Bears vs. Packers Game Balls: Cold As Ice

Everyone expected the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers to have a close game in the Wild Card Playoffs on Saturday night. But nobody expected that.

The fate of the last four Bears vs. Packers games had come down to the final play of the game, so it seemed like a logical prediction that this one would too. But after the way the first half went, with the Bears down 21-3 at halftime, it seemed as though this was one that was going to get away from the home team in embarrassing fashion.

But then, just like nearly every week this season, the Cardiac Bears came out of hibernation to make this one a contest. Chicago was able to outscore Green Bay 28-6 in the second half and walk away with their first postseason victory since January 2011. And of course, this one came down to the final play as well.

As in any rivalry game, social media has been a wild ride since the score went final. Anger, laughter, and pearl clutching over a head coach swearing in the locker room have been the general themes on my timeline. I’m enjoying every second, as should you.

The Packers put up a valiant effort, but this Bears team seemingly can’t be denied in the fourth quarter. The calls are getting louder up north for their head football coach to be sent packing, but down in Chicago, the beloved have their guy. Settle in for the long haul, because this team is about to have some fun playoff runs over the next several years.

Let’s get to the game balls.

Offense Game Ball: QB Caleb Williams

TE Colston Loveland received the honors last week, and he very well could have this time as well. However, despite another epic outing from a rookie that is already likely a top five TE in the league, I must look to the man who was throwing the passes.

Outside of his total passing yards, the stat sheet might not jump out. But for anyone who actually watched this game, they know.

They know that the Chicago Bears have themselves a superstar at QB. And Caleb Williams shined bright when it mattered most in his first playoff start.

It was an uneven performance to be sure, and there were some rough patches in the first half. Williams finished the game with two interceptions, though one of them may have been more on the WR (rookie WR Luther Burden III appeared to not finish his route to the point on the field where Williams thought he would be headed on the first interception).

But when the pressure came crashing down, Williams was the Iceman once again. His fourth quarter was one that will be remembered within the halls of Chicago Bears history for decades. Especially that ridiculous throw to Rome Odunze on 4th and 8 that has a place in the conversation for best throw of this season (if not the decade).

Williams finished 24/48 for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also ran the ball four times for 20 yards. It’s only the second time this season (at San Francisco) that Williams has surpassed 300 yards through the air. It’s the second-most yards he’s thrown for in a game since beginning his NFL career, with the 363 yards he threw for against Indianapolis in 2024 still at the top of the list.

Lastly, a special shoutout to Caleb’s social media game. After noted Packers fan Lil’ Wayne wrote this on Twitter/X:

Caleb posted a highlight reel to his Instagram set to Lil Wayne’s “Mr. Carter.” Incredible stuff.

Defense Game Ball: DE Montez Sweat

Absolutely nobody on defense would have deserved a game ball after the first half of the game, but that unit woke up at halftime and was able to limit Green Bay to just 6 points in the second half.

The turnaround was due to many factors. After a rough first half, with his man defense consistently getting beat once again, Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen started dialing up pressure at more opportune times, both CB Tyrique Stevenson and CB Kyler Gordon contributed on the field, and the defensive line was able to generate some pressure and force QB Jordan Love into some bad spots.

Austin Booker and Montez Sweat were both integral parts of this shift, with boys getting home or close throughout the second half. Dominque Robinson also had a pretty good game, as did Grady Jarrett in the middle. But it was Chicago’s highest paid defensive player, Sweat, who earned that cash on Saturday evening.

Sweat finished the night with three tackles, one pass defended, and led the team with three QB hits. He made Love uncomfortable and affected the trajectory of a couple of important throws.

If Chicago can get that second half defensive performance for a full game next week, with Gordon in particular getting his feet back under him and Jaylon Johnson continuing to knock off some of the rust, the team could have a real shot at advancing. Especially if the offense can start hot.

Special Teams Game Ball: K Cairo Santos

Chicago Bears fans know very well what it can mean to have an unreliable kicker in the playoffs, and the Green Bay Packers experienced that on Saturday night. K Brandon McManus very well may have cost the Packers the game, missing two field goals (from 55 and 44 yards) and an extra point in the game.

As my brother-in-law texted me after the game, “Brandon McManus will never have to pay for a beer in the city of Chicago again.”

Meanwhile, Chicago’s Cairo Santos didn’t have the same kind of problems. He was 3/3 on field goals (27, 34, and 51 yards) and 2/2 on XPs in a situation where every point mattered. And with hindsight, Ben Johnson probably wishes he had kicked a couple more field goals with Santos rather than going for it on fourth down as well.

But in the end, everything worked out and the Bears pulled off one of their most memorable performances of the last 40 years. As a soon-to-be 42 year old (next weekend in fact, and I know what I’d like for a birthday present from the Bears), this was probably the second-most memorable game of my fandom. The only game I can put over it is the victory over the Saints in the NFC Championship back in January of 2007.

Bryan Orenchuk and myself will have plenty to say about this game this week on a new episode of Bears Over Beers. It will be available on the 2nd City GridironYouTube channel or via your favorite podcasting platform. Our 2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel is available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Audacy, and other popular podcast platforms.

Who would have received your game balls? Let us know in the comments section below.