Packers Fall to Bears, But Playoff Hopes Still Alive Behind Malik Willis' Steady Hand
Saturday night in Green Bay had all the makings of a classic NFC North battle: cold weather, high stakes, and two teams that know each other all too well. But while the Packers controlled much of the action, it was the Chicago Bears who walked away with the 22-16 win - a gut punch for a Green Bay team that had the game in its grasp.
The loss was compounded by a pair of key injuries. Starting quarterback Jordan Love exited in the first half with a concussion, forcing backup Malik Willis into action.
Running back Josh Jacobs, already dealing with a nagging knee issue, also left the game early. Without two of their offensive centerpieces, the Packers struggled to finish drives, settling for three field goals despite multiple trips into the red zone.
That red zone inefficiency proved costly. Green Bay moved the ball well enough to stay in control for large stretches, but when it mattered most - inside the 20 - they simply couldn’t punch it in. And against a Bears team that’s been surging at the right time, those missed opportunities came back to bite.
Still, for all the frustration, the Packers aren’t out of the playoff picture. In fact, they’re still very much in it.
At 7th in the NFC standings, they currently hold the final Wild Card spot. And if the standings hold, Green Bay would get another crack at the Bears - this time in the postseason.
But that’s a big “if.” The Packers still have work to do, and no one in the building is pretending otherwise - especially Malik Willis, who stepped in under tough circumstances and showed poise despite the loss.
“I know that this season is not over,” Willis said after the game. “We can’t change what’s happened, and just got to continue to keep going.
I think we’re going to take it one week at a time, and we’ve got to make it first. We have to finish out the season the right way.”
That mindset is exactly what Green Bay needs right now. The final stretch won’t be easy. The Packers close the regular season with two critical matchups: a home game against the Baltimore Ravens, followed by a road trip to face the division-rival Minnesota Vikings.
Win both, and they’re in. Drop one, and things get murky fast.
For a team that’s battled through injuries, inconsistency, and now a late-season quarterback change, the margin for error is razor-thin. But the opportunity is still there - and in December, that’s all you can ask for.
The Bears may have taken Round 1, but if Green Bay takes care of business these next two weeks, Round 2 could come with a playoff ticket on the line.