The Oldest Rivalry in Football: Packers @ Bears Playoff Preview

Joseph McLaughlin
1 day ago
4 min read

by Joseph McLaughlin

1/9/26

Sportz Nation

Another chapter will be written in the National Football League’s oldest and most historic rivalry as the No. 2 seed Chicago Bears host the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card Round in Primetime Saturday night. The playoff game will mark the 213th contest between the two teams, the 19th played in Primetime, and the third time in NFL postseason history.

It is a matchup that would have been shocking to anyone at the beginning of the season, with the Bears finishing last year with a 5-12 record. Now, Chicago has found new life under first-year head coach Ben Johnson and turned their previous season around, claiming an 11-6 record and winning the NFC North for the first time since 2018.

The Packers and Bears split their season series in 2025, both winning as the home team. This is as tight a game as it can get, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Packers are favored slightly on the road, carrying a -1.5 point spread. This is likely due to the Bears’ ugly 19-16 loss at home to the eliminated Detroit Lions in Week 18 as they tried to lock up the No. 2 seed, something that happened anyway after Philadelphia’s loss to Washington.

Game Preview

These division rivals are familiar with one another, entering their third meeting this year. Their last meeting in Chicago was a thriller, with the Bears winning 22-16 in overtime after a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback. The last frame has been the Bears’ best friend this season as they have scored 84 points in the final 15 minutes or overtime this season, the most of any team in the NFL.

This has to do with the heroics of Chicago’s sophomore quarterback Caleb Williams. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick has had a great second season, throwing for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. Williams has a solid core of talent around him in D’Andre Swift in the backfield, DJ Moore and Rome Odunze as wide receivers, and Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet as tight ends.

The Bears’ offensive cast ranked 6th in total offense this year, averaging 379 yards per game, and third in rushing yards per game. However, their defense has been a mixed bag. This year, Chicago allowed 361.8 yards per game, ranked 29th in the league, and 415 total points this season, ranked 23rd.

That does not mean their defense can’t make a difference. The Bears' defense created 33 takeaways this season, leading the league in turnover differential (+22), and were second in the league in scoring off turnovers.

They will have to bring it all against Green Bay, featuring Jordan Love. The Packers quarterback is making his return after being out the previous two games in concussion protocol, caused by a head injury suffered against the Bears in Week 16. The Packers' offense has not looked the same without him, falling to the Bears, Ravens, and Vikings in his absence.

Love had a solid regular season, throwing for 3,381 yards and 23 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. Love may not have as good stats as the elite quarterbacks of the league, but his presence as the commander of the offense has given his team confidence, allowing Green Bay to operate effectively. The Packers are in the middle of the pack in scoring, averaging 23 points a game, but they boast an effective passing and running game.

Players like Josh Jacobs in the backfield and star receivers like Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, and Jaylen Reed on the outside are key pieces to the Packers’ production. Can’t forget about Tucker Kraft either, as the tight end has continuously made an impact for Love this year. They will need to support Green Bay’s 12th-ranked defense that lost Micah Parsons earlier this season to injury. Players like Rashon Gary and Quay Walker have been tremendous in both sacks and open field tackling, and are expected to make an impact Saturday.

My Predictions

Photo Credit: David Berding/Getty Images.

This is tough to call with both teams being evenly matched. I expect both quarterbacks to have great nights, making the game close in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. It will likely be decided by one score made at a critical point in the game, and I am putting my bet on Love and the Packers to make that happen on the road.

My reasoning: Even though Williams and the Bears have fourth-quarter magic, the Packers play well with Love at the helm, and that was proven against the Bears this season, winning in Week 14 and before he exited Week 16’s matchup. I trust Love, who has more playoff experience than Williams, to guide his offense to a productive night and get the victory. It also would not be the first time Love has done this, as the Packers' quarterback led No. 7-seeded Green Bay to a dominant 48-32 win over the No. 2 Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card in his first full season as Green Bay’s starting quarterback in 2023.

I expect the Packers to win 23-20 over the Bears. That would mean the Packers easily cover their small spread, and I expect the under to hit in the over/under of 45.5. Either way this game goes, though, this is gearing up to be a classic, and I am all for it. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime at 8:00 p.m. EST with Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, and Kaylee Hartung on the call.