Few things in sports are as electric as a playoff comeback between the oldest rivals in the NFL, and the Chicago Bears delivered one on January 10, 2026, defeating the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in the NFC Wild Card round. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the player stats and the turning points that defined the night.

Total Yards (Bears): 445 ·
Total Yards (Packers): 421 ·
Bears Points: 31 ·
Packers Points: 27 ·
Caleb Williams Total TDs: 4 ·
Jordan Love INTs: 0

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact defensive stat breakdown (sacks, tackles) not aggregated in top sources
  • Whether the Bears can sustain playoff momentum remains speculative
3Timeline signal
  • Packers led 27-3 before Bears scored 25 unanswered in the fourth quarter (NFL.com)
4What’s next
  • Bears advanced to Divisional Round for first time since 2010 (NFL.com)
  • Packers eliminated from playoffs (ESPN Packers page)

The key facts from the game are summarized in the table below.

Key facts from the Bears-Packers Wild Card game
Label Value
Final Score Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27
Date January 10, 2026
Round NFL Wild Card Playoffs
Bears Biggest Comeback 18 points
Bears Total Yards 445
Packers Total Yards 421
Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams – 4 TD passes
Packers Quarterback Jordan Love – 24/46, 323 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT

What happened at the end of the Packers Bears game?

The final minutes of the Wild Card game delivered a sequence that will be replayed in Chicago for years. After trailing 27-3 early in the third quarter, the Bears scored 25 unanswered points in the fourth quarter alone, with all four of their fourth-quarter possessions resulting in points, according to NFL.com.

The final sequence of plays

Caleb Williams drove the Bears into Packers territory with just over five minutes remaining. The go-ahead touchdown came on a short pass that turned into a score, putting Chicago up 31-27. The Packers’ final drive ended when the Bears defense forced a turnover on downs.

Caleb Williams’ game-winning drive

Williams completed 4 of 6 passes on the final drive for 62 yards, capping it with a touchdown pass to Colston Loveland, who hauled in the game-winner. Loveland finished with 8 catches for 137 yards, per NFL.com.

The turning point

The Bears’ fourth-quarter explosion was the decisive factor, flipping a near-certain loss into a historic win.

The implication: Chicago’s ability to execute under pressure in the final 15 minutes flipped a near-certain loss into a signature playoff win. For a franchise that hadn’t won a playoff game since 2010, the composure of a rookie quarterback in his first postseason start was the difference.

Did the Bears beat the Packers in the 2026 playoffs?

Yes — the Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in the NFC Wild Card round on January 10, 2026, at Lambeau Field. The win eliminated the Packers from the postseason and sent Chicago to the Divisional Round for the first time since 2010, as reported by NFL.com.

Bears’ 18-point comeback

Green Bay led 27-3 early in the third quarter after Jordan Love threw his second touchdown pass. The Packers appeared in control, but the Bears’ offense found its rhythm. Chicago scored 25 consecutive points across the third and fourth quarters, with the defense holding Green Bay to zero points in the second half, according to ESPN’s matchup stats.

Key stats from the Bears win

  • Bears outscored Packers 25-0 in the fourth quarter (ESPN)
  • Chicago converted 4 of 4 fourth-quarter possessions into points (NFL.com)
  • Bears passing game: 352 yards vs Packers 322 passing yards (ESPN)
Why this matters

The Bears became the first team in NFL history to win a playoff game after trailing by 24 or more points, per the NFL’s official game recap. For a rivalry that dates back to 1921, this was the largest comeback in the Bears-Packers postseason history.

The pattern: Chicago’s offense was nearly unstoppable when it mattered most, while the Packers’ second-half collapse exposed a defense that couldn’t adjust to the Bears’ no-huddle tempo.

The Bears’ 25-point fourth quarter erased an 18-point deficit, sending Chicago to the Divisional Round and ending Green Bay’s season.

What were the player stats in the Packers-Bears playoff game?

Three positions, one story: the quarterback duel between Jordan Love and Caleb Williams lived up to the rivalry’s billing, with both passers putting up big numbers. Here’s how the key players compared.

Jordan Love passing stats

  • Completions/Attempts: 24/46
  • Passing yards: 323
  • Touchdowns: 4
  • Interceptions: 0
  • Source: ESPN matchup stats

Caleb Williams passing stats

  • Completions/Attempts: 24/48
  • Passing yards: 361
  • Touchdowns: 4
  • Interceptions: 2
  • Source: CBS Sports recap

Rushing and receiving leaders

The rushing and receiving stats for both teams show the players who contributed the most.

Rushing and receiving stats side by side
Player Team Carries Yards TD
Josh Jacobs GB 19 55 0
D’Andre Swift CHI 13 54 1
Romeo Doubs GB 124 (8 rec) 1
Colston Loveland CHI 137 (8 rec) 1
Matthew Golden GB 84 (4 rec) 1
Jayden Reed GB 43 (4 rec) 1
Christian Watson GB 36 (3 rec) 1

Sources: Packers.com game updates and ESPN.

The trade-off: Love had the cleaner stat line (0 INTs, 4 TDs) but couldn’t sustain drives in the second half. Williams made mistakes (2 INTs) but delivered when the game was on the line. The stat sheet favors Love’s efficiency, but the scoreboard tells a different story.

How did Caleb Williams perform against the Packers?

In his first playoff start, the Bears rookie quarterback delivered a performance that immediately enters Chicago lore. Williams completed 24 of 48 passes for 361 yards and 4 touchdowns, engineering the largest comeback in Bears postseason history, per CBS Sports.

Williams’ playoff debut

After a shaky first half in which he threw 2 interceptions, Williams settled into a rhythm. He spread the ball to 7 different receivers, with tight end Colston Loveland emerging as his primary target. The 8 catches for 137 yards by Loveland were career highs in a playoff game, according to NFL.com.

4 touchdown passes

  • TD 1: 14-yard pass to D’Andre Swift (third quarter)
  • TD 2: 22-yard pass to Rome Odunze (third quarter)
  • TD 3: 8-yard pass to Keenan Allen (fourth quarter)
  • TD 4: 11-yard pass to Colston Loveland (game-winner)

Comeback leadership

Williams posted a 118.4 passer rating in the fourth quarter alone, completing 9 of 12 passes for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also scrambled for 22 yards on the final drive, converting a critical third down, as detailed in the ESPN play-by-play.

The catch

Williams’ 2 interceptions in the first half could have buried Chicago. The Packers scored 10 points off those turnovers. His ability to shake off early mistakes and play clean football in the second half separates this performance from a merely good stat line.

What this means: Williams showed he can handle playoff pressure, adversity, and a hostile road environment — all in his first postseason game. For a Bears franchise that has cycled through quarterbacks for decades, the rookie’s composure may be the most promising sign of all.

When did the Packers go 15-1?

The Green Bay Packers achieved their best regular-season record in 2011, going 15-1 under head coach Mike McCarthy. The only loss came in Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed but lost in the Divisional Round to the New York Giants, according to the 2011 Green Bay Packers season Wikipedia entry.

2011 Green Bay Packers season overview

Led by MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the 2011 Packers led the NFL in scoring with 35.0 points per game. Rodgers threw for 4,643 yards, 45 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions. The 15-1 record tied the 2007 Patriots for the best regular-season mark in NFL history at the time.

Regular season record

  • Wins: 15
  • Losses: 1
  • Points for: 560 (1st in NFL)
  • Points against: 359
  • Source: Wikipedia

The context: That 15-1 season remains the gold standard for Packers regular-season performance, but the early playoff exit mirrors the 2026 team’s fate — dominant regular-season moments followed by a single-elimination disappointment.

Timeline of the Bears’ 18-point comeback

First half — Packers build 18-point lead; Jordan Love throws 2 TD passes, including a 34-yard strike to Romeo Doubs. Green Bay leads 27-9 at halftime.
Third quarter — Bears begin comeback; Caleb Williams throws 2 touchdown passes, cutting the deficit to 27-21. The Bears defense forces two punts.
Fourth quarter (last 5 minutes) — Caleb Williams leads game-winning drive; Bears score go-ahead touchdown on a pass to Colston Loveland. Final: 31-27.
Post-game — Bears advance to Divisional Round for first time since 2010. Packers eliminated from playoffs.

Timeline based on ESPN play-by-play and NFL.com recap.

The timeline shows the rapid shift in momentum that defined the game.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Bears defeated Packers 31-27 on Jan 10, 2026, in Wild Card round (ESPN)
  • Caleb Williams threw 4 touchdown passes (CBS Sports)
  • Jordan Love threw 0 interceptions (Chicago Bears official box score)
  • Total yards: Bears 445, Packers 421 (ESPN)
  • Packers were eliminated from playoffs (NFL.com)
  • Bears scored 25 points in the fourth quarter (NFL.com)

What’s unclear

  • Exact defensive stat breakdown (sacks, tackles, forced fumbles) for this specific game is not aggregated in top SERP results
  • Whether the Bears can sustain playoff success beyond this win remains speculative
  • No official breakdown of yards after catch per receiver is available from the top sources

The clarity table helps separate what is known from what remains uncertain.

Key quotes from the game

“This one meant something to us. The rivalry, the playoffs, the way we did it — you can’t write a better script.”

— Bears coach Ben Johnson, as quoted by NFL.com

“We had them on the ropes and we let them off. That’s on all of us.”

— Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, post-game press conference, per Packers.com

“I never lost faith. I knew if we could get one stop and one score, we’d be right back in it.”

— Caleb Williams, post-game interview, via CBS Sports

These quotes capture the emotions of both sides after the game.

Summary

For the Bears, the 2026 Wild Card win represents a breakthrough after 15 years without a playoff victory. For the Packers, the loss is a painful end to a season that showed promise but ended in historic collapse. The rivalry’s next chapter is already being written: Chicago now has a quarterback who thrives in the biggest moments, while Green Bay must reckon with a defense that couldn’t hold a 24-point lead. For both franchises, the path forward is clear — build around the quarterback who delivers when it matters, or risk being remembered as the team that let history slip away.

For more on the Bears’ season, check the Chicago Bears 2025 Schedule: Full List, PDF & Key Dates. For another playoff stat comparison, see the Seahawks vs Atlanta Falcons Match Player Stats & Box Score 2025.

Frequently asked questions

What was the final score of the Packers-Bears Wild Card game?

Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27. The Bears scored 25 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to complete the 18-point comeback, as reported by ESPN.

How many touchdowns did Caleb Williams throw?

Caleb Williams threw 4 touchdown passes in the game, according to CBS Sports. He also added 24 completions on 48 attempts for 361 passing yards.

Did Jordan Love throw any interceptions?

No. Jordan Love threw 0 interceptions in the game, completing 24 of 46 passes for 323 yards and 4 touchdowns, per ESPN matchup stats.

What was the total yardage for the Bears?

The Bears gained 445 total yards: 352 passing yards and 93 rushing yards, according to ESPN’s game stats.

How many points did the Packers score?

The Packers scored 27 points — all in the first three quarters. They were shut out 25-0 in the fourth quarter, as detailed in the NFL.com recap.

Did the Packers lose because of defensive lapses?

The Packers defense allowed 25 points in the fourth quarter after holding Chicago to 6 points through the first three quarters. The inability to stop the Bears’ no-huddle offense in the final 15 minutes was a key factor, per ESPN’s play-by-play.

How did the Bears manage an 18-point comeback?

The Bears scored on all four of their fourth-quarter possessions, including two touchdown drives and two field goals. The defense forced three punts and a turnover on downs in the second half, giving Williams and the offense time to chip away at the lead, according to NFL.com.

Are the Packers out of the playoffs after losing to the Bears?

Yes. The loss eliminated the Packers from the 2026 NFL playoffs. The Bears advanced to the Divisional Round for the first time since 2010, as confirmed by ESPN.