Bears
There was a pivotal moment in the Bears’ Wild Card win over the Packers that told you everything you needed to know about how far this offense has come - and how dangerous it could be moving forward. On a crucial two-point conversion, rookie tight end Colston Loveland found himself lined up one-on-one against Packers linebacker Nick Niemann, a player who hadn’t taken a single defensive snap all season. That’s the kind of matchup offensive coordinators dream about, and Chicago’s staff didn’t miss their shot.
“You’re getting a guy who doesn’t major in coverage out in space,” said Bears passing game coordinator Press Taylor. “He’s expecting what he thinks he sees. Then Colston, with his route, shows him what he thinks he’s going to see but then snaps out of it.”
That’s the kind of subtle detail that separates a good play from a great one. Loveland didn’t just run a route - he set a trap.
And the Bears knew exactly what they were doing: bringing in a cold defender off the bench and asking him to cover a tight end who’d been red-hot all game. That’s a chess move in a high-stakes moment, and it worked to perfection.
Taylor was quick to credit Loveland’s year-long development, both in terms of his route-running and his growing chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams.
“Our quarterbacks have so much trust in him,” Taylor said. “And Colston has grown so much.
That allowed us to expand his route tree, which increases his reliability, increases the trust. When you get into those big moments in big games late in the year, it’s always about guys you trust.”
That trust isn’t just a coaching staff talking point - it’s something the quarterbacks feel in real time. Backup QB Case Keenum put it in classic QB terms.
“There are certain guys, as a quarterback, where you just look over there and you get that little tingly feeling,” Keenum said. “It’s just comfortable.
He talks to you with his body language. Colston is that cat.”
For a young tight end in his first playoff run, that’s high praise. And it speaks to how quickly Loveland has become a key piece of Chicago’s offensive identity.
Lions
Over in Detroit, the Lions are entering a new chapter on offense, and GM Brad Holmes made it clear: this is Drew Petzing’s show now.
The newly hired offensive coordinator won’t be handed a playbook and asked to fit in - he’s being given the keys to the offense. And according to Holmes, that’s exactly how it should be.
“Just very sharp, very open-minded,” Holmes said. “Was able to fit in with the staff.
Knew some people already, but look, it’s his offense. It’s not something where he’s got to do something else or be like-this is his show, man.
So we just felt like it was the best fit for us.”
That level of autonomy isn’t handed out lightly, especially for a team that’s been knocking on the door in the NFC. But Petzing’s alignment with head coach Dan Campbell - both philosophically and schematically - made him the clear choice.
“There were a ton of impressive candidates,” Holmes said. “But we got to the end of the week, we kind of went back to like, who’s the guy that we all collectively felt like he checked all the boxes for us? And we just kind of went with that, went with the gut, and that’s why we made the move.”
The Lions are betting on continuity of culture with a fresh set of ideas on offense. If Petzing can mesh his system with the physical, gritty identity Campbell has built, Detroit could be looking at an even more dangerous unit in 2026.
Packers
The Packers’ season ended with a Wild Card loss to the Bears, and now the focus shifts to what’s next. For a franchise that’s used to measuring success in deep playoff runs, the bar isn’t just making the postseason - it’s pushing for an NFC Championship appearance. And if the roster stays healthy, that has to be the expectation heading into 2026.
But if Green Bay wants to get there, they’ll need to clean up some glaring issues - starting with special teams. The Packers finished 22nd in average kickoff return yards and dead last in punt returns.
That’s not just a coaching problem; it’s a reflection of organizational priorities. Special teams have been a weak link for years, and it’s time for a top-down commitment to fixing it.
Offensively, there’s some chatter about whether OC Adam Stenavich will be back. If the Packers decide to make a change, the smart money is on promoting from within - a move that would maintain continuity for quarterback Jordan Love. Passing game coordinator Jason Vrable and QBs coach Sean Mannion are both seen as potential in-house options, and either would keep the system stable as Love continues to develop.
On the defensive side, the addition of former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is viewed as a steadying move. He brings playcalling experience and a no-nonsense approach, which could help stabilize a unit that had its ups and downs this season.
And then there’s the salary cap. Green Bay has some tough financial decisions looming, with defensive lineman Rashan Gary and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins both mentioned as potential cap casualties.
Cutting Gary post-June 1 would free up $11 million, while releasing Jenkins would clear $19.5 million. Those are significant numbers - and tough calls - for a team trying to stay competitive while managing its books.
The Packers aren’t far off. But if they want to take the next step, they’ll need cleaner execution, better special teams, and smart decisions on the personnel front. The pieces are there - now it’s about putting them together.