Packers Hold Off Bears, Jump to First Place in NFC North

date: 2025-12-08 02:06:00,

By Kevin Fishbain, Dan Wiederer, Matt Schneidman and Darnell Mayberry

Jordan Love threw for three touchdown passes while the Green Bay Packers hung on to beat the Chicago Bears 28-21 on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon sealed the win by intercepting a pass by Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in the end zone in the closing seconds.

Green Bay (9-3-1) moved into first place in the NFC North, ahead of the Bears, after snapping Chicago’s five-game winning streak. Packers wide receiver Christian Watson caught two touchdown receptions, and running back Josh Jacobs scored the go-ahead score on a 2-yard run with 3:32 remaining.

These teams will meet again Saturday, Dec. 20, in Chicago.

Packers back atop NFC North

The Packers haven’t won the NFC North since 2021. Their three-year absence atop the division is their longest since 2008-2010. Green Bay hasn’t gone four consecutive years without winning the division since 1998-2001. After beating the Bears on Sunday, the Packers now leapfrog Chicago to sit atop the NFC North entering Week 15. The Packers went 1-5 in the division last year, but they’re now 4-0 with two wins against the Detroit Lions and one each against the Minnesota Vikings and Bears. Remaining on the Packers’ schedule are a visit to the Denver Broncos, a visit to the Bears, a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field and a visit to the Vikings. — Matt Schneidman, Packers beat writer

Watson emerges as Love’s go-to

The last time Watson faced the Bears, he tore his ACL. Now, seven games into his return, Watson continues to prove how important he is to the Packers’ offense. The fourth-year receiver caught four passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. On his second, Watson caught a slant and, according to Next Gen Stats, hit 21.6 mph while outrunning C.J. Gardner-Johnson for the score. Watson now has five touchdown catches in the past four games and has emerged as Love’s top target on a team without a true No. 1 wide receiver. — Schneidman

Nixon shines when it matters most

Nixon has been far from perfect in his first year as Green Bay’s true No. 1 cornerback, and his penalties have been abundant, including Sunday, but he made the biggest play of the season to ice Sunday’s win. Williams rolled out on fourth-and-1 from the Packers’ 14-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining and lofted the ball toward tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone. Williams short-armed it, and Nixon skied for the game-winning interception to send the Packers atop the division. For now. — Schneidman

Inconsistency mars Bears offense

Williams missed his first five passes. He was 4-of-12 passing at halftime — one of those incomplete passes was a nice ball that tight end Colston Loveland should have held on to, but the Bears’ lackluster passing game started Sunday in a funk. It’s the type of deficit most Bears teams can’t dig out of, but the offense deserves credit for tying the score and putting itself in a position to win. Williams went 13-of-19 passing over the next three scoring drives, which included some special throws on the run, but an inconsistent passing game continues to be a team weakness.

And then, on the final play of the game, Williams had Kmet in the end zone, but he was late and underthrew it, leading to an interception and the end of the win streak. In games against teams like the Packers, who can score quickly and with ease, off-target passes become more consequential. The second-half success showed the potential, and the off-script throws are impressive, but the Bears can’t live in that type of offense. There will also be questions about some of the play calling in the first half and why it took a while to commit to the ground game, which had success in the second half. These games are won and lost on the margins, and a 3-point first half proved too much to overcome. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears beat writer

Bears’ grit on full display

There should be no more questioning the competitive resolve of the Bears. No more concerns about their ability to adjust within a game. No more fears about their ability to compete with the top-tier teams in the league. Sure, the Bears’ five-game winning streak was snapped Sunday evening at Lambeau Field. And with this 28-21 loss to the rival Packers, they fell from the top spot in the NFC all the way to No. 7. This one hurts, no doubt. And in all three phases, the Bears will face a game review Monday that will sting maybe more than any this season. Particularly with Sunday’s gut-wrenching finish: a Williams interception in the final minute on a pass into the end zone to Kmet that was thrown much too late.

Still, in rallying out of a 14-3 halftime deficit and finding ways to jump-start a sputtering offense in the second half, the Bears proved they are equipped for the stretch run of a pressure-packed regular season. And beyond. — Dan Wiederer, Bears beat writer

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Game recap: Packers vs. Bears (December 8, 2025)

• Final Score: Green Bay Packers 24, Chicago bears 21
• Location: Lambeau Field, green Bay, WI
• Critical Moments:

1. 2nd Quarter: Jordan Love connected with Marquez Valdes‑smith for a 37‑yard touchdown, giving the Packers a 14‑7 lead.
2. 4th Quarter: Bears rallied with a 45‑yard field goal, narrowing the gap to 24‑21.
3. Final Drive: Love orchestrated a 6‑play, 68‑yard drive, culminating in a 12‑yard rushing touchdown by Aaron Jones with 1:38 left on the clock.

Key Statistics & Player Highlights

Category	Packers	Bears
Total Yards	382	357
Passing Yards	258 (Love)	210 (Justin Fields)
Rushing Yards	124 (jones 78, Love 16)	147 (Darnell Mooney 62)
Turnovers	1 (interception)	2 (fumble, interception)
Time of Possession	31:22	28:38
Third‑Down Conversions	7/13 (54%)	5/12 (42%)

– Jordan Love: 22/30, 258 yd, 2 TD, 1 INT – 93 % passer rating.

• Aaron Jones: 18 carries,78 yd,1 TD – 4.3 yd/carry.
• David Bakhtiari: 6‑yard sack and 2 pressures on Fields.

Impact on NFC North Standings

• Packers: 7‑2 4‑0 in NFC North – first place.
• Bears: 5‑4 2‑2 in division – fall to third.
• Vikings: 6‑3 3‑1 in division – remain second.
• Lions: 4‑5 1‑3 in division – fourth place.

Standings Snapshot (as of Dec 8, 2025)

1. Green Bay Packers – 7‑2 (4‑0 NFC N)
2. Minnesota Vikings – 6‑3 (3‑1 NFC N)
3. Chicago Bears – 5‑4 (2‑2 NFC N)
4. Detroit Lions – 4‑5 (1‑3 NFC N)

Strategic Insights: How Green Bay Secured the Win

1. Balanced Attack: 58 % of total yards came from the ground, keeping the Bears defense honest.
2. Defensive Pressure: Bakhtiari’s sack and three hurries forced Fields into two turnovers, shifting momentum.
3. Red Zone efficiency: Packers converted 2 of 3 trips inside the 20‑yard line, while Bears settled for a field goal on one possibility.
4. Clock Management: A sustained 7‑play drive in the final quarter ate 3:12 off the clock, limiting Chicago’s comeback chances.

Coaching Adjustments (Mike McCarthy)

• Two‑Minute Drill: Implemented a no‑hail Mary approach, emphasizing short, high‑percentage passes to set up the run.
• Defensive Scheme Shift: Switched from a 4‑3 to a 3‑4 nickel package on third down,creating extra pass‑rushing lanes.

Implications for the Playoff Race

• Packers: securing the NFC North lead guarantees a home‑field advantage through at least the first two playoff rounds, assuming they maintain a sub‑.500 conference record.
• Wild Card Outlook: Chicago now requires a minimum 3‑0 run to keep wild‑card hopes alive, while green Bay can afford a modest slip before clinching the division.

Fantasy Football Takeaways

• Jordan Love: +5 projected points for the week; likely to exceed his average QB ceiling given the 258 passing yards.
• Aaron Jones: High‑volume carries and a TD push him into the top‑10 RB tier for the next three weeks.
• Defensive Picks: Bakhtiari’s sack makes him a viable streaming option for DST managers targeting a +2‑3 point boost.

Fan Reaction & Social Media Pulse

• Twitter Hashtag: #PackersFirst – over 38,000 mentions within the first hour.
• Key Sentiment: Fans praised the “resilient fourth‑quarter drive” and highlighted Love’s poise under pressure.
• Local Media: Milwaukee journal Sentinel highlighted the “return to dominance in the NFC North” and cited the win as “the catalyst for a potential Super Bowl run.”

past Context: Packers‑Bears Rivalry Milestones

• all‑Time Record (2025): Packers 123-103-6 vs. Bears.
• Last Division Lead: Green Bay last topped the NFC North in Week 12 of the 2023 season.
• Playoff Implications: This victory marks the Packers’ first outright division crown since the 2022 season.

Practical Tips for Packers Supporters

1. Game‑Day Apparel: Wear the new 2025 “North Star” jersey (green/gold) to show support at home games.
2. Ticket Strategies: Early‑bird season tickets guarantee access to potential playoff games at Lambeau Field.
3. Streaming Options: ESPN+ and NFL Game pass provide live coverage and on‑demand replays for the Bears matchup.

Fast Reference: Pack‑Bears Game Summary

1. Final Score: 24‑21 (Packers)
2. Key Players: Jordan Love (QB), Aaron Jones (RB), Marquez Valdes‑Smith (WR), David Bakhtiari (DE)
3. Turnover Margin: +1 (Packers)
4. division Impact: Packers move to 1st in NFC North, 4‑0 division record

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Source: CBS Sports – Green Bay Packers news & stats, 2025 NFL season.