The Chicago Bears were sitting atop the NFC with five straight wins and nine in the previous 10 games going into their most recent meeting with the Green Bay Packers. They came up short when Caleb Williams got intercepted in the end zone.
Chicago and Green Bay are meeting for the second time in three weeks, this time at Soldier Field on Saturday night with first place in the NFC North on the line and Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons out with a season-ending knee injury. Both teams have a chance to clinch a playoff spot.
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“It’s another game,” Williams said. “Go out here and do my job, play well. Start fast, get the energy going for the team and we’ve got a real shot to go win the game.”
Williams made it clear after the Bears’ 31-3 romp over Cleveland last week that he was looking forward to the rematch with the Packers. It’s not hard to see why.
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There was an electric atmosphere at Soldier Field Saturday night as the Bears faced the Packers in a massive rivalry matchup.
“Atmosphere is crazy right now, we’re gonna go all the way this year,” Bears fan Steve Gonzalez said. “All the way, da Bears baby.”
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Bears fans packed the tailgate lots all day long, anxiously hoping for a revenge win against the packers after dropping a heartbreaker two weeks ago.
“I’m sorry Green Bay, but your time is done,” a Bears fan named John said. “You had a great run, it was really nice, but it’s over.”
Some fans even experienced their first game ever at Soldier Field.
“I’m so excited because I love the bears,” Bears fan Karen Montgomery said. “Watch them on TV, but I’m happy to be here.”
As the Bears make a push for the playoffs, many fans are also fired up about the team’s latest announcement of considering Northwest Indiana as a future home for the Bears. Fans of both teams were making their case to ownership and elected officials to keep the Bears in Chicago.
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“It’s not going anywhere. It’s gonna stay right here,” a Bears fan named John said. “Come to my tailgate. We need the governor and the mayor, they need to come to our tailgate and realize the bears belong right here on the lakefront.”
READ MORE | Northwest Indiana leaders hope to lure Chicago Bears as team expands stadium search
“Heck no, It’s gotta stay in Chicago,” a fan named Mike said. “Soldier Field is iconic, just like Lambeau.”
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
The Bears (10-4) were threatening to tie or take the lead, only to come away with a 28-21 loss at Lambeau Field when Williams got intercepted in the end zone by Keisean Nixon with 22 seconds remaining on a badly underthrown pass to Cole Kmet. The loss knocked Chicago from first to seventh in the NFC and into second place in the division behind Green Bay.
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Chicago bounced back in a big way against Cleveland and regained the North lead with the Packers falling at Denver. Even worse for Green Bay (9-4-1), Parsons tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the third quarter, a massive blow for a team that came into the season with Super Bowl hopes after acquiring the two-time All-Pro from Dallas just before the opener.
“Just understanding what’s in front of us, understanding that we’ve still got the pen in our hand,” Packers defensive end Rashan Gary said. “We can still write our story.”
With or without Parsons, Bears coach Ben Johnson sees a difficult task.
“It’s a really good football team and a really good defense,” he said. “I know you kind of lock in on one player, because he does garner a lot of your attention when you go against that defense, and yet, they have some high-caliber players throughout, on the defensive line, the linebacking core and on the back end. Just because one player goes down, that doesn’t mean that this is going to change a whole lot for them.”
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Playoff scenarios
Chicago and Green Bay can clinch playoff spots with a win plus a loss or tie by Detroit against Pittsburgh. The two teams also would get in with a tie if the Lions lose.
Green Bay is looking to reach the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years under coach Matt LaFleur, while Chicago is trying to make it for the first time since 2020. The Bears have just three trips to the postseason since the 2006 Super Bowl season.
Lopsided rivalry
Though the Bears have a chance to add to their division lead, wins over the Packers are rare for them.
Green Bay has dominated the NFL’s longest-running rivalry in recent decades, going 30-6 against Chicago since the start of the 2008 season. That includes the 2010 team winning the NFC championship game at Soldier Field en route to capturing the Super Bowl title.
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The Packers won 11 straight against the Bears before losing last year’s finale at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has won six in a row in Chicago.
Home run
The Bears have won five straight at Soldier Field since a season-opening loss to Minnesota. It’s their best home winning streak since a six-game run in 2005.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
