For years, the Green Bay Packers didn’t just beat the Chicago Bears, they dismissed them. In the Trubisky era, Packers veterans openly labeled Chicago as “fake contenders.” During the Justin Fields years, Green Bay players never hesitated to remind the Bears they weren’t on the same level. Respect wasn’t given, and frankly, it wasn’t earned.

That’s why Packers running back Josh Jacobs comments after the game on Sunday hits so differently. Speaking about what’s changed in Chicago, Jacobs said: “You see what the head coach is preaching, you see how the guys are embodying that. Even on the field, like they straining a little bit more, they doing a little bit more. You could tell that they are believing in what he’s preaching.”

“They are believing in what he’s preaching.”

This wasn’t empty post-game praise. It was a player who has been part of the rivalry acknowledging a shift. He saw the culture. He felt the change. And he said it out loud.

Make no mistake: Jacobs comments are significant because it came after a playoff-style game at Lambeau. A fully loaded Packers team needed everything to win. Chicago didn’t flinch. They fought and left the field as equals—not as the little brother. Even in a tough loss, they walked away with something the franchise hasn’t had from Green Bay in years: respect.

National analysts echoed it. Players across the league noticed it. Chicago fans felt it. This Bears team is real—built on Ben Johnson’s identity and belief. The difference isn’t just Caleb Williams at quarterback. It’s leadership at the top. It’s a locker room that isn’t faking toughness but living it.

For the first time in a long time, even the Packers see it. Chicago is legit. The rivalry just woke up.

The Chicago Bears‘ offense has been so much better this season, thanks to the arrival of Ben Johnson as head coach and the improvement of quarterback Caleb Williams. However, changes don’t always benefit everybody when they happen. For two years, DJ Moore was the unquestioned #1 target in the Bears’ passing attack. He should’ve made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and was still effective last year despite Williams’ inconsistency. However, it appears things have been going in the wrong direction for him this season, especially over the past month.

Sunday night in Green Bay was Moore’s worst performance of the season, catching only one pass for -4 yards. Since week ten against New York, the 28-year-old has been targeted 22 times. He has just nine catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. The vast majority of that production came in the win over Pittsburgh, who have one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL. Some are starting to wonder if this could be Moore’s last season in Chicago. NFL insider Gregg Rosenthal voiced that after the game.

DJ Moore has left himself dangerously vulnerable.

The Bears had viewed him as a core part of their passing game, which is why they extended him in July of last year. However, the improvement of Rome Odunze (pre-foot injury) and ascent of rookie Luther Burden have changed the perception. Is paying DJ Moore $28.5 million next year really worth it? There is a strong case to be made that it isn’t. Chicago only has $2.8 million in cap space. They need a way to create more. Trading the veteran receiver would free up $16 million, while also netting some additional draft help.

It isn’t an easy decision. Moore can be so valuable when he’s in a groove. The unfortunate reality is he doesn’t seem to be in one as often these days. Maybe it’s his chemistry with Williams. Maybe it’s his lack of comfort in Johnson’s offense. Whatever the case, his impact does not match what the Bears are paying him. If that doesn’t change before the end of the season, it will be time for GM Ryan Poles to make a decision on what to do with him. That contract may prove difficult to move, but the demand for proven receivers is always high in the NFL.

Micah Parsons didn’t waste any time taking a victory lap after Packers win over the Bears. Speaking to reporters, he shared what he says he told Caleb Williams between snaps: “You’re not running around me. You can outrun everyone around the NFL, but not me. And I held to that the whole game. He did not beat me to the edge one time.”

It’s a great soundbite. It’s also not true.

Let’s be clear: Parsons is a problem. He was the best defensive player on the field, again. He finished with seven pressures, two quarterback hits, and his presence alone forced Chicago to change protections/adapt. His explosiveness to the edge creates chaos before a play even develops. There’s a reason he’s a Defensive Player of the Year candidate every single season.

But he didn’t shut down Caleb Williams biggest strength — his ability to escape, improvise, and make defenders look human. On film, Williams did win the edge multiple times, including two escapes that left Parsons diving at air. One came on a third-and-long rollout where Williams outran Parsons to the corner and extended the play. Another came on a keeper where Parsons took a wide angle and Williams beat him to the marker.

Parsons can talk his talk — he earned that by winning the game. But the idea that Caleb never beat him outside is a flex built on fiction.

If anything, Sunday showed again that Caleb is 1-of-1 when it comes to sack avoidance. He’s already one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the league — even against the NFL’s most lethal edge rusher.

Instant Reactions: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers secured their win at Lambeau Field on Sunday evening. It was almost a disaster in the process. After building a 14-3 lead in the first half, they watched the Chicago Bears storm back to tie it 21-21. Then, on the final drive of the 4th quarter, the Packers’ defense couldn’t get a stop. With 22 seconds left, Chicago had it 4th and short. Head coach Ben Johnson called a play action bootleg for Caleb Williams. Unfortunately, his throw to Cole Kmet in the end zone was intercepted.

People wondered what happened. Why didn’t Williams throw the out route to D’Andre Swift or turn to a wide-open D.J. Moore who came free over the middle? Further examination of the play reveals that Swift was covered, and Moore was never supposed to be an option. Williams’ choices were either to take off and run or go for Kmet. Footage shows he chose correctly. The Bears’ tight end was wide open as the play unfolded. Even star Packers safety Xavier McKinney admitted it after the game.

“They were doing that pretty much the whole game,” McKinney said. “They were running and they were play-action booting us. And we had to honor the run. They got what they wanted. It was a good play call. I’m not going to lie. (Kmet) was open. It was a good play call so you can’t really be mad at it. We just made a better play.”

Unfortunately, Williams made two small but crucial mistakes. He waited a split second too long to throw, and when he did, he didn’t put enough velocity on it. As a result, Nixon intercepted it.

Ben Johnson called the right play. The execution just wasn’t quite there.

Truth be told, the Bears had the Packers’ defense out of sorts most of the second half. Williams got hot, and the running game found a groove. It was the most vulnerable Green Bay had looked on that side of the ball all season. Sadly, the Bears’ poor start in the first half made the hole too big to dig out of. Some defensive lapses ultimately proved to be the difference. Still, the game proved once again that Ben Johnson is not intimidated by anybody. His mind is so sharp that he can dissect what defenses are doing and find answers almost immediately.

When an opposing player openly admits a play call should’ve worked, the coach is pretty good. One thing is certain. Johnson now has a full game of tape showing what the Packers defense likes to do. You can bet he’ll have countermeasures ready for the rematch next week. First is taking care of business against Cleveland. Green Bay doesn’t have much time to celebrate as they get the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos next. The NFC North could be decided at Soldier Field. Johnson will almost certainly aim for the kill shot.

Green Bay Packers fans have had plenty to say about Chicago Bears quarterbacks in the past. That is nothing new. When you’ve enjoyed a 30-year run of Hall of Fame excellence at the position, you’re inevitably going to look down on guys like Justin Fields, Mitch Trubisky, Jay Cutler, Rex Grossman, Jim Miller, Cade McNown, and so on. No doubt they expected the tradition to continue after the Bears selected Caleb Williams with the #1 overall pick last year. He might be a top pick, but the Bears are still the Bears. They don’t develop quarterbacks.

Time has proven such thoughts were premature. Williams seems to save some of his best performances for the matchups against Green Bay. He was a blocked field goal away from beating them at Soldier Field last year, did beat them on a last-second field goal at Lambeau, and almost forced overtime in the final seconds on Sunday. His 175 passing yards and two touchdowns in the second half included some outright ridiculous plays. It reached a point where even Packers fans had no choice but to admit that the Bears may have finally found a guy.

Green Bay can sense what’s coming with Caleb Williams.

He hasn’t quite mastered the smaller details of the position yet. That comes from learning a new system and rewiring everything he understands about how to play quarterback. His footwork still isn’t there, which has been impacting his accuracy. Once everything aligns properly, those missed throws will start hitting. Then, stopping the Bears will become even more difficult than it was for the Packers in that second half. If nothing else, it feels notable that this is the first Bears quarterback to garner legitimate respect from Green Bay fans in decades.

For now, the Packers remain in control of the NFC North. They have the star power and the more established quarterback. It feels like this has to be the season they go get that Super Bowl. That Micah Parsons contract will only hit harder as the next few years progress. Meanwhile, the Bears know their goals.

• Keep developing Caleb Williams
• Re-tool the defense
• Keep the arsenal of weapons and protection stacked

Their time feels like it’s not too far away. The trick is making sure not to rush the process. Keep building the right way, and everything should come together.