Keisean Nixon made sure his first interception of the season came at the perfect moment. With 22 seconds remaining, Nixon leaped to snag Caleb Williams’ underthrown pass in the end zone, preserving Green Bay’s 28-21 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday and propelling the Packers into first place in the NFC North.
Chicago faced fourth-and-1 from the Packers’ 14-yard line. Williams faked a handoff and rolled left, targeting tight end Cole Kmet behind Nixon in the end zone, but Nixon made the clutch catch to seal the win. Williams finished 19 of 35 for 186 yards with two touchdowns.
Josh Jacobs scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard run with 3:32 left, giving Green Bay (9-3-1) its fourth straight win and ending Chicago’s (9-4) five-game streak. The victory also completed the Packers’ three-game divisional sweep, following wins over Minnesota and Detroit. Green Bay is now 4-0 against NFC North teams, a major turnaround from last season’s 1-5 divisional mark.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur improved to 12-1 against the Bears, with his only loss coming in the final week of the 2024 season, his first matchup against rookie Bears coach Ben Johnson.
The game featured plenty of cold-weather intensity, with a kickoff temperature of 16 degrees Fahrenheit (-9 Celsius).
Jordan Love threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns—two to Christian Watson (23 and 41 yards) and one to Bo Melton (45 yards)—while adding one interception. Jacobs also contributed a spectacular 21-yard run to set up his go-ahead score, breaking through four Chicago defenders before being tackled by Kevin Byard.
Chicago, trailing 14-3 at halftime, rallied in the second half with two touchdowns and a field goal. Williams connected on a 1-yard TD pass to Olamide Zaccheaus and a 1-yard score to Colston Loveland, capping an 83-yard, 17-play drive to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter.
Despite orchestrating five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, Williams and the Bears couldn’t overcome Green Bay’s final defensive stand. Nixon’s interception ended any remaining hopes for a Chicago win.
Injuries:
Bears: CB Nahshon Wright left in the fourth quarter; WR Rome Odunze (foot) did not play.
Packers: LB Kristian Welch left with a concussion; DL Lukas Van Ness (foot) did not play.
Up Next:
Bears: Host Cleveland next Sunday.
Packers: Visit Denver next Sunday.
