For the third time in six weeks, the NFL’s oldest rivalry will take center stage. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, whose histories combine for 211 seasons, will meet for an NFL-record 213th time, but this marks only the third postseason matchup between the two franchises. The stakes are higher than ever this time: the loser goes home.
Historically, the teams have split their prior playoff meetings. In the 1941 NFL Championship, the Bears beat the Packers 33-14, while in the 2010 NFC Championship, Green Bay came out on top, 21-14, en route to a Super Bowl XLV victory. This Wild Card clash is one of just two regular-season rematches this weekend—alongside the Rams and Panthers—and the only divisional showdown of the six-game slate.
Beyond the rivalry, the game highlights the changing landscape of the postseason. Rookie quarterbacks drafted at the top of their classes - Caleb Williams (2024 No. 1), Bryce Young (2023 No. 1), and Drake Maye (2024 No. 3) - are all making their playoff debuts, while familiar stars like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow watch from home.
Williams and wideout Ben Johnson have formed the centerpiece of Chicago’s resurgence. Their connection helped the Bears clinch their first NFC North title since 2018 and their first playoff berth since 2020. Williams, who has excelled in clutch moments, has engineered six fourth-quarter comebacks this season, including a 22-16 overtime win over Green Bay in Week 16. That victory came after a 28-21 loss in Week 14, giving Williams a 2-2 record against the Packers so far.
Chicago has long struggled against Green Bay, losing 11 straight games before finally breaking through in Week 18 of Williams’ rookie season. Now, the Bears aim to cap their breakout season with a playoff win, their first since the 2010 NFC Championship, while Williams seeks to become the first Bears quarterback since Jim Harbaugh in 1991 to defeat the Packers twice in a single season. After setting a new club single-season passing record with 3,942 yards, Williams will look to rise to the occasion in his postseason debut and extend Chicago’s momentum against their fiercest rival.
