LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — As Bears receiver DJ Moore fell to the ground with the game-winning touchdown catch in his arms on Dec. 20 at Soldier Field, the stadium shook in a way it hadn’t in years. It was a moment of catharsis in Chicago.
That sensation reverberated throughout a city starved for such a moment. An unlikely comeback had lifted the Bears to an improbable 22-16 overtime victory over the rival Packers in a game that was instrumental in helping Chicago retake the NFC North.
The Bears have enjoyed a breakthrough season, climbing from last place in the NFC North in an ugly 2024 campaign to the top of the division and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. First-year head coach Ben Johnson led the turnaround and now has his sights set on much more.
The Bears (11-6) will host the Packers (9-7-1) again Saturday night at Soldier Field, this time in the wild-card round. The much-anticipated matchup will mark just the second time the longtime rivals have met in the playoffs in the Super Bowl era.
Make no mistake, this season has been a tremendous success for the Bears, who have set a solid foundation in Johnson’s first season in Chicago. The Bears believe they're well-positioned to contend for years to come, and there’s reason to believe the future is bright.
Johnson has established a winning culture and fostered pivotal growth for 24-year-old quarterback Caleb Williams. Despite all that, this campaign will have an empty feeling to it if the Bears suffer a loss to the Packers on Saturday.
Back in 2015 in Chicago, the Cubs overcame their nemesis in the Cardinals by beating them in a four-game National League Divisional Series. It proved to be a galvanizing victory that helped propel the Cubs forward in their quest to win the World Series, which they did a year later in 2016.
In 1991, Michael Jordan and the Bulls had to beat the two-time defending champion Pistons before winning six titles over the course of the next eight years.
The Packers have won 27 of the last 32 games in this rivalry, which has been lopsided over the last two decades as the Bears have struggled to find continuity. Chicago has cycled through too many head coaches and far too many quarterbacks while coming up empty against Green Bay.
But opportunity is knocking in Chicago. The Bears have already marked their arrival with a strong season and hope this is the start of sustained success. The city should be greedy entering this postseason. The Bears are a contender in a wide-open playoff picture. The expectations will only grow from here, but first comes a showdown that will be remembered well beyond Saturday.
As the Bears seek to earn another win that would reverberate throughout Chicago, it's the rival Packers standing in the way.
Emma's prediction (11-5): Bears 24, Packers 23
Another thriller between these two teams will come down to the wire, and Williams will lead the Bears to a playoff victory over the Packers.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.