In one of the wildest finishes to a Bears-Packers game in recent memory, Chicago walked out of Week 16 with an overtime win that had Soldier Field rocking and Packers fans fuming. And not just because of the final score.
Yes, Green Bay faithful are pointing fingers at the officiating crew, arguing that a few key calls - or non-calls - swung the game. But here’s the thing: if we're going to talk about missed calls, we’ve got to talk about all of them. Because the Bears got their fair share of questionable treatment from the stripes, too.
Let’s rewind to the Packers’ opening drive. It was 3rd-and-1 from the Bears’ 44-yard line when Jordan Love took the snap.
But before the play even got going, a Packers offensive lineman on the left side clearly moved early. It wasn’t subtle - it was the kind of pre-snap movement that usually gets flagged without hesitation.
But the officials let it go.
Instead, the Bears got hit with two penalties on that same play. One was a defensive holding call on C.J.
Gardner-Johnson (which Green Bay declined), and the other was a roughing the passer flag on rookie Austin Booker for taking Love to the ground. So, to recap: one obvious false start missed, two flags on Chicago, and Green Bay’s drive stayed alive.
Then came the Bears’ first offensive series, and things didn’t get any cleaner. On the fourth play, Caleb Williams scrambled for nine yards, but the real action was happening away from the ball.
Packers defensive back Keisean Nixon delivered a blind-side hit on wide receiver D.J. Moore - a hit that sent Moore to the sideline, shaken up.
No flag. No warning.
Just a blatant cheap shot that somehow flew under the radar.
Thankfully, Moore returned later in the game and played a key role in the Bears’ comeback. But that moment could’ve changed the entire complexion of the game - and it came with zero accountability from the officiating crew.
And just before halftime, it happened again. Williams looked for Cole Kmet on a 3rd-and-4, only to see his tight end get grabbed and held after the ball was released.
It was clear defensive holding - the kind of tug that slows a route just enough to kill a play. But again, no call.
So, yes, Packers fans can point to a few questionable moments and feel frustrated. That’s part of being a fan - the calls always seem to go against your team in the biggest moments.
But if we’re going to hold the refs accountable, let’s not forget the other side of the story. The Bears were on the wrong end of some significant no-calls, too.
In the end, none of it stopped Chicago from pulling off a dramatic overtime win - the kind of game that could become a defining moment in the Caleb Williams era. The rookie quarterback showed poise, toughness, and just enough magic to get the job done.
So while the debate over the officiating will rage on in both fan bases, the scoreboard doesn’t lie.
The Bears won.