Frozen Sideline Drama Adds Fire to Packers-Bears NFC North Showdown
The NFC North is coming down to the wire, and Saturday's clash between the Packers and Bears could decide who takes the crown. But in true December fashion, the drama isn’t just on the field - it’s also on the sidelines, where things got icy for Green Bay in more ways than one.
With playoff implications hanging in the balance, the Packers walked into a frigid Soldier Field with more than just the Chicago defense to battle. Temperatures hovered around 32 degrees, but with the wind chill, it felt like 16 - and Green Bay’s sideline heaters picked the worst possible time to quit.
While the Bears’ heaters hummed along without a hitch, the Packers were left shivering on a malfunctioning bench. And in a game where trench warfare often decides the outcome, the offensive line had no functioning heated bench to keep muscles loose and ready. That’s a big deal in this kind of cold, where stiffness can lead to mistakes - or worse, injuries.
Fox sideline reporter Erin Andrews confirmed the issue live during the broadcast, noting that both the sideline heaters and the offensive line’s heated bench weren’t working for Green Bay. She also mentioned that quarterback Jordan Love had exited after taking a hard hit, adding another layer of concern to the Packers’ sideline situation.
When asked about the fairness of the heating disparity, Tom Brady didn’t mince words. “I think if it happens on one side, it’s got to go to the other side,” Brady said, suggesting that the Bears should be required to shut theirs off if the Packers couldn’t get theirs running. It’s a sentiment that echoes across locker rooms - in a game of inches, equal footing matters, especially when the footing is literally freezing.
But heaters or not, the stakes are crystal clear. A win for Green Bay would lock up a playoff spot and vault them into first place in the NFC North. Right now, they sit seventh in the NFC playoff picture, but control their own destiny.
On the flip side, the Bears are chasing their first playoff berth since 2018 - and doing it with a top-10 scoring offense for the first time in just as long. A win would punch their ticket to the postseason, but even with a loss, they’re still in the hunt. According to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Chicago still has a 78% chance to make the playoffs.
So yes, the temperature is freezing. But between the playoff pressure, sideline controversy, and division rivalry, this one’s heating up fast - even if the Packers’ bench isn’t.