Packers Survive Late Scare as Bears, Caleb Williams Come Up Inches-and Seconds-Short
The Packers walked away with a win Sunday night at Lambeau Field, but it was anything but a smooth ride. Green Bay built an early 14-3 lead and looked in control, only to watch the Bears claw their way back into it, tying things up at 21 in the fourth quarter. What followed was a high-drama finish that nearly flipped the game on its head.
With just 22 seconds left and the ball inside the red zone, Chicago faced a critical 4th-and-short. That’s when head coach Ben Johnson dialed up a gutsy play-action bootleg for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams-a call that had all the makings of a game-winner.
Tight end Cole Kmet broke open in the end zone. The design worked.
The moment was there. But the execution?
Just a hair off.
Williams hesitated for a beat, then floated the ball just a little too softly. That tiny delay gave Packers DB Keisean Nixon just enough time to recover and make the game-sealing interception. Game over.
The Play That Almost Was
Let’s break down what happened on that final snap because it’s easy to look at the result and forget how close it came to working perfectly.
First, the options. From the outside, it looked like Williams had a few choices-some fans questioned why he didn’t hit D’Andre Swift on the out or find D.J.
Moore, who appeared to break free across the middle. But the tape tells a clearer story.
Swift was covered. Moore wasn’t even part of the progression.
This play was designed to either get Kmet the ball or give Williams a lane to run it in himself. And Kmet was open.
Even Packers safety Xavier McKinney admitted it postgame: “They got what they wanted. It was a good play call.
I’m not going to lie. (Kmet) was open… We just made a better play.”
That’s the kind of quote that tells you everything you need to know. The Bears had the right call.
The defense was fooled. But in the NFL, inches and milliseconds matter.
Williams’ slight delay and the lack of zip on the throw gave Green Bay just enough time to recover.
A Tale of Two Halves
What makes this ending even tougher for Chicago is how well they played in the second half. After a sluggish start, the offense found rhythm. Williams settled in, the run game started to click, and the Packers’ defense-which had been one of the more consistent units in the NFC-started to look shaky.
For stretches of the third and fourth quarters, Green Bay was on its heels. Williams was spreading the ball around, and Johnson was dialing up misdirection and motion that had the Packers guessing. If not for that slow start-where the Bears fell behind by double digits-this game might’ve had a very different ending.
But that’s football. You can’t spot a division rival a two-score lead and expect to play catch-up all night.
The Bears made it close. They even had a chance to win it.
But ultimately, the early deficit and a few critical defensive breakdowns proved too much to overcome.
Ben Johnson’s Fingerprints All Over the Fight
If there’s a silver lining for Chicago, it’s this: Ben Johnson continues to show he belongs. The Bears’ head coach has a reputation for being one of the brightest offensive minds in the league, and Sunday’s game only added to that narrative. His play designs consistently put pressure on Green Bay’s defense, and he wasn’t afraid to let his rookie quarterback take the reins with the game on the line.
When a defensive leader like McKinney tips his cap to the opposing play caller, that speaks volumes. Johnson didn’t lose this game because of conservative play or poor planning.
He trusted his quarterback to make a play. And while the execution came up short, the design was spot on.
Now, Johnson has something even more valuable than a moral victory-tape. A full game of data on what Green Bay likes to do defensively. That’s going to come in handy, especially with a rematch looming that could have serious implications in the NFC North.
What’s Next
Chicago has to turn the page quickly with Cleveland up next. Meanwhile, Green Bay doesn’t get much time to breathe either. The AFC West-leading Broncos are coming to town, and that’s no easy out.
But you can feel it: the division is tightening. The Bears are growing more dangerous by the week. And if Johnson’s offense continues to evolve, the next time these two teams meet at Soldier Field, it could be for all the marbles.
Sunday night was a reminder that in the NFL, the line between heartbreak and heroics is razor-thin. The Bears came up short-barely.
But they showed they’re not backing down from anyone. And with Johnson at the helm, they’re only getting sharper.