There hadn't been that kind of electricity at Soldier Field in years. The closest feeling was likely that big win over the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. Fans were loud. The weather was cold. It was a playoff atmosphere. However, this time felt bigger because it was against the Green Bay Packers, the team that has tormented the Chicago Bears for the past 30 years. Beating them would not only seize control of the division and get revenge for the loss two weeks prior, but it would also get a monkey off their back that had been present for decades.
Everybody knows what happened next. Led by Caleb Williams, Chicago scored ten points in the final two minutes of the 4th quarter to force overtime before an all-time finish on a 46-yard bomb for the winning touchdown. It was by far the most incredible game between the two teams of at least the past decade, probably more. Unbeknownst to most at the time, it also set an NFL record. Mike Florio of NBC Sports reported that it was Chicago's sixth victory, despite trailing in the final two minutes of the game.
"Saturday’s overtime win over the Packers was the sixth time this season that the Bears have won a team they were trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. They’re the first team in NFL history to win six games they trailed after the two-minute warning."
The Chicago Bears can't survive this way, but it may not matter.
History says the team will become a genuine factor in the Super Bowl picture after they have seasons like this. In 1979, they were 3-5 and destined for another disappointing year. Then a come-from-behind thriller against San Francisco saw them rip off seven of their last eight games to make the playoffs. That set them on the path of ascent in the 1980s, culminating in their 1985 championship. The same is true of 2001. After five straight losing seasons, the team surged to a 13-3 record, marked by dramatic late-game finishes. While the team didn't do much over the next couple of years, they knew they had a core capable of going far. Once Lovie Smith arrived in 2004, everything fell into place.
This Chicago Bears team feels the same. They have some important pieces lining up, led by Williams. Head coach Ben Johnson is already proving to be the real deal. This suddenly feels like a team that is probably one or two good drafts away from taking that final step into true contention. They may run out of magic in the playoffs, but we know from history that this is likely just the beginning.
