Bears Blindsided Before the Break
The NFC North rivalry delivered fireworks early — but only one side showed up ready for playoff football.
The Green Bay Packers stormed into halftime with a commanding 21–3 lead over the Chicago Bears, putting the home crowd at Soldier Field into stunned silence and leaving Chicago facing an uphill battle in a win-or-go-home wild-card matchup.
From the opening drive, Green Bay dictated the tempo. Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love was sharp, decisive, and ruthless against a Bears defense that struggled to cover receivers or slow the run game. Love finished the first half completing 9 of 15 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns, posting a stellar 130.3 passer rating.
The Packers also gashed Chicago on the ground, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, consistently staying ahead of the chains and forcing the Bears’ defense into reactive mode. Whether through quick play-action throws or power runs between the tackles, Green Bay made the game feel one-sided well before halftime.
Chicago’s troubles were not limited to execution. Head coach Ben Johnson’s aggressive fourth-down strategy backfired badly. The Bears went 1-for-4 on fourth-down attempts in the first half, with the most costly decision coming midway through the second quarter.
Facing fourth-and-five from their own 32-yard line, Johnson kept the offense on the field. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams fired an incomplete pass, handing the Packers prime field position. Green Bay capitalized quickly, extending the lead to 21–3 and effectively flipping momentum for good.
Instead of keeping the game within reach, the gamble pushed Chicago into desperation mode far earlier than planned.
Williams’ first playoff half was one to forget. The rookie completed just 8 of 17 passes for 78 yards and threw a costly interception early in the second quarter on a miscommunication with wide receiver Luther Burden. The lack of chemistry was evident, and Green Bay’s coverage schemes seemed to confuse the Bears’ passing attack.
By halftime, Williams carried a 35.9 passer rating, a stark contrast to Love’s efficiency. While protection breakdowns and dropped opportunities didn’t help, the Bears’ offense lacked rhythm and confidence, frequently stalling before drives could develop.
Bears Crushed by Packers as Jordan Love Delivers a Ruthless First-Half Masterclass to Open a 21–3 Lead
As if the scoreboard wasn’t grim enough, the Bears’ defense suffered key losses. Linebacker T.J. Edwards exited the game early in the second quarter after a non-contact ankle injury and was ruled out. Defensive tackle Andrew Billings also left with an injury, and his status remained unclear heading into halftime.
Those absences further weakened a unit already struggling to contain Green Bay’s balanced offense. With rotation players forced into bigger roles, missed tackles and blown assignments became more frequent as the half wore on.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the opening half was Love’s poise. This wasn’t a quarterback managing the moment — this was one attacking it. Love spread the ball around, punished blitzes, and showed patience in the pocket. His command of the offense allowed Green Bay to control time of possession and keep Chicago’s offense off balance.
Every Bears mistake felt magnified, and Love made sure none went unpunished.
Down 18 points at halftime, the Bears face long odds. They’ll need a near-perfect second half: cleaner execution, smarter situational decisions, and a defensive turnaround despite missing key contributors. Williams must find confidence quickly, while the coaching staff may need to temper aggression with situational awareness.
For the Packers, the path is clear — protect the football, lean on the run game, and let Love continue carving up a defense that has yet to show answers.
At halftime, this wild-card showdown looks less like a rivalry clash and more like a statement. Green Bay has seized control — and Chicago is running out of time to respond.
