Packers vs. Bears, Wild Card 2025: Losing to Them Is the Part That Hurts the Most

There are playoff losses that you can accept. And then there are losses that linger with you. The 2025 Wild Card defeat against the Chicago Bears was definitely the latter. Not just because the season came to an end, that’s something that happens every year to all but one team. But because it ended this way, against them, in a game that meant more than just a win-or-go-home situation.

For Packers fans, this loss felt more than just a game. It felt personal.

A Night That Slipped Away

For a time, it seemed like everything was going perfectly. The Packers went into halftime leading 21–3, completely in control, playing with confidence, rhythm, and swagger. It looked like one of those nights, the kind where the rivalry swings back in our favor and January is ours.

And that’s what makes what happened next so difficult to accept.

The second half told a totally different story. The aggression faded. The margin for error decreased. Slowly, almost silently, the game began to shift. A stalled drive here. A defensive mistake there. What once felt secure became delicate.

That’s what hurts the most. This wasn’t a game where the Packers were outplayed from the beginning. They had it. They built the lead. They controlled the pace. And then, piece by piece, they let it slip away.

Chicago seized every opportunity. Green Bay couldn’t stop the momentum. And before it fully sank in, a 21–3 lead had transformed into a 31–27 loss that will stick with us far longer than the final score.

Losing the Rivalry Game Hurts Different

Losing in the playoffs is always painful. Losing to the Bears in the playoffs feels like reopening an old wound.

For years, Packers fans have comfortably lived in the legacy of this rivalry. We’ve seen significant moments go our way more often than not. We’ve watched Chicago talk about “turning the corner” only to hit the same wall. That’s why this loss feels so much worse. For once, they were the ones celebrating, and there’s no historical cushion to make it easier. There’s no comfort in thinking, "we’ll get them next time." No regular-season rematch to look forward to.

Just silence.

Where the Game Was Lost

This wasn’t about effort. No one can doubt that. It was about how well they executed under pressure, something Green Bay usually takes pride in.

The Bears played more freely in the second half. They seemed like the team with less at stake, and in a rivalry game, that makes a difference. They converted when it mattered. They stayed disciplined. They didn’t give Green Bay extra opportunities.

On the other hand, Green Bay couldn’t finish. Drives that needed just one first down fell short. Defensive possessions that required a stop didn’t deliver. In January, against a rival, those moments are everything.

What This Loss Means Going Forward

As hard as it is to say, this loss makes us think. Not panic. Not overreact. Just think. The Packers are still built with the future in mind. This loss doesn’t change that. But it does remind us that rivalry games don’t care about plans or timelines. They require presence. Precision. Ruthlessness.

Chicago had that advantage on this night.

The Part That Lingers

What hurts the most isn’t just that the season is over. It’s knowing this game will be remembered in Bears highlight reels and rivalry discussions for years to come. It’s hearing “remember when” instead of saying it.

As a Packers fan, you eventually come to terms with playoff losses. But you never fully accept this one.

Because losing to the Bears in January isn’t just a loss, it’s a reminder that in the NFL, no history is secure unless you keep earning it.

And this time, Green Bay didn’t.