The Chicago Bears dropped a tough one at Lambeau Field in Week 14, falling 28-21 to the division rival Green Bay Packers. The loss stings-not just because it came against a team they desperately wanted to beat, but because it knocked them out of the top spot in both the NFC North and the conference. Still, there’s plenty to take away from this game, and not all of it is doom and gloom.
Let’s dig into three key numbers that tell the story of how this one unfolded-and why Chicago might still have reasons to believe in what’s ahead.
76: A First Half to Forget
The Bears came out flat offensively, and that’s putting it kindly. Through the first two quarters, Chicago managed just 76 total yards. That’s not going to cut it against a team like Green Bay, especially on the road.
The struggles were across the board: four punts on five first-half drives, an average of just 2.6 yards per play, and a passing game that couldn’t find its footing. Caleb Williams went 6-of-14 for just 32 yards before halftime, and the offense even had a couple of drives where they lost yardage. That’s the kind of start that puts a team in a hole-and against a Packers team that knows how to capitalize, it proved costly.
The Bears had shown signs of life in the ground game the week before, but that identity didn’t carry over early in this one. While they eventually found their rhythm, the slow start left them chasing the game. Against a divisional opponent, especially one as opportunistic as Green Bay, spotting them an early lead is asking for trouble.
3: Second-Half Surge Shows What’s Possible
Now here’s where things get interesting. Whatever was said in the locker room at halftime clearly worked, because the Bears came out swinging in the second half. They put together three straight scoring drives to claw their way back into the game-and for a while, it looked like they might just pull off the comeback.
Williams was a different quarterback after the break. He went 13-of-21 for 156 yards and two touchdowns, showing the kind of poise and playmaking that’s becoming his trademark. He extended plays with his legs, found receivers downfield, and made some big-time throws when the Bears needed them most.
One of the highlights was a one-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheus that capped a long drive and cut the deficit to three. It was a perfect example of Williams’ ability to create something out of nothing, evading pressure and keeping his eyes downfield until a play opened up.
The Bears also got the ground game going, averaging over 4.6 yards per carry in the second half and converting seven of nine third downs. That kind of efficiency is what this offense is capable of when it’s in sync-and it’s a big reason why, even in a loss, there’s optimism moving forward.
Yes, Williams threw an underthrown interception on the final offensive snap, but let’s not overlook the bigger picture: he continues to deliver in high-leverage moments. If Chicago can consistently blend his dynamic passing with a physical, downhill run game, they’re going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
20+: Big Plays Prove Costly for the Defense
While the offense found its footing, the defense had a tougher afternoon-especially when it came to limiting explosive plays. The Bears gave up three separate passing touchdowns of 20-plus yards, and that was the difference in a game that was otherwise tightly contested.
Jordan Love was dialed in after an early interception to C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
He hit Christian Watson for two long scores and connected with Bo Melton for another. Some of those throws were impressive, sure-but Chicago’s defensive breakdowns played a role, too.
Take Watson’s second touchdown, for example. He lined up in the slot and found himself one-on-one with Gardner-Johnson.
That’s a tough matchup for any DB, and Watson took full advantage, beating him across the face on a slant and turning it into six points. That play wasn’t just about speed-it exposed a defensive scheme that may have been a little too aggressive in that situation.
To be fair, the Bears were already short-handed after losing Kyler Gordon during warm-ups, and that reshuffling in the secondary clearly had an impact. But big plays like these have a way of flipping momentum-and in this case, they were backbreakers.
Dennis Allen has done a fantastic job turning this unit into one of the best in the league at taking the ball away, but Sunday showed the flip side of that aggression. When you gamble, sometimes you lose big-and Green Bay made them pay.
Looking Ahead
The Bears will get another crack at the Packers in two weeks, this time at home. That game now looms even larger, not just for playoff positioning, but for pride.
The good news? Chicago showed they can hang with one of the NFC’s best, even after a brutal first half.
The bad news? They can’t afford to keep digging themselves into early holes.
If the Bears can put together a complete game-matching that second-half offensive firepower with a more disciplined defensive effort-they’re still in the thick of the NFC race. Sunday was a missed opportunity, no doubt.
But it also showed a team that’s close, if not quite there yet. And with the season winding down, close might be enough-if they can finish the job.