This week we’re back with thoughts and a recap of the Bears’ Dominant win over the Eagles. The season pulse check and recalibration of where we are now vs previous expectations. Finally, Bears vs. Packers preview, top 3 storylines, top 3 matchups to watch, game predictions, and so much more.
Bears vs. Eagles Recap
Bears 24, Eagles 15 – A Statement Win in Philly
Last Friday marked a seminal moment for the 2025-26 Chicago Bears. If you’re still wondering whether the Bears are for real, Friday night answered that question with authority.
The Tone-Setter: Ground and Pound
Ben Johnson’s offense didn’t just run the ball—they owned the trenches. Chicago racked up 281 rushing yards on 40 carries, averaging 6.0 yards per attempt. Two backs went over 100 yards for the first time since Walter Payton and Matt Suhey in 1985:
- Kyle Monangai: 22 carries, 130 yards, 1 TD
- D’Andre Swift: 18 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD
Against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that came in allowing 115 rush yards per game, the Bears more than doubled that. This was old-school football with a modern twist—motion, misdirection, and physicality.
Caleb Williams: Efficient, Not Flashy
Williams didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he made the throws when it mattered:
- 17/36, 154 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Key play: A 28-yard strike to Cole Kmet off play-action to put the game out of reach at 24-9 in the fourth quarter.
His QBR wasn’t pretty (56.9), but this game wasn’t about air yards—it was about controlling tempo and protecting the football after the pick. Please note Ben Johnson is not asking Caleb Williams to be Drew Brees when it comes to completion percentage; rather, he is asking him to simply command and execute the offense.
Defense: Opportunistic and Nasty
The Bears defense forced two turnovers against an Eagles team that had committed just six all season. The turning point was Nahshon Wright stripping Jalen Hurts on a tush-push at the 12-yard line—a play nobody stops. That takeaway flipped momentum and led to Monangai’s touchdown drive.
Chicago held Philly to 317 total yards, and while A.J. Brown went off (10 catches, 132 yards, 2 TDs), the Bears kept everything else in check. Saquon Barkley had a measly 56 yards on 13 carries. Jalen Hurts left the contest with 230 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT, but zero impact on the ground.
Analytics Snapshot
- Time of Possession: Bears 39:18 vs. Eagles 20:42
- Total Plays: Bears 85 vs. Eagles 51
- EPA per Rush: +0.23 (Chicago) vs. -0.05 (Philly)
- Success Rate on Runs: 58% for Chicago—elite territory.
- Third Down Efficiency: Bears 7/15 (46%), Eagles 3/10 (30%).
This wasn’t luck. It was dominance in the most sustainable phase of football: the run game.
The Bigger Picture
Chicago improves to 9-3, winners of five straight, and sits alone atop the NFC North. They’ve won 9 of their last 10 and now head to Lambeau for a Week 14 showdown with the hated Green Bay Packers. The Eagles have dropped two straight and suddenly look mortal at 8-4.
Ben Johnson said it best: “The team that made the least mistakes was going to win. That fell in our favor.” Translation: The Bears are disciplined, physical, and confident—and that’s a dangerous combination in December.
Season Pulse Check: The Bears Just Announced Themselves
Friday, November 28th, 2025, wasn’t just another win—it was a seismic shift. The Chicago Bears walked into Lincoln Financial Field and punched the defending Super Bowl champs in the mouth. That’s not hyperbole. That’s 2,546 days of frustration, doubt, and “maybe next year” finally boiling over. The last time a Bears win felt this big? December 9th, 2018, when they humbled the LA Rams and announced themselves as contenders. This one? Bigger. Louder. More defiant.
Because this wasn’t a fluke. This was a prove-it game, and the Bears proved it.
If you told me back in September that Chicago would be sitting atop the NFC at 9-3 heading into December, I’d have laughed you out of the room. But here we are. This season has been electric—every Sunday feels like the Bears are never out of it. Why? Start with Ben Johnson. His offensive scheming has been surgical. Add Ryan Poles, who rebuilt the offensive line into a fortress. Sprinkle in Caleb Williams, who’s growing into Johnson’s system like it was custom-built for him. And don’t forget the defense—turnovers, swagger, and a nasty edge.
So where do they go from here? My preseason prediction had them clawing for the last NFC playoff spot. That’s cute now. After Philly, this team is legit. They’re bought in. They dominate the run game—and that travels. Rain, snow, hostile crowds—it doesn’t matter. A run game like this is the backbone of any Super Bowl caliber offense. Can the Bears make the Super Bowl? Absolutely. Nobody has bullied Vic Fangio’s Eagles defense like Chicago just did. Nobody.
Realistic expectations? Win the division. Make the playoffs. And make noise.
Detroit? They’ve been stumbling—two steps forward, one step back. The Bears need to split with them, and that Week 18 showdown at Soldier Field could be for the crown. Minnesota? Irrelevant. That Week 1 loss stings, but it’s a footnote now. Green Bay? Always personal. A split is the floor; a sweep is a statement.
Here’s the gauntlet: Packers (away), Browns (home), Packers (home), 49ers (away), Lions (home). Five games. Win three, and you’re a division champ. Win four, and you’re an NFC title threat. My call? 4-1. The lone loss comes in San Francisco. And it starts with a win at Lambeau.
Let’s talk about why the Bears are about to walk into Green Bay and keep this train rolling.
Bears vs. Packers Preview
There’s nothing a Chicagoan despises more than the Green Bay Packers. You don’t even have to love football—one glimpse of that green and gold and you know you’re dealing with the worst kind of fan: an “owner.” Can’t recall a time any of these people actually made an executive decision for the franchise but okay buddy, you “own” your team. This game isn’t just big because of bragging rights; it’s big because the Bears-Packers rivalry is a cultural divide carved into the Midwest, and the oldest rivalry in the NFL.
For Chicago, Green Bay represents everything we’re not: a small-town team that somehow became the NFL’s golden child, living off decades of glory and a quarterback lineage that feels like a cruel joke to Bears fans. Every time Rodgers or Favre torched us, it wasn’t just a loss—it was a reminder of what we’ve lacked under center for generations. Chicago hates Green Bay because they’ve been the measuring stick we can’t seem to reach, the smug neighbor who never lets you forget their trophies.
But make no mistake—Green Bay has its own reasons to loathe Chicago. To them, the Bears are the self-proclaimed “Monsters of the Midway,” clinging to a dusty legacy and acting like the charter franchise still runs the league. Packer fans see Chicago as arrogant city slickers who look down on their small-town pride, and nothing fires them up more than knocking the big city off its pedestal. This is called Napoleon complex.
This rivalry is personal, fueled by history, heartbreak, and the stubborn pride of two fan bases who’d rather lose every other game than drop this one. For Bears fans, beating the Packers isn’t just a win—it’s redemption. For Packers fans, it’s proof that the kings of Titletown still own the Midwest.
Top Storylines You Need to Know
First place in the NFC North—rare stakes for this rivalry.
It’s been a minute since Bears-Packers mattered this much in December. Actually, scratch that—it’s been 24 years. The last time both teams were five-plus games over .500 this late was Dec. 9, 2001. The winner walks out with sole possession of the NFC North and a real shot at the No. 1 seed. And don’t forget—these two see each other again in two weeks in Chicago.
Green Bay’s owned the rivalry lately—four of the last five, and a 108–96–6 all-time edge—but Chicago finally broke the Lambeau curse in January, snapping an 11-game skid with that 24–22 win. Now, history’s on the line: the Bears have never won twice at Lambeau in the same calendar year. Ever. Additionally, it’s Caleb’s home away from home, he’s never lost at Lambeau.
Expect a classic cold-weather slugfest. Temps in the teens, some wind, no snow—conditions that shrink scoring and make ball security king. That’s where it gets fun: Bears lead the league at +17 in turnover margin, while the Packers have coughed it up just seven times all season. Two elite teams, two opposite philosophies. Possession and explosives will decide this one.
QB Showdown: Williams vs. Love on National TV
This one’s all about efficiency and mistake-free football. Jordan Love comes in scorching: 2,794 yards, 19 TDs, just 3 picks, completing 67% with a 104.3 rating—and fresh off NFC Offensive Player of the Week after torching Detroit for four scores. When Love plays clean, Green Bay doesn’t lose: 7–0 with zero turnovers, 3–0 when he stays upright.
Caleb Williams answers with his own brand of control: 2,722 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INT, plus 306 rushing yards and three scores. His calling card? Ball security—26 straight starts without a multi-INT game—and ice in his veins in the clutch with multiple game winning drives in his repertoire.
The chess match is fascinating: Chicago leans on play-action and screens to pop explosives, while Love shreds blitzes and thrives in clean pockets (one of the league best passer rating when unpressured). In sub-20° temps, it’s simple: the QB who converts third downs and red-zone chances without the killer mistake probably walks out with the North.
Turnover Chess: Monsters of the Midway vs. Lambeau Lockdown
Chicago’s defense is living that “bend-dont-break” life—NFL-best 26 takeaways, No. 1 in turnover margin at +17, thanks to a resurging ball-hawking secondary led by Kevin Byard III (6 INT) and Nahshon Wright (5 INT). Yeah, they’ll give up yards—bottom-tier in success rate and yards per play—but like a CTA train at rush hour, they’re coming fast when you least expect it. Make no mistake: if Jordan Love plays clean, it could be a long day for the Monsters of the Midway. If he doesn’t? Good luck to him against the most opportunistic defense in the league.
Green Bay’s the yin to that yang. Top-10 in points allowed, a defense that erases explosives, and an offense that treats turnovers like deep-dish without sausage—just doesn’t happen. Seven giveaways all season. At Lambeau, they’ve capped opponents at 13 points max. This is identity football: Chicago thrives on chaos, Green Bay on consistency. Expect a one-score grinder in the teens or twenties—classic NFC North, like a December stroll down Michigan Avenue with the wind in your face.
Top 3 Matchups to Watch For
Bears Ground-and-Pound vs. Lambeau’s Wall
Since the bye, Chicago’s run game has been a wagon—179.6 yards per game over eight contests, including that Philly demolition where D’Andre Swift (125) and Kyle Monangai (130) both cracked 125 in the same game for the first time in Bears history. That’s rare, physical football—like crushing a Portillo’s cake shake you didn’t think it was possible till you tried it. Heavy, sweet, and impossible to slow down once you start.
Green Bay’s front isn’t backing down. Top-10 against the run, and Micah Parsons’ move north has turned their pressure game into a nightmare for offensive coordinators. Losing Devonte Wyatt (ankle) hurts the interior, but Jeff Hafley’s scheme is disciplined—top-7 in EPA per rush against 11/12 personnel.
Expect Chicago to lean on wide zone, RPOs, and Caleb scrambles into space, while Green Bay counters with spill-and-fit rules, fast-flow linebackers like Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper, and plenty of pre-snap disguise.
Bottom line: Whoever wins early downs controls the script. In this rivalry, that’s the difference between cruising or getting stuck in gridlock.
Love & WR’s vs Chicago’s Ball-Hawks
Green Bay’s passing game is heating up. Top-13 in yardage, and over the last three weeks, they’ve cranked up the explosives—Jordan Love sits No. 1 in EPA per play since Week 11. Dontayvion Wicks popped off on Thanksgiving, and Christian Watson’s finally flashing post-injury. Translation: they’re hunting big plays.
Chicago’s defense? It’s a mixed bag. No. 25 in explosive plays allowed, No. 29 in pressure rate—even with a top-10 blitz rate. That means quarterbacks are getting time, and when they do, those deep and intermediate windows open.
But don’t sleep on the Bears’ ball skills—they lead the league in INT%. Jaylon Johnson is still the alpha when healthy, a true lockdown defender, and Kyler Gordon has tightened up the slot. Johnson’s 2024 tape was elite—just 32 catches on 53 targets, two scores allowed, and a 15.1% ball-hawk rate. Injuries have limited him to two games this year, but he’s still the guy. Behind him, Kevin Byard III (6 INTs) and Nahshon Wright (5 INTs) are turnover machines—but they gamble, leaving space for crossers and deep digs.
Bottom line: Love wants fireworks, Chicago wants takeaways. Whoever lands the haymaker first might win the day.
Red Zone & Money Downs: Bears’ Play-Action/Scramble Package vs. Packers’ Situational Defense
This game boils down to execution when the field shrinks and the chains matter. Chicago enters Lambeau as a top-10 offense in EPA/play and success rate, driven by a heavy play-action menu (5th in PA usage) and Caleb Williams’ ability to turn pressure into off-script conversions instead of sacks. That’s been the lifeline for an attack still searching for passing efficiency—Ben Johnson even admitted midweek that “cleanup” is overdue. Although not all on Caleb he did clarify.
On the other side, Jeff Hafley’s Packers defense has been surgical in situational football. They’re top-6 in points allowed and top-6 vs. the pass by yardage, and when they lose, it’s not because of defensive collapse (just 13.0 PPG allowed in losses). Translation: they tighten the screws when it matters.
For Chicago, the math is simple: win third down (6th in 3rd-down offense) and cash in red zone trips. Touchdowns, Touchdowns, Touchdowns, do not leave this up to field goals. The Bears lean run-heavy inside the 20 and rank top-5 in EPA per rush in the red zone, which can neutralize Lambeau’s cold-weather drag on the passing game.
But if Green Bay forces 3rd-and-long and erases play-action explosives, the advantage flips. Love’s mistake-free efficiency and the Packers’ No. 1 turnover avoidance mean every empty possession for Chicago is magnified.
Bottom line: If Williams can marry play-action with some scrambles and keep Hafley’s disguised pressures guessing, Chicago can dictate tempo. If not, Lambeau’s December chill might feel a lot colder.
Prediction
This one screams December football—two defenses built for chaos, two quarterbacks wired for control, and the NFC North crown dangling like a prime rib at Ditka’s. Every snap feels like sudden death in the Lambeau deep freeze. Caleb Williams and Jordan Love will trade haymakers, but neither walks out clean—each coughs up a turnover in a game where mistakes are magnified.
The difference? Chicago cashes theirs. Caleb clears 255 through the air, drops a touchdown dime, and sprinkles in scramble magic to keep Hafley guessing, while the Bears’ ground game punishes the Green Bay front 7 and neutralizes Micah Parsons ability to get to the quarterback.
Green Bay answers with explosives, but Love’s lone pick flips the script and sets up the dagger. Final word: Bears 27, Packers 21. A statement win that doesn’t just grab the North—it plants a flag. Chicago’s not knocking on the NFC door anymore. They’re kicking it off the hinges.
