CHICAGO — We made it. A full calendar year after Cairo Santos‘ walkoff field goal at Lambeau Field to close the book on the pre-Ben Johnson era, the Chicago Bears hosted a playoff game at Soldier Field. They won the division with two weeks to spare — an incredible feat given every team in the NFC North finished with a winning record.
And of course, the best Bears season in almost a decade had to culminate in a playoff matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Two incredible games during the regular season resulted in a season split. So it was fitting that their playoff destinies hung on a rubber match.
That’s what the playoffs are all about.
Here were my thoughts heading into the game as a preview (thread on X):
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Thought #6 was the key for me — no matter what happened tonight, fans’ perspective on the season and what it means shouldn’t be lost (beyond the initial sting).
In the end, the Bears did their usual bullshit – going down 21-3 at halftime with some awful play, before storming back to win an instant classic thanks to excellent complementary football. The Chicago Bears move on to the Divisional Round. Crazy stuff.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on X @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation!
Thoughts and Observations
1. PREGAME thought:
Bears took the ball to open the game — clearly Ben Johnson wasn’t happy with last week’s performance against Detroit, and he wanted to get off to a faster start on his terms.
Chicago executed quite well down the field — converting 4 third downs (including two 3rd and longs) en route to the 9-yard line. A field goal put the Bears up 3-0. Really nice job on that drive by the OL to buy Caleb Williams time, and Luther Burden and DJ Moore out wide to convert a few crucial third downs. Santos nailed the kick.
We’re almost eight minutes into the game and Ben Johnson was IN HIS BAG on the first drive. Some cool designs — some worked and some didn’t.
Love the hyper-specific game plans of the playoffs. So much fun.
2. Just gross defense by the Bears on the Packers’ first drive. A lot of the same issues — lack of pass rush and undisciplined linebackers. What I didn’t like was the heavy use of man coverage again. The Packers are one of the best in the league against it, and the Bears have awful personnel for it right now.
What is the point of playing against your strength?
3. Well, it’s clear that Ben Johnson isn’t going to care much about 4th down anymore after how easily the Packers went down the field. He went for it on 4th and 2 from minus territory, and thankfully Caleb converted to D.J. Moore for 18 yards.
Later in the drive, he ran it on 3rd and 6 and gained… no yards. And then went for it again. And Caleb and Luther Burden had a miscommunication and it was a total mishap of a play. Interception that acted as a punt … benefited the Bears.
The process is rough… Ben doesn’t have confidence in the defense. That’s for sure.
4. More man coverage after more man coverage and the Packers just picked the Bears apart to another touchdown. 14-3. It’s really, really wild how little speed and awareness the Bears have everywhere. Matt LaFleur has had them in total hell.
To add injury to insult, T.J. Edwards went down with a non-contact injury and an aircast. Brutal.
5. Ben Johnson decided again to go for it on 4th down in minus territory, and Caleb had his pass tipped for TO on downs. Burden had a ton of space if the pass got through.
And then a brutal, brutal sequence, where Christian Watson fumbled at the 1-yard line on a 4th down play, and no Bears player (who were closest to the ball) recovered it. And then 4 plays later, Jordan Love hit Romeo Doubs on another touchdown – in man coverage. Again. 21-3.
For good measure – the Bears couldn’t convert on the ensuing 4th down either for themselves, as Caleb rushed a throw to Loveland and airmailed him.
FWIW, I think Ben Johnson overcorrected a LITTLE too much for not going for it last week before the Lions went down to win the game. But I also don’t blame him for not trusting the defense at all. They cannot do a single thing. 21-3 at halftime and the Packers open with the ball…
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6. An adjustment has been made on defense — the Bears forced three and outs on the Packers’ first two possessions. Some zone defense being mixed in with some smart blitzes.
On offense, the Bears’ running game has been a challenge for a few weeks (quietly). And Jeff Hafley has things shut down again fairly well tonight. This was the unit that catapulted their offense’s rise after the bye week. Things need to be improved here…
Chicago had another opportunity in the deep red zone and had 4th and 1 inside the 10-yard line again. And essentially a seeming repeat of the game-losing INT from Green Bay happened. A free rusher on a play fake… INT. Brutal. Just opportunity after opportunity missed in this game.
7. Even if Johnson’s had a bit of a rougher game, it’s been a bad game for Caleb Williams. He’s missed a lot of throws with happy feet and poor mechanics — including a few first downs on high-leverage downs and some poor underthrows and overthrows. You want to see the QB play better than this heading (likely at this rate) into the offseason.
The Bears are playing like a team that’s a year ahead of schedule. A lot of missed opportunities, mistakes, pressing, and ultimately failed plays.
8. That’s four straight punts forced by the Bears’ defense. In fact, 4 straight three and outs. I’m not sure why this wasn’t possible in the first half, but much more impressive work by this defense to fluster Love and the Packers’ offense. At this point, it’s on the Bears’ offense to take advantage.
And the Bears marched right down the field — thanks to some big throws from Caleb to Colston Loveland, a nice weird windback screen to D’Andre Swift setting up a touchdown — to get back in the game. 21-16.
The Bears’ first half and second half dichotomies are so odd. But they’re alive. And that’s what matters after that first half showing — missed opportunities and all.
9. What a turn of events. Bears set up a couple of third and longs on the Packers’ ensuing drive. On one, Jordan Love hit Doubs on a slant against Kevin Byard and converted a big first down into field goal range.
A few plays later, refs didn’t call OPI on Jayden Reed on a PBU by Nahshon Wright … fittingly, the Packers scored a touchdown two plays later. Matthew Golden’s first of his career. 27-16 with about six minutes left. Awful tackling on that touchdown by the defense, too.
After playing so well in this half, that’s a tough one for the defense. But the Bears’ offense just didn’t take advantage of their opportunities before then.
10. Caleb Williams made one of the all-time throws on 4th and 8 to keep the season alive to Rome Odunze. Absolutely insane play. And a few plays later, the Bears had it back to 27-24 with 4 minutes left. Just ridiculousness from all involved. He continues to flash, even in continued uneven games.
Jordan Love sent the Packers right down the field with some insane throws. But the Bears locked up in the red zone and forced a field goal attempt… that Brandon McManus missed wide right. Just crazy.
A field goal ties it and a touchdown wins it. I don’t understand how we got here, but we did.
Caleb Williams: the stage is set.
11. You’ve gotta be kidding me, man. How do they keep doing this? Caleb Williams hit Colston Loveland, D’Andre Swift, and D.J. Moore for big plays en route to a touchdown. 31-27 Bears with 1:48 left. Truly insane.
Bears need one stop now. Just one stop. Can they do it?
12. Of course this game couldn’t end any other way. With the Packers driving and setting up 1st and 10 from near the red zone, the Bears buckled up and won the game. A final heave with the clock expiring from Love as he tried to navigate WRs in a muddled end zone fell harmlessly incomplete.
Your Chicago Bears have won a playoff game.
13. Truly an all-time game. All-time. No matter who won, the second half was a setup for the ages. The Packers blowing this game will set up interesting talk-show stuff up in Green Bay for some time. But for the Bears, they have won a playoff game and in Ben Johnson’s first season.
14. We’ll look ahead to next week when the time comes. For now, enjoy the win.
What a game.
