A Night That Changed the Tone: Bears Stun Packers in Overtime at Soldier Field

CHICAGO — On a bitterly cold December night at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears didn’t just defeat the Green Bay Packers. They reclaimed belief.

Final Score: Bears 22, Packers 16 (OT).

In a rivalry long defined by frustration and missed chances, Chicago delivered its most meaningful win in years — erasing a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit and finishing the job in overtime against their most hated opponent. For a franchise searching for proof that the rebuild is real, this moment felt different.

And head coach Ben Johnson knew it.

A Message Before the Celebration

There were no victory laps. No chest-thumping.

Instead, Johnson paused the celebration to deliver a raw, emotional message that cut straight to the heart of the moment.

“This city has waited a long time to feel this again,” Johnson said postgame.
“Our guys never blinked. They stayed connected, stayed tough, and they finished.”

It wasn’t just a win — it was a response. A quiet, confident statement from a first-year head coach whose team had stared down Green Bay pressure and finally came out on top.

A Comeback Built on Composure

For much of the night, it didn’t look like Chicago’s game to win.

The Bears struggled early, trailed 16–6 late in the fourth quarter, and faced a familiar script — one that has haunted the franchise for decades. But this time, the ending changed.

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams stayed calm when it mattered most, delivering the biggest throws of his young career under relentless pressure. He engineered a late fourth-quarter drive to force overtime, then sealed the game with a 46-yard touchdown strike to DJ Moore that sent Soldier Field into chaos.

“That’s what franchise quarterbacks do,” Johnson said.
“They don’t panic. They rise.”

Moore, largely contained for much of the game, delivered the defining play — one that will live in Chicago highlight reels for years.

Defense Keeps the Door Open

While the comeback stole the spotlight, the Bears’ defense laid the foundation.

Chicago pressured Jordan Love throughout the night, tightened up in the red zone, and delivered timely stops that prevented Green Bay from putting the game away. Each stand kept hope alive.

“They kept giving us chances,” Johnson said.
“When you do that against Green Bay, eventually something swings.”

In overtime, the defense did its job once more — and the offense finished it.

More Than a Rivalry Win

This wasn’t just about beating Green Bay.

It was a culture check.

For years, Chicago teams folded in moments like this. This one didn’t.

“This is what growth looks like,” a veteran defender said.
“Not perfect football — but resilient football.”

The Bears didn’t dominate from start to finish. They endured. They adapted. They outlasted.

An Identity Taking Shape

Johnson returned to one word throughout the night: identity.

“We want to be a team that can take a punch,” he said.
“Run the ball when it’s ugly. Make tough throws when it’s loud. And finish.”

That identity was tested against the team that has tormented Chicago for a generation — and it held.

The Bigger Picture

No one inside Halas Hall is pretending this win ends the journey.

But it changes something.

It changes belief.
It changes expectations.
It changes how this locker room sees itself.

A comeback victory.
An overtime walk-off.
A statement against Green Bay.

As Ben Johnson walked off the field, he left Bears fans with words they’ve waited years to hear:

“You believed in us,” he said.
“Now we’re building something that’s going to last.”