The Green Bay Packers’ playoff run came to a crashing halt last week, falling 31-27 to the Chicago Bears in a Wild Card matchup they once had firmly in hand. Leading 21-6 late in the third quarter, Green Bay looked poised to punch their ticket to the Divisional Round. Instead, they were outscored 25-6 in the final frame, unraveling in every phase of the game when it mattered most.
There’s no sugarcoating it - this one stings. Special teams left seven points on the field thanks to three missed kicks from Brandon McManus.
The defense couldn’t get a stop after linebacker Edgerrin Cooper exited with an injury. And the offensive line, which had held up for much of the game, collapsed under pressure in crunch time.
It was a collective breakdown at the worst possible moment.
But even in the wreckage of a tough playoff loss, there was a silver lining - and his name is Matthew Golden.
The rookie wide receiver didn’t just show up in his postseason debut - he made a statement. Golden hauled in four catches for 84 yards and scored his first career touchdown, flashing the kind of explosive playmaking that Green Bay fans have been waiting to see. According to Pro Football Focus, his performance ranked second among all wide receivers in the Wild Card round - and it’s not hard to see why.
Let’s start with the touchdown. With just under seven minutes left in the game, Golden took a screen pass 23 yards to the house, breaking three tackles along the way. It was the kind of play that doesn’t just rack up stats - it energizes a team and signals a player’s arrival on the big stage.
Earlier in the game, Golden beat Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson on a deep route for a 36-yard gain, showing off his route-running and straight-line speed. Every one of his four catches moved the chains. In a game where the Packers desperately needed someone to step up, Golden answered the call.
His Wild Card performance capped off a rookie season that flew under the radar but was quietly efficient. Golden finished the year catching 33 of 46 targets for 445 yards, with 20 of those receptions converting for first downs. He was a consistent chunk-play threat, recording 11 catches of 15 yards or more and earning a 72.5 PFF receiving grade - fifth among all rookie wideouts.
Dig a little deeper and the numbers get even more impressive. Golden thrived at every level of the field, posting PFF receiving grades of 83.9 or higher whether he was catching short, intermediate, or deep passes.
His best work came in the intermediate range (10-19 yards downfield), where he caught seven of eight targets for 90 yards and earned a 94.9 grade. And when it came to stretching the field, no rookie was better - Golden led all first-year receivers with a 98.0 grade on deep balls, catching seven of 15 targets for 233 yards.
That kind of all-around production doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the mark of a player who’s not just fast or athletic, but polished, prepared, and ready for more.
When the Packers selected Golden in the first round - their first wide receiver taken that high since 2002 - expectations were sky-high. But his regular-season numbers, while solid, didn’t quite match the hype: 29 catches, 361 yards, and no touchdowns. That changed in the playoffs, where he looked every bit the part of a future WR1.
Looking ahead to 2026, Golden’s role in the offense is only going to grow. With veteran Romeo Doubs likely heading into free agency, the door is wide open for the rookie to take a major step forward.
Based on what we saw in the Wild Card round - the burst, the toughness, the big-play ability - he’s not just ready for a bigger role. He’s demanding it.
The Packers have work to do this offseason, no question. But in Matthew Golden, they’ve found a building block.
A playmaker who shows up when the lights are brightest. And if his playoff debut is any indication, he’s just getting started.