CHICAGO — In a game that will be etched into the memories of Bears faithful for generations, Chicago staged a breathtaking fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in the Wild Card round on January 10, 2026, punching their ticket to the Divisional Round for the first time since 2010.

The victory was nothing short of historic. For 16 long years, Bears fans had waited for their team to win a playoff game. Through coaching changes, quarterback carousels, and countless heartbreaking seasons, the franchise that once defined professional football had been stuck in postseason purgatory. That all changed on a frigid January night when Chicago authored one of the most improbable comebacks in recent playoff memory.

Trailing heading into the fourth quarter, the Bears appeared destined for another disappointing exit. The Packers, their bitter division rivals, seemed poised to extend Chicago's misery once again. But something shifted in those final fifteen minutes. The Bears offense, which had sputtered for much of the contest, suddenly transformed into an unstoppable force.

What followed was a masterclass in clutch performance. Chicago scored on all four of their fourth-quarter possessions, a feat that speaks to both the offensive execution and the mental fortitude of a team that refused to accept defeat. Each drive was a dagger, each score a statement. The Packers defense, which had controlled the game for three quarters, had no answers.

The final score of 31-27 does not fully capture the drama that unfolded. This was not merely a football game between two franchises. This was the latest chapter in the NFL's oldest and most storied rivalry, dating back to 1921. The Bears and Packers have met over 200 times, and this Wild Card clash immediately ranks among the most memorable.

For Chicago, the significance extends far beyond the rivalry. The 2010 season, the last time the Bears advanced past the Wild Card round, feels like ancient history. That team, led by a different generation of players and coaches, reached the NFC Championship Game before falling to the Packers. The intervening years brought nothing but frustration, as Chicago cycled through rebuilding phases while watching Green Bay enjoy continued success.

Now, the narrative has shifted. The Bears are no longer the lovable losers of the NFC North. They are a team with playoff momentum, confidence forged in the fire of a comeback victory, and the knowledge that they can compete with anyone when it matters most.

The Divisional Round awaits, and while the opponent remains to be determined, Chicago will enter that matchup riding an emotional wave unlike anything the franchise has experienced in nearly two decades. The ghosts of playoff failures past have been exorcised, at least temporarily.

As Bears fans celebrated into the early morning hours, one thing became abundantly clear: this team is different. The fourth-quarter comeback against Green Bay was not luck or happenstance. It was the culmination of a season built on resilience, belief, and an unwavering commitment to ending the drought.

The wait is finally over. The Chicago Bears are back in the Divisional Round, and the rest of the NFL should take notice.