It wasn't a blowout. It wasn't a fluke. It was worse.
The Chicago Bears’ 28-21 Week 14 loss to the Green Bay Packers wasn’t just another chapter in the rivalry—it was a full-blown collapse on a night when everything was on the line. They walked into Lambeau as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They limped out as the 7th. And all it took was 60 minutes of undisciplined football, wasted chances, and some Caleb Williams hero-ball that fell one play short.
Let’s tear the Band-Aid off and break down exactly why Chicago’s hopes for NFC North dominance went up in smoke.
First-Half Faceplant: Offensive Trainwreck of the Year
You could’ve microwaved a pizza and eaten it before the Bears managed 71 yards of offense in the first half. Caleb Williams? 6-of-14 for 32 yards. DJ Moore? One damn catch for -4 yards. That’s not WR1 behavior—that’s a disappearing act Houdini would envy.
Ben Johnson looked like he was calling plays with oven mitts on. The Bears didn’t call their second run until the third drive. This from a team that ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards per game. Instead, they let Green Bay’s front tee off on a patchwork O-line while Williams played dodgeball with his life.
1-for-7 on third down in the first half. One. For. Seven. And that stat alone should’ve disqualified them from playoff contention on the spot.
Defensive Lapses: Swiss Cheese Secondary
Chicago’s defense has been opportunistic all year — tops in interceptions, stingy against the run. But against Jordan Love? They gave up three touchdowns of 23+ yards. And the worst of it came with 38 seconds left in the first half, when Bo Melton — Bo FREAKIN' Melton — was allowed to waltz untouched down the middle for a 45-yard touchdown. The secondary looked like it was playing with one eye closed.
Kyler Gordon’s Absence = Defensive Implosion
Kyler Gordon missing the game with a groin injury turned out to be the hidden dagger. Without him, Dennis Allen’s scheme went from elite to junior varsity. With Gordon, the Bears rank 4th in defensive success rate. Without him? 28th. That’s not a drop — that’s a cliff.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson got exposed in slot coverage, and Christian Watson feasted like it was Thanksgiving: 89 yards, 2 TDs, and more than 22 yards per catch.
Jordan Love: Third-Down Terminator
Let’s give the devil his due. Jordan Love carved up the Bears like a holiday ham on third down. The Packers went 8-for-12 — 66.7%. Meanwhile, the Bears were still stuck on that lonely 14.3% conversion rate. Love shredded the blitz (9-of-12, 171 yards, 3 TDs when blitzed), made perfect reads, and calmly dismantled the pass rush.
The Bears’ defensive front? MIA. Montez Sweat was the only one who got home. Everyone else? Non-existent. And to make matters worse, when Love had a clean pocket he was dealing like a young Aaron Rodgers. Painful flashbacks, anyone?
Josh Jacobs Broke Their Backs
With the game tied 21-21 Chicago had a chance to force a FG but Josh Jacobs put the dagger in. On third-and-2, he should’ve been tackled for a loss — twice. Instead, he spun, juked, and embarrassed the Bears' front seven for 21 soul-crushing yards. One play later? Touchdown.
That one drive was a masterclass in making a defense tap out.
Caleb Williams: Jekyll, Hyde, and That Final Pick
Credit where it’s due: Williams fought back. Two TD passes in the second half, a gritty 17-play drive to tie the game. But in the final moment, with 22 seconds left and a 4th-and-1 from the red zone, he blew it.
He had options: possibly run it, tough throw to DJ, or hit Kmet in the end zone. He chose Kmet — late and underthrown. Keisean Nixon jumped the route, picked it off, and ended the night.
That’s a young QB mistake, sure. But it’s also the difference between still being #1 in the NFC to now fighting to stay in the playoffs.
Ben Johnson: Adjustments Aplenty, But Clock Brain Farts
Ben Johnson made the right halftime changes — Chicago looked like a real offense after the break. But his clock management late was straight-up malpractice. Three straight run calls with under a minute left and all three timeouts in your pocket? Come on, man. You’re not preserving a lead — you’re chasing the damn game.
Special Teams Screwup That Set the Tone
Cairo Santos’ late-first-half kickoff was a disaster. He didn’t get it to the landing zone, giving Green Bay primo field position. One blown coverage later, it was 14-3 at halftime. Field position matters. Especially when you’re already chasing points with an offense stuck in neutral.
The Real Killer: Death by a Thousand Screwups
This game wasn’t about one guy. It wasn’t even about one side of the ball. It was a total team letdown:
- Offense was invisible for 30 minutes
- Defense got torched deep
- Special teams gave up free points
- Coaching decisions killed momentum
- The quarterback couldn’t close the deal
And that’s how you blow the most important game of your season.
FInal Verdict
The Bears still control their playoff fate, but the road just got a hell of a lot bumpier. The rematch with Green Bay looms in Week 16. This team better fix its secondary, figure out third downs, and decide who this team truly is.
Because if not? This won’t be the last time they choke in a winnable game.
