NFC North: Packers have another early exit from NFL postseason

Posted by Admin January 13, 2025 Sports

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When Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos hit the game-winning field goal in Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers, it was bittersweet. It was sweet because the Bears finally beat the Packers. It was bitter because Green Bay was going to the NFL postseason with a chance to compete for the Super Bowl and Chicago was done.

However, after Wild Card Weekend, the Packers are already out after playing just one more game than the Bears. They were defeated on the road by the Philadelphia Eagles, 22-10, where things went from bad to worse. Now, Green Bay has the same number of playoff wins as Chicago this season: Zero.

The Packers fumbled the football on the opening kickoff and things went downhill from there. Although running back Josh Jacobs was good, the rest of their offense, led by quarterback Jordan Love, didn’t look good at all. They channeled their inner Bears by scoring zero points in the first half of the game. In the second half, they put 10 points on the board, and that was it.

The Packers are a tick ahead of the Bears when it comes to the development of the franchise, but we have seen this season that it might not be by as much as people think. Both teams went 1-5 in the daunting NFC North slate and Chicago had a better point differential (by one) against division rivals. Love also turns the ball over a ton, which is something that Caleb Williams didn’t do as much.

The Bears have a lot of things to address during the offseason but the needs are pretty obvious. As for Green Bay, they have to figure out exactly what it is that will help them get over the hump. They have been good in the regular season for a couple of years in a row now, but eventually, they want to get to the NFC Championship at minimum.

As for the rest of the teams in the division, two of them remain. The Detroit Lions had a bye week during Wild Card Weekend due to winning the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Minnesota Vikings, despite winning 14 games in the regular season, have to play a road game on Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams.

In most seasons, Bears fans don’t have a lot to look forward to. Most of the time, the final greatest moment of each season is the day that the Packers are eliminated. That day has come, now Chicago can enjoy the rest of the postseason with no agenda.