Chicago Bears Wild Card Notes: Are You Not Entertained?!

Emotions were high, and so were the stakes. Not only for the 2025 playoffs but for the oldest rivalry in the game. While the offense started off stronger than it had for most of the year, what followed was some of the sloppier play we have seen all season. Until crunch time, that is.

Here are my notes on the Chicago Bears vs the Green Bay Packers Wild Card game.

Oh, and I am a HUGE fan of those all navy uniforms.

Offense:

• Caleb was as accurate and on point to start the game as we have seen all year. Would have loved to see that opening drive end in a TD, but a long drive like that ending in points is definitely how you like to start games.
• Burden III was clutch early and looked explosive as ever. 3rd down conversions was huge.
• Run game was decent early and then really struggled throughout. Aside from a few key runs, the run game had one of the worst performances of the year. Odd, considering the state of the GB defensive line.
• After that opening drive, GB simply played with more fire and juice than Chicago. Until the 2nd half, when Chicago matched the intensity.
• Pick on deep ball to Burden III appeared they were not on the same page. Caleb’s frustrations on the sideline made that seem true.
• Ben going for it on 4th down all game, especially in Chicago’s own territory, definitely put the team in a hole.
• A couple of drops also really hurt. Grateful a couple to the TEs didn’t result in fumbles to GB, but we saw the ball on the ground more in this one than we have all year. Not good.
• Thought Caleb was out of his element and off for 80% of the game. After the opening drive until the last 8 min of the game. Pulled it down to run instead of hitting his receivers. Threw a couple ugly picks. Frustration more in one game than we’ve seen all season. It almost appeared this stage was too big for him. Or too much pressure was on his shoulders.
• And then Iceman showed up.
• Olamide with a nasty route in the red zone for a TD. Loveland looking like a young Tony Gonzalez and Ben with one of the nastiest play calls for the game winner to DJ that I have seen all season.
• So happy for DJ Moore. Two game winners against GB.

Defense:

• A well-called game by Matt LeFleur got GB off to a fast start. Chicago’s defense looked a step behind and outmatched early.
• The struggles up front continued in this one. Green Bay’s run game was dominant in the first half and Josh Jacobs looked healthy and explosive.
• The pass rush seemed non-existent, and once again, it was extremely discouraging to see how much time Jordan Love had to operate with Dennis Allen sending extra pressure.
• Jaylon Johnson had a couple of fantastic PBUs in this one. Last week I liked his run support and this week, aside from a deep TD on a play where Chicago brought pressure and Love had too much time, his coverage was sticky like we have gotten used to.
• T.J. going down hurt but D’Marco Jackson has proven to be a viable backup LB and he made a huge run stuff late.
• Romeo Doubs is the Packers’ best WR and was hurting us all game.
• Matthew Golden saved his best play of his young career for a huge moment. In a loss.
• Great to have Kyler Gordon back, and I thought his presence was felt, though he clearly didn’t appear to be at full strength. But his IQ and pass coverage was sorely missed as was his physicality and decisiveness against the run. Hopefully, we can get CJGJ back next week to pair with Kyler in the slot.
• Sweat and Booker had a heck of a game. Perhaps “second half” is more accurate, but either way, they both stepped up when we needed it most, including a massive pressure by Sweat late to ice the game.

Special Teams:

• Hightower has caught a lot of heat this season. Rightfully so. But he has put together a few very strong performances lately.
• I particularly liked the fake reverse on the opening kick return of the game.
• Devin Duvernay had one of his better games of the season as well.
• Still not a fan of Josh Blackwell returning kicks. His special teams skills are elite in all other facets of the game.
• Jalen Reeves-Maybin reminds me of Brendan Ayenbadejo and needs to remain on our roster. He is a large reason why Hightower has been looking better lately.
• Zero punts in a playoff game?! That is nuts.
• The only one on the team who may be more clutch than Caleb is Cairo. So good to have him on the team, and happy for him as one of the vets on the team, like DJ.