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The Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers in a playoff game for the first time since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president.
Chicago overcame a late 18-point deficit to stun its rival in the Wild Card playoff game at Soldier Field on Saturday. It was the Bears’ first playoff victory in the NFL’s oldest rivalry since December 1941, just days after the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor.
For most of the night, it looked like Chicago was going to extend the drought, falling behind 21-3 at halftime.
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Romeo Doubs #87 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the ball in front of Jaylon Johnson #1 of the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFC Wild Card Playoff game on January 10, 2026 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Mélissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Even after recovering, the Bears faced a 27-16 deficit with less than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
But Bears quarterback Caleb Williams led back-to-back touchdown drives, with a missed Green Bay field goal between those drives to give Chicago a late lead.
The Packers and quarterback Jordan Love had a chance to come back with a late drive in the fourth quarter and nearly reached the edge of Chicago’s red zone.
But the Bears defense held strong and forced an incompletion on Love’s final pass of the night, earning a 31-27 victory.
JORDAN LOVE SUFFERED FROM CONCUSSION AS PACKERS BLOW BIG GAME ON BEARS IN OVERTIME
Evan Williams #33 of the Green Bay Packers tackles DJ Moore #2 of the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL Wild Card football game at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026 in Chicago. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
It was Chicago’s first playoff victory since the 2010 divisional round against the Seahawks, which was followed by an NFC championship game loss to the Packers the following week.
Now Chicago is in the divisional stage again in year one under head coach Ben Johnson.
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Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears looks to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL Wild Card football game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026 in Chicago. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
Johnson led one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the NFL this year, ending the Bears’ four-year losing streak and cementing them as one of the NFC’s top contenders.
Meanwhile, the Packers will enter the offseason with disappointment and uncertainty after falling short of expectations during a season of costly acquisitions.
