Green Bay rips the North lead from Chicago with a goal line pick. Keisean Nixon read it, stole it, and slammed the door with 22 seconds left. The Packers survived the Bears 28-21 at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, and the entire NFC North just shifted.
The Play That Changed the Race
Fourth and 1. End zone. Season pressure in the air. Chicago lined up to tie the game, and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams tried to strike. He fired to the front of the end zone. Nixon squatted on the route, beat the ball to the spot, and cradled the interception. Game over. Division lead, switched.
This was not luck. Nixon showed patience at the snap, then attacked the throwing lane. He trusted his eyes, and the leverage from the inside helped him seal it. The Bears put the ball in their rookie’s hands, and the Packers put the game in theirs. Green Bay’s corner won the moment.
With the win, Green Bay is 9-3-1 and first in the NFC North. Chicago falls to 9-4 and slides in the playoff order.
Love, Watson, and a Finishing Punch
Jordan Love played with calm control. He threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He was not rattled by pressure, and he moved defenders with his eyes. You could feel his command grow with each drive.
Christian Watson gave him speed and space. He caught two touchdown passes and stressed Chicago’s corners with vertical routes. When the Bears pressed up, Watson stacked and won at the catch point. When they played off, Green Bay took easy yards and stayed ahead of the sticks.
Then, when the night narrowed, the Packers leaned on power. Josh Jacobs pounded in a two yard touchdown run late in the fourth. That score put Green Bay ahead for good. The line fired off. The back finished. It was simple football, done with force.
Chicago’s Rally, Then the Sting
Do not ignore what the rookie did. Williams answered a hostile road setting and led a second half push. He threw two touchdowns and kept plays alive with smart pocket movement. He found windows late and drove his team to the doorstep.
But one snap defines nights like this. Fourth and 1 is a conflict down. Chicago chose to throw. Green Bay disguised, squeezed the first read, and took the ball. Williams will learn from it. Timing and ball placement shrink at the goal line. The consequence is harsh when the defender wins leverage.
In tight red zone spots, the first look is rarely clean. Progression speed and placement decide everything.
What This Means Right Now
This was a two possession chess match, settled by one possession courage. The Packers showed finishing habits that travel. The Bears showed grit, but also a late game crack.
- Green Bay now controls the North and its tiebreak path.
- Chicago loses seeding position, and a home game in January gets harder.
- Both teams still own the division’s best point of attack play on defense.
- The rematch in twelve days just became a swing game for playoff routes.
Two Weeks to Soldier Field: Adjustments on Deck
The rivalry resets in Chicago on December 20. The stakes rise again. The tape gives each side a clear to-do list.
Packers tweaks to expect
Green Bay will double down on quick rhythm throws for Love. Expect more play action on early downs, plus motion to free Watson. The staff will likely repeat their late game run heavy look, but with more counters to punish over pursuit. On defense, they will keep mixing press with off coverage to cloud Williams’ first read. The key is disguises that hold until the snap, not after.
Bears fixes they need
Chicago has to clean up short yardage identity. Sneak, gap run, or a quick perimeter option, choose it and trust it. In the red zone, give Williams defined half field reads, and a built in throwaway. Defensively, the Bears must disrupt Love’s platform. Interior push forced him to hitch a few times. They need more of that. If they take away Watson’s free releases, the Packers’ spacing loses some bite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the final score?
A: Packers 28, Bears 21.
Q: What decided the game?
A: Keisean Nixon intercepted Caleb Williams in the end zone on fourth and 1 with 22 seconds left.
Q: How did Jordan Love play?
A: He threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns, and managed the game with poise.
Q: Who scored for Green Bay late?
A: Josh Jacobs powered in a two yard touchdown run that gave the Packers the lead.
Q: When is the rematch?
A: December 20 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Conclusion
The Packers seized a rivalry night and the division lead with one perfect read by Keisean Nixon. It was a clutch defensive play, a calm quarterback performance, and a bruising finish on the ground. The Bears showed heart, and a talented rookie showed flashes, but the margin for error was tiny. In two weeks, everything resets. The North crown, the playoff lanes, and the oldest fight in football will be on full display again. Football in December rarely gives second chances. This rivalry will. 🏈
