The Chicago Bears secured their first playoff win in 15 years after a surprising late fightback noticed them beat the Inexperienced Bay Packers 31-27 and attain the NFL’s Divisional Spherical.
The Bears scored 25 factors within the last quarter to erase an 18-point deficit as they continued their season of fightbacks, turning into the fourth crew in NFL historical past to win a playoff recreation after trailing by 15 factors or extra with one quarter remaining.
Within the first playoff fixture at Soldier Area since 2019, the Bears – who received the NFC North this season – appeared overawed early on because the Packers registered a 21-3 half-time lead.
Chicago’s solely factors within the first half got here from a Cairo Santos discipline aim, whereas they had been then 21-6 down forward of the final quarter.
Nonetheless, the Bears rallied to increase their season with Caleb Williams, on his playoff debut, throwing a 25-yard landing go to a wide-open DJ Moore with beneath two minutes remaining to finish the turnaround for the house aspect.
Jordan Love – who threw 4 landing passes and 323 yards for the Packers after two video games out with concussion – took Inexperienced Bay into opposition territory late on however when Jaquan Brisker broke up a go in the long run zone, the clock ran out.
Chicago might then have fun a seventh fourth-quarter comeback win of head coach Ben Johnson’s first marketing campaign in cost – and a 3rd victory over the Packers of their final 5 conferences – in addition to the actual fact they’ll now host a Divisional Spherical conflict subsequent week.
A blow for the Bears, nevertheless, is the information that linebacker T.J. Edwards will miss the remaining the remainder of the season with a leg damage sustained within the second quarter towards the Packers when his left foot bought caught up with Christian Watson’s leg and bent awkwardly.
Johnson mentioned that Edwards, who signed a two-year contract extension final April, had a fibula fracture.
Inexperienced Bay Packers’ Matthew Golden scored a landing in his aspect’s defeat at Soldier Area
Stats leaders:
Packers
- Passing: Jordan Love, 24/46, 323 yards, 4 TDs
- Speeding: Josh Jacobs, 19 carries, 55 yards
- Receiving: Romeo Doubs, 8 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD
Bears
- Passing: Caleb Williams, 24/48, 361 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
- Speeding: D’Andre Swift, 13 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: Colston Loveland, 8 catches, 137 yards
Moore hails ‘shiny mild’ Williams after playoff win
Moore later mentioned of team-mate Williams, who additionally hurled an eight-yard landing go 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 accomplished 24 of 48 passes.
On Chicago producing late-game heroics but once more, Moore added: “We know our preparation is always key. We lean on it at the end.”
The Packers ended a season that started with Tremendous Bowl hopes by dropping 5 matches in a row, with Brandon McManus’ late missed field-goal try an enormous second in Saturday evening’s recreation.
A spotlight in defeat for Inexperienced Bay, although, was rookie Matthew Golden breaking three tackles and leapfrogging a fourth defender on a 23-yard catch-and-run for his first profession landing.
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