left and a timeout in his pocket, the Bears chose to run the clock down and kick from the 28-yard line. They played for the kick rather than trying to gain another five or ten yards to make it a chip shot. Hindsight is a jerk, but in this league, you play to leave no doubt. They left doubt.
✨ Don't miss: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
Breaking Down the Caleb Williams Performance
Let's be real: after the debacle against the Patriots, the bar was low. Like, subterranean low. But Williams responded. He finished 23-of-31 for 231 yards. No touchdowns, no interceptions, but more importantly, he wasn't taking those soul-crushing sacks that killed drives in previous weeks. He used his legs. He scrambled for 70 yards, picking up key first downs when the pocket collapsed.
Thomas Brown clearly told him to just play. There was less overthinking. The ball came out faster. We saw the quick-game stuff that helps a rookie settle in. D’Andre Swift was also a massive factor, ripping off a 39-yard touchdown run that made it look like the Bears might actually pull this off. He finished with 71 yards on the ground and looked like the explosive playmaker the front office paid for in the offseason.
Green Bay’s Resilience and Jordan Love
You have to give credit to Jordan Love, even if it hurts. He wasn't perfect. He threw a pretty ugly interception in the red zone to Terell Smith that should have been the turning point for Chicago. But when the Packers needed a drive, Love delivered. He went 13-of-17 for 261 yards. He’s got this weird, calm demeanor even when the pocket is messy.
Christian Watson was the X-factor. He hauled in four catches for 150 yards. That’s nearly 40 yards a catch. The Bears' secondary, which is usually the strength of this team, just couldn't contain the vertical threat. Every time Chicago grabbed the momentum, Love would find Watson for a massive gain that flipped the field. It’s a recurring nightmare for Bears fans.
The Packers moved to 7-3. They are firmly in the playoff hunt in a hyper-competitive NFC North. The Bears? They dropped to 4-6. The math for a postseason berth is now essentially "hope for a miracle."
🔗 Read more: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
Why This Game Matters Beyond the Score
Usually, a loss is just a loss. This one feels heavier because of the rivalry context. Since 1921, these two teams have been at each other's throats, but lately, it’s been a one-sided beatdown. The Packers now lead the all-time series 108-95-6.
For Chicago, the question of who won the Bears game is secondary to "Is Caleb Williams the guy?" If you watched the tape from Sunday, the answer leans toward yes. He outplayed Jordan Love for significant stretches of that game. He looked like the better quarterback on the field during the fourth quarter. In the grand scheme of a rebuild, that’s the win, even if the standings don’t reflect it.
The defense, however, struggled to get off the field. They didn't record a single sack on Love. When you give a talented quarterback that much time to survey the field, he’s going to find the open man eventually. The lack of a consistent pass rush has become a glaring hole in Eric Washington’s unit.
The Strategy That Failed
Let's talk about the coaching. Matt Eberflus is under a microscope. When you lose on a blocked field goal after deciding not to run another play to get closer, you invite the critics. The decision to settle for a 46-yarder is being debated in every sports bar from Wicker Park to Joliet.
Matt LaFleur, on the other hand, praised his special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. They saw something on film. They knew they could get a push through the middle of the Bears' line. They exploited it. That’s the difference between a team that wins consistently and a team that is still learning how to win.
💡 You might also like: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
- The Bears dominated time of possession.
- They outgained the Packers in total yardage.
- They won the turnover battle.
- They still lost the game.
That is the definition of "Bears football" for the last decade. It’s a frustrating brand of sport where the process looks improved, but the result remains stagnant.
What Happens Next for Chicago?
The schedule doesn't get easier. They have the Vikings and the Lions coming up. The NFC North is a gauntlet this year. If the offense can build on what Thomas Brown started, they might steal a couple of games down the stretch. But the psychological damage of losing to Green Bay in that specific fashion—a literal block at the buzzer—is hard to shake.
For the Packers, they keep rolling. They have a roster that knows how to finish. Even when they play a "B-" game, they find a way to snatch the victory. That’s the hallmark of a playoff team.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the Bears for the rest of the season, here’s what you should actually be looking at instead of just the final score:
- Watch the Offensive Line Splits: The Bears changed their blocking schemes slightly under Thomas Brown. It led to more successful "long-developing" runs. Watch if they keep this identity against Minnesota's heavy blitz packages.
- Caleb Williams' Intermediate Accuracy: He’s getting better at the 10-15 yard throws. If he continues to hit those consistently, the offense becomes much harder to scheme against.
- Special Teams Protection: Expect the Bears to work almost exclusively on their field goal protection packages this week in practice. They were exposed, and every other coach in the league just saw it on film.
- Red Zone Efficiency: The Bears struggled to turn long drives into six points. If you're betting on them, look for the "under" on their team total until they prove they can finish drives with touchdowns instead of field goals.
The reality of who won the Bears game isn't just about the 20-19 scoreline. It's about a franchise trying to find its footing while its oldest rival continues to act as a metaphorical brick wall. Chicago showed they have the talent to compete with the best in the NFC, but talent without execution in the final 30 seconds is just a recipe for heartbreak.
Keep an eye on the injury report heading into next week, specifically regarding the offensive line depth. If they can stay healthy, the Caleb Williams "re-breakout" might actually be a real thing. If not, it’s going to be a very long winter in the Windy City.