Chicago Bears Will Host Divisional Rival Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card Game

Every great trilogy needs a third and final act to close it out. This divisional game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers will be the finale that fans on both sides will want. Both teams had incredible moments during the regular season, such as:

• Keisean Nixon’s game-sealing interception for the Packers

• The unbelievable Bears’ comeback in their second matchup involved an onside kick that was recovered

• A deep ball caught by D.J. Moore in overtime

Regardless of what team fans are rooting for, they’ll be expecting a barn burner for sure at Soldier Field.

This will also be the third time in history that these teams have met in the playoffs. One of those games was played 85 years ago, in 1941, where the Bears won. The other game was in 2011, where the Packers won. This matchup looks to break the (1-1) playoff record and the (1-1) regular-season record.

Bears Keys to Victory

1. Start Early

Don’t play the comeback game. Week 18 was a perfect example of this. The Bears couldn’t generate any offense and didn’t score until the 4th quarter. The offense had eight possessions. The Bears have pulled themselves out of plenty of messes this year, including the win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 and the second Packers game in Week 15, which resulted in a 22-16 comeback win. This is a game where Chicago knows it could be difficult to recover from if it falls behind early. Packers quarterback Jordan Love is healthy and boasting a 101.2 passer rating this year.

2. Continue to Shut Down the Red Zone

Green Bay was 0-5 in the red zone against the Bears in Week 15, including a Josh Jacobs fumble on the 4-yard line. They must continue shutting down that area of the field, with an emphasis on stopping Josh Jacobs, who does most of the dirty work near the goal line. The Packers have a 58% red-zone efficiency, which is league average at 14th.

3. Don’t Allow Chunk Plays on Defense

The past two weeks, Chicago’s defense has allowed a combined 61 points and 956 yards from the Lions and 49ers. This could be for a multitude of reasons. Although star DB Jaylon Johnson has returned from injury, he does not look like he’s 100% recovered. It could be that breakout DB Nahshon Wright has taken a dip in production, allowing 131 passing yards over the past two weeks. Regardless of what it is, they can’t let big chunks happen, especially in the passing game. Packers WR Christian Watson thrives off deep shot passes and caught a 41-yard touchdown against the Bears in their first matchup.

4. Back to Basics on Offense: Mix in “Bear Raid” Run and Play Action Passing Game

The simplest and most effective way to approach this game is go back to basics. In recent weeks, the Bears have relied more often on passing for a multitude of reasons. The Packers are decent against the run, but they’re still allowing 117.7 rushing yards per game. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai have both had stellar seasons, with Swift finishing with a 4.9 YPC and Monangai with a 4.6 YPC. Both finished with over 900 yards as well. The run game alleviates pressure from the quarterback. Speaking of the QB, shoutout to Caleb Williams, who broke the record for Bears passing yards with 3,942 (previous record 3,838 by Erik Kramer). With guys like DJ Moore and Rome Odunze questionable to play, this will allow Caleb to work on shorter, more efficient yards. First-round pick Colston Loveland, who had 711 yards and was Williams’ safety valve, will be the primary beneficiary. However, Luther Burden III’s connection with Williams recently has been something special, with multiple 100-yard games while Odunze has been out.

Odds (as of 1/7/26)

Moneyline:

-Green Bay Packers -150

-Chicago Bears -108

Spread:

-Green Bay Packers -1.5

-Chicago Bears +1.5

Over/Under: 46.5

Prediction:

Under 45.5, Bears +1.5

Bears 21, Packers 17

This game is going to be a masterclass, and both teams know each other well by now. I anticipate this being a game with big moments, but more like a chess match. The game is going to come down to the final moments.