In a Wild Card matchup that will be remembered for generations, Caleb Williams announced his arrival on the NFL playoff stage in spectacular fashion, leading the Chicago Bears to a stunning 31-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night at Soldier Field.
The Bears trailed 21-3 at halftime, staring down what appeared to be an early postseason exit. The Packers, led by a rejuvenated Jordan Love returning from a helmet-to-helmet injury that sidelined him for the final two regular-season games, seemed destined to advance. Love connected with Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed for first-half touchdowns, and Green Bay's win probability soared above 97 percent.
But Williams had other plans. The former first overall pick orchestrated one of the most remarkable comebacks in NFL playoff history, outscoring the Packers 28-6 in the second half, including an astonishing 25-6 fourth-quarter explosion.
With the game hanging in the balance, Williams led a methodical 6-play, 66-yard drive that culminated in a 25-yard strike to DJ Moore for the go-ahead touchdown. It was Williams' seventh fourth-quarter comeback of the season, a feat that made NFL history as the most ever recorded by a quarterback under 25 years old in a single campaign.
Williams finished the night with 361 passing yards, the most by any quarterback in their playoff debut since Matthew Stafford threw for 380 yards back in 2011. The performance placed Williams alongside Hall of Famer Kurt Warner as the only quarterbacks in league history to record at least 350 passing yards and earn a victory in their first postseason start.
The victory marked Chicago's first playoff win in 15 seasons, ending a drought that had become a source of frustration for the franchise's passionate fan base. For first-year head coach Ben Johnson, the comeback validated his decision to build around his young quarterback.
Green Bay's Love did everything in his power to prevent the collapse, finishing with 323 yards and four touchdown passes. But when it mattered most, fortune favored Chicago. On the game's final play, Love dropped the snap at the Bears' 28-yard line, scrambled desperately, and heaved a prayer toward the end zone. Jaquan Brisker deflected the pass, igniting a euphoric celebration on the Soldier Field sideline.
The loss dropped Packers head coach Matt LaFleur to 3-6 in playoff games, a troubling trend for a franchise accustomed to postseason success. Meanwhile, the Bears advance to the Divisional Round, where they will host the Los Angeles Rams, who defeated the Carolina Panthers 34-31 in their Wild Card matchup.
For Williams, the comeback story is only beginning. His poise under pressure and ability to deliver when the stakes are highest suggest the Bears have found their franchise cornerstone. As the playoffs continue, opposing defenses have been put on notice: no lead is safe when Caleb Williams has the football in his hands.
American Football
Caleb Williams Leads Bears to Historic Playoff Comeback, Stunning Packers 31-27 in Wild Card Thriller
📅 Published on January 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM