Green Bay had this game won and gave it away
The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 22-16 in overtime after trailing by 10 points with two minutes remaining in regulation. That sounds like a heroic comeback, and it was—but it was only possible because Green Bay's special teams completely failed on an onside kick that should've sealed the win. Chicago kicked a field goal, recovered the onside kick, and scored a touchdown to force overtime. Then Malik Willis fumbled in the extra period, and Caleb Williams found D.J. Moore on a 46-yard touchdown pass to win it.
This is a game the Packers controlled for 58 minutes. They led 13-3 entering the fourth quarter after Romeo Doubs's touchdown. They extended it to 16-6 with a field goal with five minutes left. Their defense had locked down Chicago's offense all night—the Bears went 1-for-10 on third downs in regulation. Green Bay just needed to recover an onside kick and run out the clock. They didn't. And now they're 9-5-1 instead of 10-5, staring at a potential wild card spot instead of controlling the division.
Jordan Love's injury changed everything but doesn't excuse the loss
Jordan Love left the game in the second quarter with a concussion after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Austin Booker. Green Bay led 3-0 at the time and took a 6-0 lead into halftime with Willis running the offense. Love finished 8-for-13 for 77 yards and a touchdown before exiting. That's a significant loss—Love's the Packers' best offensive weapon, and his ability to extend plays and hit big throws is what makes Green Bay dangerous.
But Malik Willis didn't play poorly. He went 9-for-11 for 121 yards and a touchdown in relief. Those are efficient numbers. He managed the game competently, didn't turn it over until overtime, and gave Green Bay enough offense to build a 10-point lead late. The problem wasn't Willis—it was the special teams failing on the onside kick and the defense collapsing when it mattered most. You can't blame the backup quarterback for that.
The onside kick recovery was catastrophic special teams failure
Chicago kicked a field goal to make it 16-9, then attempted an onside kick. Green Bay's hands team failed to recover it. That's the play that cost them the game. Onside kicks have a low recovery rate for the kicking team, but when you're the receiving team, your entire job is to fall on the ball and end the game. Green Bay didn't do it. Cairo Santos executed a perfect kick that bounced unpredictably, and the Bears recovered with enough time to score.
That's unacceptable special teams play in a crucial divisional game. You practice this scenario every week. The hands team knows the onside kick is coming. They line up specifically to prevent the recovery. And they still failed. Matt LaFleur can't blame injuries or bad luck for that—it's a fundamental execution failure that handed Chicago life when they should've been dead.
Caleb Williams delivered in crunch time
Caleb Williams went 19-for-34 for 250 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 46-yard strike to D.J. Moore in overtime. Williams was pedestrian for most of regulation—the Bears went 1-for-10 on third down and couldn't sustain drives. But when the game was on the line, he executed perfectly. The touchdown to Moore before the end of regulation to force overtime was clutch. The overtime winner to Moore was a perfectly placed deep ball that gave Green Bay's defense no chance.
This is what rookie quarterbacks are supposed to develop into—players who can win games in the final minutes when everything's on the line. Williams struggled for 58 minutes, then delivered two massive throws when his team needed them most. That's growth. The Bears are 11-4 largely because Williams is learning how to close games. This performance, despite the ugly statistics for most of the night, is exactly the kind of experience that builds championship quarterbacks.
D.J. Moore made the plays when it mattered
D.J. Moore finished with five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, with both his biggest plays coming in crunch time. The first touchdown to tie it late in regulation was a contested catch in traffic. The overtime winner was a deep ball where Moore got behind the defense and finished cleanly. Moore's been inconsistent this season, but in the biggest game of Chicago's year, he showed up when Williams needed a target he could trust.
Josh Jacobs's fumble inside the five was costly
Green Bay also lost a Josh Jacobs fumble inside the Chicago five-yard line in the first half. That's at least three points left on the field, possibly seven. In a game that went to overtime tied 16-16, those points matter enormously. Jacobs has been excellent for the Packers this season, but ball security in the red zone is non-negotiable. When you fumble inside the five, you're giving away free points that could decide the game—and in this case, they did.
Cairo Santos was money in brutal conditions
Cairo Santos hit field goals from 43, 46, and 51 yards in windy conditions. That's exceptional kicking in a game where every point mattered. The 51-yarder was particularly crucial—it cut the lead to seven and kept Chicago within striking distance. Santos has been one of the NFL's most reliable kickers this season, and this performance in tough weather conditions proved why the Bears trust him in big moments.
What this means for both teams
Chicago improves to 11-4 and takes a commanding lead in the NFC North. If the Steelers beat the Lions on Sunday, the Bears clinch a playoff spot. Williams is developing into a legitimate franchise quarterback who can win games in the fourth quarter. The offense still has consistency issues—1-for-10 on third down is terrible—but when they need a drive, Williams delivers.
Green Bay falls to 9-5-1 and might've blown their chance at the division title. They're still in playoff position, but losing a game you controlled because your special teams can't recover an onside kick is devastating. Willis played well enough to win. The defense was dominant for 58 minutes. But the special teams failed at the worst possible moment, and now the Packers are chasing rather than leading. If they miss the playoffs by one game, they'll remember this collapse for years.