Malik Willis Shines in Relief, But Packers Fall in Overtime Heartbreaker to Bears
The Green Bay Packers' loss to the Chicago Bears on Saturday night wasn’t just a tough pill to swallow-it was the kind of gut punch that leaves a mark. From the failed onside recovery to the overtime fumble and the Bears’ walk-off touchdown, the final moments at Soldier Field were a slow-motion unraveling of a game the Packers had in their grasp.
But amid the heartbreak, one thing stood out with absolute clarity: Malik Willis didn’t flinch. And he didn’t deserve to lose.
With Jordan Love sidelined due to a concussion, Willis stepped into the spotlight at a critical juncture-with the NFC North lead hanging in the balance and the noise inside Soldier Field growing louder by the snap. Yet from the moment he took the field, Willis looked poised, calm, and in control. Packers fans have seen this version of him before: the cool-under-pressure QB2 who doesn’t just manage games-he makes plays.
For many watching, this was their first real look at Willis in Green Bay colors. And he didn’t disappoint.
FOX’s Tom Brady, calling the game from the booth, was quick to recognize what was unfolding. “He’s got great throwing mechanics.
Ball comes out over the top, got a really nice base, looks really balanced. Making all the throws.
He’s just running this offense to perfection right now,” Brady said during the broadcast.
Later, after Willis helped extend the Packers’ lead to 10 points late in the fourth quarter, Brady doubled down on his praise: “Lights out. What more can you say?
He’s been masterful tonight. I don’t know if there’s a pass that he’s missed.
He’s run the ball well, shown really good decision-making in the pocket. This should give the Packers fans a lot of joy watching this kid play tonight-he’s just been spectacular.”
Brady’s not wrong. Willis played like a seasoned starter, not a backup thrust into the fire. And for Packers fans, none of this was new.
Last season, Willis stepped in and delivered when it mattered most, guiding Green Bay to back-to-back wins over the Colts and Titans with 324 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 114 rushing yards with another score. He was the spark that kept the season alive when Jordan Love was out.
Earlier this year, he came off the bench in Jacksonville and calmly led a game-winning drive. That’s not just filling in-that’s delivering in the clutch.
But Saturday night felt different. The stakes were higher, the opponent tougher, and the margin for error razor-thin.
Willis entered with the Packers clinging to a 6-0 lead and immediately took command. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, adding 44 rushing yards on the ground.
He orchestrated a scoring drive that gave Green Bay a 16-6 lead with just over five minutes to play.
That should’ve been enough.
Instead, the Bears clawed back, tying the game with just 24 seconds left. Willis got the ball again, but time ran out.
In overtime, he once again led the Packers into scoring range-only for a fourth-and-one snap at the Bears’ 36-yard line to go sideways. Just like that, the opportunity slipped away.
It happens. That’s football. But it doesn’t take away from what Willis put on tape.
He was smart with the football. He was decisive in the pocket.
He used his legs when he needed to. He looked every bit like a quarterback you can win with-because the Packers already have.
This loss will sting. It should. But in the middle of it all, Malik Willis reminded everyone why he’s one of the most reliable backup quarterbacks in the league-and why Green Bay’s future remains in good hands if they ever need him again.
He deserved better than the ending he got. But performances like that don’t go unnoticed.
Not by coaches. Not by teammates.
And certainly not by a guy like Tom Brady.