Packers coach Matt LaFleur talks about the overtime loss to the Bears
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he was proud of the effort, but disappointed in the outcome after the late game collapse to the Bears.
The Green Bay Packers took a heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Bears on Dec. 20, but thanks to some help from an old friend, their chances of making the playoffs are still quite strong.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 266 yards and a touchdown as the Pittsburgh Steelers left Detroit with an 29-24 win, a victory that essentially puts the Packers on the doorstep of a playoff spot. The Packers need to simply win one of their final two regular-season games, or see Detroit lose one of their two final, to clinch at least the No. 7 spot in the NFC.
Detroit nearly stole the game away from the Steelers, scoring touchdowns on two occasions that were negated by offensive pass interference, including one on the final play of the game.
The New York Times playoff simulator puts the Packers’ odds of making the playoffs at 94% after the Lions loss.
Kenneth Gainwell scores a ridiculous Steelers touchdown on a catch that was initially ruled incomplete.
Tony Romo was all over this one (beginning with the Aaron Rodgers pass going to Gainwell, and then nailing the catch/TD). 🏈🎙️ #NFL pic.twitter.com/gFNuC7qALy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 21, 2025
What the odds don’t consider, of course, is that the Packers are hobbled, with both quarterbacks battling an injury after the overtime setback against the Bears. Meanwhile, next week’s opponent, the Baltimore Ravens (7-7), remain in the hunt for a playoff spot heading into their battle against the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.
The Steelers will be pulling for the Packers to return the favor in that Week 17 game, with the teams competing for the AFC North.
Green Bay closes the season against a suddenly hot Minnesota Vikings team (7-8) that has won three straight games.
The Lions (8-7) play the Vikings next week, then close the season against the Bears (11-4). The Packers would be eliminated if they lose their final two games and the Lions win their final two.
The Packers can still win the division and host a first-round playoff game, but it now requies the Bears to lose twice more and the Packers to win their final two games. The New York Times has the odds of that happening at 8%.
Rodgers invoked a couple memorable Packers plays at the end of the first half against the Lions, connecting on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Gainwell with two seconds on the clock. Gainwell was on the ground when he made the catch, then ran untouched to the end zone, an unwitting homage to the Antonio Freeman catch on Monday Night Football in 2000.
It happened to get scored in the same end zone where Rodgers threw a famous 61-yard Hail Mary pass to beat the Lions in 2015.