CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams shined in his playoff debut, throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore with 1:43 left, and the Chicago Bears overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 on Saturday night in the NFC Wild Card Round.
The NFC North champion Bears extended their resurgent first season under coach Ben Johnson with their seventh fourth-quarter comeback win. Each had a very close game in the regular season, and this turned out to be an exciting matchup when it looked like it would be a walk in the park for the Packers.
Chicago trailed 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 at the end of the third quarter, only to outscore Green Bay 25-6 in the fourth quarter en route to its first playoff victory in 15 years.
Williams found Moore completely unmarked along the left sideline to give Chicago a 31-27 lead with 1:43 left.
Jordan Love then led Green Bay into Chicago territory, but on third down at the 28-yard line, Jaquan Brisker broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired, sparking celebration and subsequently a brief handshake between Johnson and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
The Bears will host a Divisional Round game next weekend.
