Bears Stun Packers in Overtime Thriller, Clinch Playoff Spot Amid Green Bay Chaos
In a game that felt like it was ripped straight from a holiday movie script, the Chicago Bears delivered a dramatic overtime win against their oldest rivals, the Green Bay Packers - and in doing so, punched their ticket to the postseason. For Bears fans, it was the perfect early Christmas gift. For the Packers, it was a gut-wrenching collapse that left players at a loss for words.
And no one embodied that heartbreak more than Packers defensive tackle Colby Wooden.
In the aftermath of the game, Wooden tried to explain what had just happened. But the words didn’t come easily.
He paused, shook his head, sighed - visibly stunned by the outcome. Eventually, he managed to get something out, though it was more raw emotion than polished reflection.
“Give those guys credit, they finished, we didn’t. It stings,” Wooden admitted.
“This one’s going to stick with us. Just knowing that we came in their house, pretty much dominated from whistle to... and they were able to make a couple plays at the end...
That’s a gut punch. That’s a reality check right there.”
The Collapse in Context
And Wooden wasn’t wrong. For much of the game, Green Bay looked like the better team. They controlled the tempo, dictated the line of scrimmage, and looked poised to walk out of Chicago with a win that would’ve kept their playoff hopes firmly alive.
But football games aren’t won in the first three quarters - and the Bears reminded everyone of that in the most dramatic way possible.
The turning point came late, as Chicago clawed its way back into the game with a combination of timely defense, clutch throws, and a whole lot of grit. The Bears didn’t just survive - they seized the moment. And when overtime arrived, they delivered the knockout blow.
Quarterback Chaos in Green Bay
For the Packers, the loss was compounded by a brutal sequence of quarterback injuries. Starter Jordan Love exited with a concussion, forcing backup Malik Willis into action. To his credit, Willis played admirably under pressure - but late in the game, he too went down, leaving the Packers in a full-blown quarterback crisis.
Right now, Green Bay’s only healthy quarterback is Clayton Tune, a practice squad call-up who may be thrust into the spotlight with the season hanging in the balance. The Packers are still technically alive in the playoff race, but barely. And with uncertainty under center, their path forward is murky at best.
Meanwhile in Chicago…
The Bears, on the other hand, are riding high. Thanks to a little help from the Pittsburgh Steelers - and yes, Aaron Rodgers - who knocked off the Detroit Lions, Chicago has officially clinched a playoff berth. And they’re not done yet.
With two weeks left in the regular season, the Bears still have a shot at the NFC’s top seed. They’ll need some help from the Seahawks and Rams, but the opportunity is there. And after the way they closed out this one, they look like a team that believes anything is possible.
Two Teams, Two Directions
It’s rare that one game can so clearly illustrate two franchises heading in opposite directions - but this one did just that.
The Bears are surging, finding ways to win late, and getting hot at just the right time. The Packers? They’re unraveling, battling injuries, and searching for answers with the season slipping away.
For Chicago, this was more than just a win over a rival. It was a statement. For Green Bay, it was a harsh reminder that in the NFL, things can fall apart fast - and sometimes, there’s nothing you can do but sit in the locker room afterward and try to make sense of it all.