The Green Bay Packers suffered a second consecutive defeat to a divisional opponent to end the 2024 season, losing 24-22 to the Chicago Bears on a 51-yard field goal as time expired to fall to 11-6 and secure a trip to Philadelphia to play the Eagles in the first round of the NFC playoffs.
The Packers lost Jordan Love in the first half to what appears to be a minor elbow injury. The news sounds more ominous on Christian Watson, who left with a non-contact knee injury.
Here is an instant analysis of the Packers’ loss to the Bears in Week 18:
Final score: Bears 24, Packers 22
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| CHI (5-12) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
| GB (11-6) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 22 |
Live scoring
First quarter
CHI 7, GB 0: Josh Blackwell 94-yard punt return (6:34)
CHI 7, GB 3: Brandon McManus 37-yard field goal (2:24)
Second quarter
CHI 14, GB 3: D’Andre Swift 4-yard run (14:17)
CHI 14, GB 10: Josh Jacobs 9-yard run (11:12)
CHI 14, GB 13: Brandon McManus 30-yard field goal (1:57)
Fourth quarter
CHI 21, GB 13: D.J. Moore 32-yard catch (10:02)
CHI 21, GB 19: Emanuel Wilson 21-yard run (4:28)|
GB 22, CHI 21: Brandon McManus 55-yard field goal (0:54)
CHI 24, GB 22: Cairo Santos 51-yard field goal (0:00)
It was over when…
… Cairo Santos connected on a 51-yard field goal as time expired. The Bears only had a shot at a field goal after Caleb Williams hit D.J. Moore for an 18-yard completion on 3rd-and-11. The Bears clocked the ball with two seconds left, setting up the field goal.
Game balls
Offense — WR Malik Heath: His leaping 41-yard catch on 3rd-and-21 kept the Packers alive in the fourth quarter. He finished with three catches for a team-high 53 receiving yards.
Defense — CB Keisean Nixon: The do-it-all corner had a pair of tackles for loss.
Special teams — K Brandon McManus: The veteran kicker nailed a 55-yard field goal in frigid temps to give the Packers a 22-21 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Key stat
5.8: Jordan Love averaged only 5.8 yards per attempt before exiting with an injury. He completed 7 of 12 passes for only 69 yards. The Packers didn’t convert a third down through the air while Love was in the game. The passing game is struggling entering the postseason.
Deciding factor
End of game situations: The Packers made costly errors late in the game. Matt LaFleur admitted he make a mistake calling timeout before Brandon McManus’ go-ahead field goal, explaining he was caught off guard when the Packers lost yards on third down. Later, with the Bears facing 3rd-and-11 with 15 seconds left, the Packers allowed D.J. Moore to make an easy catch and run for 18 yards to set up a spike and the final field goal. Better execution or decision-making in either scenario and the Packers would have won the game.
Jordan Love watch
Love was on the field for only five series before exiting with an elbow injury. He completed seven passes, and the Packers scored only three points. Given three different chances to extend drives on third down, Love went 1-for-3 for three yards.
Play of the game
Malik Heath’s incredible catch on 3rd-and-forever kept the Packers in the game in the fourth quarter. Down eight points and faced with punting the ball back to the Bears, Malik Heath gave Heath a chance one-on-one deep, and Heath leapt to make the big-time catch. One play later, Emanuel Wilson bounced outside to score a 21-yard touchdown.
Injury updates
Quarterback Jordan Love left with an elbow injury and didn’t return, although he could have re-entered the game. Receiver Christian Watson has what is feared to be a significant knee injury.
What’s next
A new season, and a fresh start. The Packers are headed to Philadelphia to play the No. 2 seeded Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round. Green Bay lost to Philadelphia in Brazil to open the season. Can the Packers get revenge in the City of Brotherly Love?