In a heart-pounding matchup at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears mounted a remarkable comeback to defeat the Green Bay Packers 22-16 in overtime on Saturday night. Quarterback Caleb Williams delivered the game-winning 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DJ Moore, capping a stunning turnaround from a 10-point fourth-quarter hole. The victory boosted the Bears to an 11-4 record, widening their NFC North lead to 1.5 games over the 9-5-1 Packers with just two weeks remaining in the regular season.
The Packers suffered a significant blow early when starting quarterback Jordan Love exited with a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet collision from Bears defensive end Austin Booker in the second quarter. Love, who had thrown nine touchdowns against only two interceptions in his prior five starts against Chicago, managed 8-of-13 passing for 77 yards before departing. Backup Malik Willis stepped in but fumbled a crucial snap on fourth-and-1 in overtime, handing possession back to the Bears at their own 36-yard line.
Chicago’s resilience shone through late in regulation. Kicker Cairo Santos narrowed the gap to 16-9 with a 43-yard field goal at the 1:59 mark, setting up a desperate onside kick recovered by cornerback Josh Blackwell. Facing fourth down with 24 seconds left, Williams evaded a blitz and connected with Jahdae Walker for a 6-yard touchdown to tie the game. Head coach Ben Johnson chose the extra point over a two-point attempt, forcing overtime.
Williams finished with 19 completions on 34 attempts for 250 yards and two touchdowns, while Moore led receivers with 97 yards. The Bears, missing Rome Odunze for a third consecutive game due to a foot injury, have now won six straight home games following an early-season loss to Minnesota. This marked Chicago’s sixth victory this year after trailing in the final two minutes, defying a 99% win probability for Green Bay at one point.
The win avenged a recent defeat at Lambeau Field and improved the Bears’ dismal record against their rivals—7-30 including playoffs since 2008. A playoff spot could be secured as early as Sunday if the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by former Packer Aaron Rodgers, defeat the Detroit Lions. According to NFL.com standings, the Bears are on track for their first postseason appearance since 2020.
Eagles Overpower Commanders Amid Late-Game Chaos
Across the league, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched consecutive NFC East titles with a 29-18 triumph over the Washington Commanders, improving to 10-5 while dropping Washington to 4-11. The victory ended the NFC East’s 21-year streak without a repeat champion, a drought unmatched in NFL divisional history since Philadelphia’s four-peat from 2001-2004.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts orchestrated the offense efficiently, completing 22 of 30 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He targeted A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith for 15 receptions, including a 5-yard score to Smith in the first half and a 15-yard strike to tight end Dallas Goedert in the third. Hurts added 40 rushing yards on seven carries, while running back Saquon Barkley powered the ground game with 132 yards and a 12-yard touchdown on 21 attempts.
The game turned tense late when a two-point conversion by Barkley sparked a brawl, leading to ejections for Commanders defenders Javontae Jean-Baptiste (wait, no: Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin) and Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen. Officials threw six flags amid the shoving, but order was restored after discussions involving Barkley, Hurts, and Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Philadelphia overcame early miscues, including a fumbled kickoff return by Will Shipley that led to a Washington field goal. Kicker Jake Elliott struggled initially, missing three field-goal attempts wide left in the first half, but the Eagles rallied from a halftime deficit. A 17-play, 83-yard drive in the third quarter flipped the momentum.
Washington, mired in a skid with nine losses in 10 games, started Marcus Mariota in place of injured Jayden Daniels, the 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Mariota exited in the third quarter with a hand injury, yielding to Josh Johnson, who threw an interception to Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean. Daniels, limited to seven games this season due to injuries, guided Washington to the NFC title game last year but fell 55-23 to Philadelphia.
Playoff Picture Sharpens with Key Results
These outcomes tighten the NFC playoff race as the season winds down. The Bears edge closer to ending a five-year drought, while the Eagles solidify their status as defending Super Bowl champions with back-to-back division crowns. Both teams demonstrated grit under pressure, setting the stage for intense final weeks. Fans can track updated standings and scenarios on the official NFL website (nfl.com/standings).
