With significant stakes Sunday as they chased the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC, the Bears looked deficient and disinterested for most of their 19-16 loss to the Lions to close the regular season and finish 11-6. They solidified the No. 2 seed nonetheless thanks to the Eagles’ 24-17 loss to the Commanders and they’ll open the playoffs at home against the Packers.
“Good opponent and we’re evenly matched,” coach Ben Johnson said. “I expect it to be a very exciting game.”
The NFL will announce the date and time for the game Sunday night.
If the Bears beat the Packers, they would advance to the divisional round and play at home.
With a potential Bears-Eagles rematch — the Bears won in Philadelphia in November — ahead in the playoffs, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni sat his starters against the struggling Commanders.
They and the Packers split two thrilling games during the regular season, both in December. The Packers held on for 28-21 win at Lambeau Field when Keisean Nixon intercepted a pass from Caleb Williams in the end zone, while the Bears rallied furiously for a 22-16 overtime win at Soldier Field —capped by Williams’ 46-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore for the victory.
It will be the Bears’ first time in the playoffs since making it as a wild card at 8-8 in 2020, when they lost at the Saints in the first round, and their first home playoff game since the 2018 season. The Bears lost to the Eagles in the first round in that one.
They have faced the Packers in the playoffs just twice: in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field in the 2010 season and at Wrigley Field in 1941 in the divisional round. The Packers won the more recent game, while the Bears won in ’41, and both teams went on to win a championship in those seasons.
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