They lost. Again. If you’re a fan, that sentence probably feels like a repetitive nightmare you can’t wake up from.
The Chicago Bears just wrapped up their most recent contest, and honestly, the scoreboard tells a story of "what if" that has defined this entire season. This wasn't just a loss; it was a gut-punch that left Soldier Field in a state of stunned, icy silence. When you ask who won the Chicago Bears football game, the answer isn't just the name of the opposing team—it's the reality of a franchise still searching for its soul in the closing minutes of high-stakes football.
The Final Score and How We Got Here
The Green Bay Packers walked out of Chicago with a victory, extending a winning streak against the Bears that is starting to feel less like a rivalry and more like a mathematical certainty. The final score was 20-19. One point. That’s all it took to turn a potential season-defining win into another Monday morning of sports talk radio misery.
Cairo Santos stepped up for a 46-yard field goal. This was it. The moment every kid dreams about in the backyard.
He kicked it.
It looked good. Then, the sound happened. That "thwack" of leather hitting a hand instead of sailing through the uprights. Karl Brooks got a finger on it. The ball fell short, fluttering like a wounded bird into the grass. Game over.
Green Bay celebrates. Chicago mourns.
Caleb Williams and the Glimmer of Hope
Look, everyone wants to talk about the blocked kick, but we have to talk about Caleb Williams first. For weeks, the narrative was that the rookie was "broken." People were calling him a bust after the blowout in Arizona and the sluggish performance against the Patriots.
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But against the Packers? He looked like the guy we saw at USC.
Williams finished the day with 231 passing yards and, perhaps more importantly, 70 yards on the ground. He was decisive. He didn't take the back-breaking sacks that killed previous drives. In the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, he orchestrated a drive that should have won the game. He converted a massive 3rd-and-long to Rome Odunze. He checked down when he needed to. He used his legs to extend plays.
It was the most "pro" he has looked all year.
Usually, when the Bears lose, we’re all screaming about the quarterback. Not today. Today, the quarterback did his job. He put his team in a position to win against a divisional rival that has owned them for decades. The failure happened elsewhere, and that’s what makes the answer to who won the Chicago Bears football game so frustrating for the local faithful. It wasn't the rookie's fault.
The Coaching Decisions Everyone Is Hating On
Thomas Brown took over as offensive coordinator this week after Shane Waldron was shown the door. The difference was night and day. The offense had rhythm. They used pre-snap motion. They actually ran the ball with D'Andre Swift effectively.
But then we get to the end.
Matt Eberflus is taking a massive amount of heat for how that final drive was handled. With about 35 seconds left and a timeout in his pocket, the Bears had the ball at the Packers' 28-yard line. Most coaches would try to get another five or ten yards to make the kick a "gimme."
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Eberflus decided to sit on it.
He ran the clock down and called for the kick on second down. His logic? He didn't want to risk a fumble or a sack. It's playing not to lose instead of playing to win. When you play not to lose against the Packers, you usually lose. The kick was low, the line didn't hold, and Green Bay’s special teams unit did exactly what they are coached to do: find a gap and exploit it.
Defense: Solid but Not Enough
The Bears' defense has been the backbone of this team for two years. They didn't play poorly, but they didn't get the takeaways they needed. Jordan Love wasn't perfect, but he was efficient when it mattered.
Jaylon Johnson played tight coverage, as usual. The secondary held up. But the pass rush? It felt invisible for long stretches. If you give Love time, he’s going to find Christian Watson or Jayden Reed eventually.
- Key Stat: The Bears failed to record a single takeaway for the third straight game.
- Context: In the NFL, if you aren't winning the turnover battle, your margin for error is razor-thin.
- The Result: Green Bay capitalized on every small mistake the Bears made.
Honestly, it’s kinda crazy how consistent the Bears' defense is at being "good but not dominant." They keep the score low, but they don't provide that "dagger" play that changes the momentum of the game. When you’re looking at who won the Chicago Bears football game, you have to look at the lack of defensive pressure in the red zone during the third quarter.
Why This Game Matters for the Future
This wasn't just another loss in the standings. This was a game that proved Caleb Williams can play in this league.
If you’re a Bears fan, you’re probably miserable, but you should also be encouraged. That sounds like a contradiction, but football is weird like that. For years, the Bears have had "winning" teams with no quarterback. Now, they might finally have a quarterback, but the "team" part is falling apart around him.
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The offensive line is still a mess. They are missing blocks that high school players make. The protection on the final field goal attempt was nonexistent. You can't let a defender get that much penetration on a game-winning kick. It’s fundamentally broken.
The Rivalry Gap
The gap between Green Bay and Chicago isn't about talent. On paper, these rosters are fairly close. The gap is about culture and execution.
The Packers expect to win these games. You could see it on their sideline. Even when the Bears were driving, there was no panic. They knew they’d get a chance to make a play. The Bears, conversely, seem to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s a psychological hurdle that this coaching staff hasn't been able to clear.
What's Next for the Chicago Bears?
The schedule doesn't get any easier. They still have to face the Lions and the Vikings. If they don't fix the protection issues and the conservative coaching mindset, this season is going to spiral even further.
But there’s a path forward.
Thomas Brown's play-calling was a massive upgrade. The offense looked functional for the first time in a month. If they can build on that and give Williams more agency at the line of scrimmage, they might actually win a few of these close ones down the stretch.
Who won the Chicago Bears football game? The Packers did. But for the first time in a long time, the Bears didn't look like they were completely outclassed. They just looked like a team that doesn't know how to finish yet.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the Trenches: Keep an eye on the right side of the offensive line in the coming weeks. If the Bears don't shuffle the personnel there, expect more blocked kicks and pressured throws.
- Caleb's Development: Look for Williams to start checking out of plays more frequently. Now that he has a rapport with Thomas Brown, his "processing speed" should increase.
- Coaching Seat Temperature: Matt Eberflus is on the hot seat. Every late-game decision from here on out will be under a microscope. If the Bears don't finish with a respectable record, expect a total overhaul of the staff in the offseason.
- Betting Angles: The Bears are becoming a "trap" team. They have the talent to keep games close, especially at home, but their inability to close makes them a risky moneyline bet. The "Under" remains a strong play given their defensive consistency and red-zone struggles.
The season isn't over, but the margin for error is gone. The Bears need to stop being the team that "almost" won and start being the team that actually handles business in the final two minutes. Until that happens, the answer to who won the Chicago Bears football game will continue to be a source of frustration for the city of Chicago.