Man, football is a cruel sport. If you're looking for who's winning Green Bay game right now, the short answer is nobody—the season is over. But if you're asking who won the game that basically broke the internet over the weekend, that would be the Chicago Bears.
They didn't just win; they ripped the heart out of Green Bay in a way we haven't seen in this rivalry for a long time. Final score: Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27.
It was a total nightmare for the Cheeseheads. Honestly, if you stopped watching at halftime, you probably thought the Packers were cruising to the Divisional Round. They were up 21-3. Jordan Love looked like he was playing Madden on easy mode, throwing three touchdowns in the first half alone. But then the fourth quarter happened. It was a 25-6 explosion from Chicago that left Matt LaFleur looking like he’d seen a ghost on the sidelines.
What Actually Happened in the Fourth Quarter?
Usually, when people search for who's winning Green Bay game, they expect to see a lead that stays a lead. Not this time. The Packers had a 21-6 advantage going into the final frame.
Then Caleb Williams happened.
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The rookie quarterback, making his playoff debut, looked shaky early on. He threw two picks. People were already calling him a bust on social media. But he stayed cool. He led three scoring drives in the final quarter, including an 8-yard strike to Olamide Zaccheaus and a clutch 2-point conversion to Colston Loveland.
The dagger was a 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore with only 1:43 left on the clock.
The Brandon McManus Meltdown
You can't talk about this game without mentioning the kicking situation. It’s kinda the elephant in the room. Brandon McManus had a rough night, and that’s putting it nicely.
- He missed an extra point wide left after Matthew Golden’s 23-yard touchdown.
- He missed a 44-yard field goal wide right that would have given the Packers a 30-24 lead late in the game.
That’s seven points left on the board in a four-point loss. In the locker room afterward, McManus called it the "most disappointing part" of his career. You could feel the air leave the room when he said it.
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Why the Packers' Offense Stalled
It wasn't just the kicking, though. Jordan Love finished with 323 yards and four touchdowns, which usually wins you a playoff game 99% of the time. However, the efficiency just vanished when the pressure mounted.
The final play was a disaster.
Down 31-27, Green Bay had the ball at the Chicago 28-yard line with no time left. Love dropped the snap, scrambled for his life, and just heaved it toward the end zone. Jaquan Brisker batted it down, and that was it. The Bears celebrated their first playoff win in 15 years while the Packers headed for the buses.
The Defensive Collapse
Green Bay's defense, which had been so stout for three quarters, just gassed out. They couldn't stop D'Andre Swift, who punched in a 6-yard touchdown to start the rally. They couldn't find an answer for Colston Loveland, who had a career-high 137 yards on 10 catches.
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Basically, the Bears figured out that if they attacked the middle of the field, the Packers' linebackers couldn't keep up.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Green Bay?
So, since we know who's winning Green Bay game (or rather, who didn't), where does that leave the franchise? This was the fifth loss in a row for the Packers. They entered the playoffs on a massive slide and finished with a 9-8-1 record.
Coach Matt LaFleur called the delay-of-game penalty coming out of a timeout "inexcusable." That’s the kind of mistake that haunts a coaching staff all offseason.
While the Packers head home to evaluate the roster, the Bears are moving on to face the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round on January 18. The balance of power in the NFC North definitely feels like it’s shifting.
Actionable Insights for Packers Fans
- Watch the Kicker Market: Expect the Packers to bring in serious competition for McManus or move on entirely before the 2026 season officially kicks off.
- Focus on Defensive Speed: The front office will likely prioritize linebacker and safety speed in the upcoming draft to prevent another fourth-quarter meltdown like this.
- Jordan Love's Consistency: While he threw four TDs, the late-game fumbled snap shows there’s still room for growth in high-pressure "two-minute drill" situations.
The sting of this loss is going to last a while in Wisconsin. It wasn't just a loss; it was a 15-year streak of dominance over the Bears that felt like it evaporated in about fifteen minutes of game time.