Bears Punch Their Playoff Ticket as Rodgers, Steelers Deliver in Detroit
The Chicago Bears did their job Saturday night, and then some. Down late to their oldest rival, they clawed their way back to stun the Green Bay Packers 22-16, improving to 11-4 on the season.
But even with that crucial win, their playoff hopes still hinged on one more domino falling: the Pittsburgh Steelers had to beat the Detroit Lions on the road. No easy task.
Detroit came in desperate, still fighting to keep their own postseason hopes alive. The Steelers were short-handed, missing T.J.
Watt on defense, and they were walking into a loud, hostile environment at Ford Field. But Pittsburgh had a not-so-secret weapon under center - Aaron Rodgers.
And in a game that meant everything for both teams, Rodgers delivered.
Rodgers didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he didn’t need to. He was efficient and poised, throwing for 266 yards and a touchdown.
The real story, though, was the Steelers’ ground game. They ran wild for 283 yards and three touchdowns, controlling the tempo and keeping Detroit’s offense on the sidelines.
Pittsburgh built a 29-17 lead with under seven minutes to play, and it looked like the door was closing on the Lions.
But Detroit didn’t go quietly.
They struck quickly to cut the lead to 29-24, then got the ball back after a missed Steelers field goal. With time winding down, Jared Goff led a determined drive deep into Pittsburgh territory.
On 4th down from the 9-yard line, the Lions dialed up some trickery - a hook-and-ladder play from Amon-Ra St. Brown to Goff that looked like it might tie the game.
But the celebration was short-lived. Offensive pass interference was called on St.
Brown, wiping out the play and sealing the win for Pittsburgh.
Ballgame. And just like that, the Bears are back in the playoffs.
Rodgers Gets His Revenge
While the win had major implications for Chicago, it carried a different kind of weight for Rodgers. This wasn’t just about helping his former team’s biggest rival. This was personal.
Rodgers had lost his last three games against the Lions, including his final outing as a Green Bay Packer. He didn’t hide his feelings about Detroit during his years in the NFC North, and it’s no secret that this one meant something extra.
Getting the win - in Detroit, in a must-win situation - was a bit of poetic justice. It was a reminder that, even at this stage of his career, Rodgers can still rise to the moment when it matters most.
And for the Lions, it was another gut punch in a season that started with promise but now feels like it’s unraveling. The magic that carried them over the past couple of years? It’s fading fast.
Bears Complete the Turnaround
Back in Chicago, this win - and the Steelers’ assist - capped off one of the most improbable turnarounds in recent memory.
A year ago, the Bears were 5-12 and looked like a franchise in disarray. Fast forward to now, and they’ve become one of the league’s most physical, resilient teams.
Saturday’s comeback was their sixth 4th-quarter rally of the season - a testament to their grit and belief. And now, they’re heading to the playoffs for just the third time in the past 15 years.
But they’re not done yet.
With one game to go, the Bears are still in the hunt for the NFC North crown - a goal GM Ryan Poles set when he took over. If they can finish the job, it would give them at least one home playoff game and a chance to plant their flag atop a division long dominated by others.
One thing’s for sure: this Bears team isn’t just happy to be here. They’ve earned their spot, and they’re playing like a group that believes they belong.