NFL Mar 13, 2026

NFL playoffs: Chicago Bears beat Green Bay Packers after stunning final-quarter comeback erases 18-point deficit

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
NFL playoffs: Chicago Bears beat Green Bay Packers after stunning final-quarter comeback erases 18-point deficit

The Chicago Bears secured their first playoff win in 15 years after a stunning late fightback saw them beat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 and reach the NFL's Divisional Round.

The Bears scored 25 points in the final quarter to erase an 18-point deficit as they continued their season of fightbacks, becoming the fourth team in NFL history to win a playoff game after trailing by 15 points or more with one quarter remaining.

In the first playoff fixture at Soldier Field since 2019, the Bears - who won the NFC North this season - seemed overawed early on as the Packers registered a 21-3 half-time lead.

Chicago's only points in the first half came from a Cairo Santos field goal, while they were then 21-6 down ahead of the last quarter.

However, the Bears rallied to extend their season with Caleb Williams, on his playoff debut, throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open DJ Moore with under two minutes remaining to complete the turnaround for the home side.

Jordan Love - who threw four touchdown passes and 323 yards for the Packers after two games out with concussion - took Green Bay into opposition territory late on but when Jaquan Brisker broke up a pass in the end zone, the clock ran out.

Chicago could then celebrate a seventh fourth-quarter comeback win of head coach Ben Johnson's first campaign in charge - and a third victory over the Packers in their last five meetings - as well as the fact they will now host a Divisional Round clash next week.

A blow for the Bears, however, is the news that linebacker T.J. Edwards will miss the rest the rest of the season with a leg injury sustained in the second quarter against the Packers when his left foot got caught up with Christian Watson's leg and bent awkwardly.

Johnson said that Edwards, who signed a two-year contract extension last April, had a fibula fracture.

Stats leaders:

Packers

Bears

Moore later said of team-mate Williams, who also hurled an eight-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus: "He was right on track, never wavered. He was dialled in, ready to go. When the lights shine bright, he's the brightest one, so he's going to get us there."

Williams threw for 361 yards and completed 24 of 48 passes.

On Chicago producing late-game heroics yet again, Moore added: "We know our preparation is always key. We lean on it at the end."

The Packers ended a season that began with Super Bowl hopes by losing five matches in a row, with Brandon McManus' late missed field-goal attempt a big moment in Saturday night's game.

A highlight in defeat for Green Bay, though, was rookie Matthew Golden breaking three tackles and leapfrogging a fourth defender on a 23-yard catch-and-run for his first career touchdown.

Watch every minute of the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium live on Your Site NFL.

Tags:

nfl news

Share this article

Related Posts

John Harbaugh: Baltimore Ravens fire head coach after 18 NFL seasons

John Harbaugh: Baltimore Ravens fire head coach after 18 NFL seasons

John Harbaugh has been sacked by the Baltimore Ravens after 18 seasons as head coach, following Sunday's season‑ending defeat to the Pittsburgh Steele...

NFL playoffs LIVE! Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers updates, score, report on road to Super Bowl LX

NFL playoffs LIVE! Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers updates, score, report on road to Super Bowl LX

Papers: Spurs considering Dyche as Tudor replacementReiten joins Gotham FC from ChelseaChelsea have confirmed Guro Reiten has joined&nb...

Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl defence ends in ugly fashion as AJ Brown skips media after Nick Sirianni confrontation

Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl defence ends in ugly fashion as AJ Brown skips media after Nick Sirianni confrontation

Philadelphia Eagles surrendered their right to be known as defending Super Bowl champions on Sunday night. In so many ways it would encapsulate the st...

NFL playoffs: Los Angeles Rams hold on to beat Carolina Panthers after Matthew Stafford's touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in final minute

NFL playoffs: Los Angeles Rams hold on to beat Carolina Panthers after Matthew Stafford's touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in final minute

Colby Parkinson's touchdown with 38 seconds to play silenced the Carolina Panthers crowd as the Los Angeles Rams escaped with a 34-31 victory to advan...

NFL playoffs: San Francisco 49ers knock out defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with stunning upset

NFL playoffs: San Francisco 49ers knock out defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with stunning upset

The San Francisco 49ers pulled off a sensational 23-19 upset of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to knock them out of the NFL pla...

NFL Playoffs: New England Patriots beat Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 as Drake Maye claims first post-season victory

NFL Playoffs: New England Patriots beat Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 as Drake Maye claims first post-season victory

Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter as the New England Patriots defense roughed up Justin Herbert in a 16-3 AFC Wi...