Packers vs. Bears III: All or Nothing

Photo Credit: Evan Siegle, packers.com

There’s no other way to put or describe this game between the Packers and Bears on Saturday night. All or Nothing.

If the Bears lose to the Packers will it be considered a losing season?

"Everything the Bears have accomplished, everything the Bears have done, every positive sentiment is gone if the Packers go in and end their season." - @stoolpresidente pic.twitter.com/7ndv5pcl45

— Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) January 5, 2026

 

Matt LaFleur put it best in one of his press conferences earlier this week. He said, “Ultimately it’s about what you do on that day.” That is exactly the case for Saturday’s game. The Packers have had the definition of a rollercoaster season, starting with two statement wins, a loss to the Browns, a tie against the Cowboys, to holding the one seed in the NFC, season-ending injuries to key players, and ending the season on a 4-game losing streak (oof).

This game against the Bears is a chance to wipe the slate clean for the Packers this season. Starting with Matt LaFleur, who has now guided this Packers team post-Aaron Rodgers to the playoffs three years in a row. There’s been a lot of talk about his future at 1265 Lombardi Avenue following this season, let alone this game. The main thing should be this, regardless of what you think of Matt LaFleur’s future after this season, we should be praying to the heavens that the Packers win on Saturday against the Bears. I don’t even wanna, but can you imagine an entire Packers offseason after a playoff loss to the Bears? There’s no other way to describe that scenario than hell on earth.

The buzz around Matt LaFleur’s future so far this week from Packers nation is gross. We have a playoff game on Saturday.

We should be supporting and hyping up this guy, let alone this Packers team to victory this week. They have a very good shot to win against the Bears…

— Frenchy (@StoolFrenchy) January 6, 2026

 

Now, we aren’t gonna be a negative nelly this entire blog. The Packers have a legitimate shot to beat the Bears on Saturday. This team is as healthy as they have been in months (with 15 players on IR, most recently Bo Melton). Josh Jacobs said it himself that he hasn’t felt as good as he does now in six weeks since he injured his knee on the MetLife concrete they call a field.

Josh Jacobs: “This is the best I’ve felt in six weeks.”

The Packers running back has been dealing with a swollen and stiff knee. First time he’s been off the injury report since mid-November.

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 7, 2026

 

Zach Tom is another key player who has been injured for almost the entirety of this season who is now as healthy as he’s been since week one. Tom is an all-pro tackle when at his best, and with him on the field against a bland Bears pass rush, Jordan Love should have plenty of time in the pocket. We say it every week, but it’s the truth, the offensive line needs to set the tone early in this game. There’s no doubt this game is going to be chippy due to the nature of the rivalry. Protecting Jordan Love and bringing physicality to this game should be a big priority going into Saturday. This brings me to my next point, Jordan Love.

Packers With/Without Zach Tom.

Games started and finished:

Team Overall Offensive @PFF grade: 74.4
Team Pass Blocking Grade: 69.2
Team Run Blocking Grade: 61.9

Games without Tom

Team Overall Offensive @PFF grade: 67.2
Team Pass Blocking Grade: 51.1
Team Run Blocking Grade:… pic.twitter.com/MMmMt5fVHD

— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) January 7, 2026

 

The facts are the facts, and they don’t care about your feelings. Jordan Love hasn’t lost to the Bears in his career when he plays the entire game. Love was at one point top three in odds to win MVP this season. The haters saying this guy is having a bad year are just flat-out wrong. The Jordan Love hate is so forced simply because of the ridiculous standards of playing quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Pressure is a privilege. Just check out the stats below, it may not be 40 touchdowns, but he’s clearly made a jump this season.

With Jordan Love officially done for the regular season, here is his progression.

2023: 64.2%, 4,159 yards, 32 TD, 11 INT, 96.1 rating.
2024: 63.1%, 3,389 yards, 25 TD, 11 INT, 96.7 rating.
2025: 66.3%, 3,381 yards, 23 TD, 6 INT, 101.2 rating.

A pretty clear Year 3 jump.

— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) January 1, 2026

 

On top of that, the Bears secondary has lived on turnovers, and Love has only thrown six so far this season. One of the key ingredients to victory? Don’t turn it over.

The Packers’ defense doesn’t get a pass this weekend, neither does Jeff Hafley. They are going to have to play one of, if not their best game of the season against a Bears offense that has been functioning in every facet. I am a Caleb Williams hater, I won’t deny that. You cannot deny that he has made positive progressions this season under Ben Johnson. Still, and I know this is like beating a dead horse with a stick, the defensive line needs to step up in this game. They will be a determining factor in this game if they can stop the run, create “some” pressure, and keep Caleb Williams in the pocket. Yes, keep him in the pocket. Regardless of how well Williams has progressed this season, his completion percentage is still below average at 58.1%. Bring in the factor of playoff pressure, and we will truly see if the “iceman” truly has ice in his veins.

The Packers corners are going to need to step up their game and not take the bait that Ben Johnson is going to toss their way when calling plays for this Bears offense. Another factor that is going unnoticed is that Evan Williams didn’t play in the last meeting between these two teams. Williams has been great in coverage this season while also filling holes in the run game. Watch out for him.

Matt LaFleur describes Evan Williams as another quarterback on the field. The second year safety is smart, has caught on quickly and was greatly missed in the last meeting vs. the #Bears in Chicago: #Packers pic.twitter.com/DkUnwCPzuj

— Lance Allan (@lanceallan) January 7, 2026

 

This game just means more. Packers vs. Bears is always special, but in the playoffs? There is no rivalry you can compare that matches the energy and hate between these two teams and their fanbases. 

It’s all or nothing on Saturday night for these two teams. Most people would probably say the Packers have more pressure on them to win in this one, and I agree. The Bears have clearly exceeded expectations that were set for them before this season.

As for the Packers? The regular season was clearly disappointing, but that’s the beauty of the playoffs because now the slate is clean. If the Packers win, all their sins will be forgiven, and then we are looking at house money against a great Seattle Seahawks team next weekend. BUT! They need to take care of business on Saturday night, in what is probably the most important game in the Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love era of Green Bay Packers football.

Real Packer Fans Know🧀