2026 Wild Card Playoff Preview: Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

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  • By Jon Mosales

    Last Updated on January 8, 2026 11:01 am by Jon Mosales | Published: January 8, 2026

    Wild Card Round –  Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

    Point spread: GB -1.5  | CHI +1.5

    Moneyline: GB -118 | CHI -102

    Total: Over 45.5 | Under 45.5

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    Overview:

    There is nothing like a NFC North divisional battle between two of the most iconic franchises to get the juices flowing.  The Packers have been good forever and the Bears quite the opposite, but one great pick and one great coaching hire can re-orient a franchise rather quickly.  The Bears finished 6th in the league in total yards, 3rd in rushing yards, 10th in passing yards, and 9th in total points.  The defense did not hold up its end of the bargain, finishing 29th in yards allowed, 27th in passing yards per-completion and 29th in yards-per-rush.  You can attack the Bears in just about every direction, although they did allow 16 points or less in three of their last four games.  The Packers aren’t exactly hitting their stride, losing the last four games and giving up nearly 100 points from Weeks 15-17.   The GB defense has slipped without Micah Parsons and Jordan Love hasn’t played since a Week 16 clash vs. the Bears.  This game is a pure toss-up and at gun point I would lean on the Packers playoff experience over the potential of CHI.  While both offenses can pack a punch, there might be snow in this one and I would lean under as these teams know each other too well.

    Quarterbacks:

    Jordan Love vs. Caleb Williams might not be worthy of the main card on a title fight, but it’s two up-and-coming talents looking to join the upper echelon.  Williams was exactly what he should be and has taken the right steps at the right moments to justify his original draft slot.  He finished as the QB5 and narrowly missed 4,000 yards 30 TDs which would have been a first for a CHI QB.  Williams has been great under pressure and has the magic touch when it comes to evading the blitz, but the playoffs are a different animal.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Williams struggled in his first playoff game like many have before him, but Ben Johnson knows that and will definitely lean on the ground game to try and ease the pressure of Williams.  Love is a more proven commodity, but he’s now had b2b down seasons even though his receiving core has been decimated.  Everyone is healthy now though and this will be a massive test for Love to see if he’s actual playoff guy or just another QB in the carousel.  I trust Love more in this situation against a secondary that has been lit up all season and while both teams might lean on the run game, this game will be decided by who can make the big throw at the key time.

     

    Running Backs:

    Josh Jacobs is one of the last of the old guard.  A pure, bell cow who runs downhill and loves contact.  Jacobs is clearly in another phase of his career as he failed to reach 100 rushing yards once this season and fell under 1000 yards with a 4.0 YPC.  That doesn’t mean he won’t be involved in this one as the Bears were terrible defending the run all season, allowing 134.5 rushing yards-per-game.  The Packers have been a run-first team the past couple of seasons and don’t expect them to pivot now.  The Bears are more complicated as they have two solid RBs and love to run ball, ranking third in rushing yards for the season.  On offense, they are built around Williams and his ability to make magic happen and they should have all their weapons at their disposal.  D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai will likely alternate series as the game goes and neither jump out as great options to ride in this one.  Jacobs should see around 20 touches and it would be shocking if he didn’t find the end zone.

     

    Wide Receivers: 


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    January 8, 2026, 10:58 am