CHICAGO (670 The Score) — What a Saturday night that was at Soldier Field.
The Bears pulled an improbable comeback in the final minutes of regulation, then beat the rival Packers, 22-16, on quarterback Caleb Williams' 46-yard touchdown to receiver DJ Moore in overtime to give Chicago a thrilling victory and help it clinch a playoff berth. Here are the observations from Soldier Field.
An all-timer
The attendance at Soldier Field on Saturday was 60,152, and they witnessed an extraordinary comeback by the Bears with first place in the NFC North on the line in a nationally televised primetime game.
The Bears trailed 16-6 late into the fourth quarter, but they met the moment when it mattered most.
Veteran kicker Cairo Santos booted a 43-yard field goal through swirling winds to cut the Bears' deficit to 16-9 with 1:59 remaining. What ensued from there was remarkable.
Santos then delivered a successful onside kick – thanks in large part to a misplay by Packers receiver Romeo Doubs – and the Bears suddenly had the ball at their own 47-yard line with plenty of time left. By that point, the Soldier Field crowd was expecting another comeback victory.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was outstanding with the game on the line. He led the Bears on an eight-play 53-yard drive to tie the game, with the touchdown coming on a six-yard throw to rookie receiver Jahdae Walker in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-4 as the Packers' pressure crashed into the pocket.
The Bears’ defense held strong in overtime, stopping the Packers’ opening drive on fourth-and-1 on a fumbled snap. That set up Williams for his defining moment.
On the winning play, Williams worked from the I-formation, used a play-action fake, stepped back and waited as receiver DJ Moore sprinted toward the end zone. He then delivered one of the best throws of his young career to Moore, who hauled in the winning touchdown.
Soldier Field broke into pure jubilation, as did the rest of Chicago. There were cheers, hugs and even tears. After all, these nights haven’t come often enough from the Bears. It has been different this season.
Chicago has a special team in the middle of a breakthrough season that was difficult to imagine back in August. Bears head coach Ben Johnson has led an unbelievable turnaround in his first season in Chicago.
Consider this: The Bears won five games total in the 2024 campaign and have six fourth-quarter comeback victories this season as they sit at 11-4. By virtue of the Lions’ 29-24 loss to the Steelers on Sunday afternoon, the Bears also clinched a playoff spot.
There may be more memorable nights like this to come in Chicago. The Bears currently hold the No. 2 seed in the NFC. If they remain there or grab the top seed, it will be in large part due to the significance of their win Saturday.
Simply put, that was an all-time victory for the Bears.
Cairo comes up big
There are a few really good golfers in the Bears’ locker room, but perhaps nobody is better than Santos. Part of his strength on the golf course is his ability to understand his swing.
That’s also the case for Santos in the kicking game. He doesn’t have a powerful leg, but he knows how to work the right shape and manage the challenges of kicking at Soldier Field. On Saturday, the swirling wind inside the stadium was doing more than blowing the flags. It was shaking the goalposts on a really difficult night for kicking.
That didn’t matter to Santos, who was 3-for-3 on his field-goal attempts, including a 51-yarder in the fourth quarter. Like one might on the golf course, Santos played a fade to work against the wind when needed. He also booted the game-tying extra point and delivered the onside kick that the Bears recovered to give themselves the opportunity to tie.
Santos gives the Bears an advantage in kicking in a unique stadium, and that mattered in the pivotal victory Saturday. He could also play a key role in the playoffs.
Extra points
--- The get-in ticker price leading up to kickoff was well over $400. Fans were willing to pay whatever it took, and they were rewarded.
--- The Packers reached the red zone five times but didn't score a touchdown on those trips. They had three field goals, a turnover on downs and a fumble in those five trips. That proved to be the difference in the game.
--- Johnson didn’t regret the play call on the Bears' botched fourth-and-1 play deep in Packers territory in the first quarter. On the play, the snap went through tight end Cole Kmet’s legs as planned but over running back Kyle Monangai's head. Johnson had run the play previously in Detroit, but Chicago will be fine never seeing that one again.
--- Bears defensive end Austin Booker's hit that knocked Packers quarterback Jordan Love out of the game wasn’t dirty. What's Booker supposed to do at full speed? It was unfortunate but not deliberate in any way.
--- For a while, this game felt similar to the 2019 season opener at Soldier Field, a much-anticipated game that ended with the Packers winning 10-3. This time, the Bears rallied for the win.
--- Johnson noticed how quiet the stadium was late in the game before the Bears authored their comeback. Nobody could be blamed for being on edge.
--- Bears veteran receiver Olamide Zaccheaus may get fewer opportunities after another ugly drop in the fourth quarter.
--- Williams’ winning throw to Moore was incredible. It went more than 55 yards through the air and was right on target.
--- What a damn game.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.