The Chicago Bears scored 25 fourth-quarter points to rally past the Green Bay Packers for a 31-27 victory in a Wild-Card Weekend game on Saturday night.
The Bears trailed by 15 points entering the final period, but for the seventh time this season scored the winning points in the final two minutes.
Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DJ Moore with 1:43 remaining, and though Green Bay got to the Bears 23-yard line in the closing seconds, the Packers did not reach the end zone.
The teams squared off for the third time in five weeks. During the regular season, Green Bay defeated Chicago 28-21 on Dec. 7 and the Bears defeated the Packers 22-16 in overtime on Dec. 20.
Williams completed 24-of-48 passes for 361 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Both touchdown passes and 184 of the passing yards came in the fourth quarter.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 24-of-46 passes for 323 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Love threw three TD passes in the first half, when Green Bay built a 21-3 lead.
Packers kicker Brandon McManus missed a field-goal attempt and an extra point in the fourth quarter.
Four players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Green Bay-Chicago game:
Packers cornerback Trevon Diggs (Alabama) made one tackle.Bears tight end Qadir Ismail (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Josh Jacobs (Alabama) started at running back for the Packers. Jacobs ran for 55 yards on 19 carries and caught a 3-yard pass. After Chicago cut Green Bay’s lead to 21-16, the Packers used Jacobs to return a kickoff for the first time in his career. He took it back 33 yards but fumbled. Green Bay recovered the football at its 46-yard line and went on to score its only second-half points. Jacobs returned Chicago’s next kickoff 28 yards.Xavier McKinney (Alabama) started at safety for the Packers. McKinney made five tackles and broke up two passes.Packers defensive back Jaylin Simpson (Auburn) was designated as a game-day inactive.Packers quarterback Malik Willis (Auburn) dressed for the game but did not play.Colby Wooden (Auburn) started at defensive tackle for the Packers. Wooden made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.
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The No. 7 seed in the seven-team NFC postseason field, Green Bay lost its final five games. The Packers went 9-7-1 in the regular season.
After an 11-6 regular-season showing, Chicago will play at home in the second round. The second-seeded Bears will play the Los Angeles Rams if the San Francisco 49ers beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. If the Eagles win, then Chicago will play Philadelphia.