Bears try to regroup after latest
comeback attempt falls short in loss to Packers
[December 09, 2025]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears were threatening
to do it again, to pull out yet another tight victory just before
they ran out of time.
A last-minute interception in the end zone squashed the comeback and
sealed the latest gut-wrenching loss to the Green Bay Packers on
Sunday. But for all the focus on the way the game ended, the Bears
got off to another slow start. That's been an issue for them.
“We just didn’t start well enough," coach Ben Johnson said Monday.
"You've got to utilize all 60 minutes of your brand of football and
we dug ourselves into a hole and it certainly wasn’t where we want
to start that game.”
The Bears (9-4) came in rolling with five straight wins and nine in
their previous 10 games. They were looking for back-to-back
victories over the Packers, after beating them in last year's finale
at Lambeau Field to end an 11-game losing streak in the NFL's
longest-running rivalry. But the result was an all-too-familiar one
for them.
The loss not only dropped Chicago to second place in the NFC North
behind Green Bay (9-3-1), it knocked the Bears from the top seed to
seventh in a tight conference race. They host struggling Cleveland
next week before a rematch with the Packers at Soldier Field on Dec.
20.
What’s working
The offensive line. The Bears' blockers limited an aggressive Green
Bay defense led by Micah Parsons to one sack. They also pushed the
Packers around in the second half, creating openings in the run
game, particularly on the drive that led to the tying touchdown in
the fourth quarter. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined to
carry eight times for 53 yards on that possession.
What needs help
The Bears were able to contain Jalen Hurts and the Eagles'
playmakers in last week's win at Philadelphia. But it was a
different story against Green Bay.
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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams passes against the Green
Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday,
Dec. 7, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Jordan Love regrouped after a somewhat shaky start,
completing 17 of 25 passes for 234 yards and three long touchdowns.
On Green Bay's first possession, he got sacked by Montez Sweat for a
14-yard loss with the ball on the Chicago 38 and had a deep pass
intercepted by C.J. Gardner-Johnson on the next play. But Love also
burned the Bears, connecting with Christian Watson on 23-yard and
41-yard touchdowns and with Bo Melton on a 45-yard score.
Stock up
TE Colston Loveland. The No. 10 pick in this year's draft, Loveland
is tied for the lead among rookie tight ends with four touchdown
catches. His 1-yard TD in the fourth quarter tied it at 21-all.
Stock down
Williams. The second-year pro has delivered big late in games this
season, leading five fourth-quarter comebacks. The Bears were in
position to pull out another one in the closing minute, with the
ball at the 14. Monangai got stopped on third-and-1, and Williams
was intercepted in the end zone by Keisean Nixon with 22 seconds
remaining when he was late and underthrew Cole Kmet on a corner
route. The Bears ran a similar play the previous week at
Philadelphia, with Kmet hauling in a 28-yarder.
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