Honestly, if you have a weak heart, being a Chicago Bears fan in 2026 should probably come with a medical warning. We’ve all seen "cardiac" teams before, but this current roster under Ben Johnson is taking the concept to a level that feels bordering on cruel. One minute you're staring at a 21-3 halftime deficit against the Packers, wondering why you even bother with season tickets, and the next, Caleb Williams is basically walking on water at Soldier Field.
It’s been a week since that Wild Card thriller, and I’m still not sure how the chicago bears game highlights from that night even exist. The math just doesn’t add up.
The Wild Card Chaos Nobody Saw Coming
Look, let’s be real. At halftime on Saturday, the vibe in Chicago was somewhere between "fire everyone" and "I'm moving to a different sport." Jordan Love was carving up the secondary like a Thanksgiving turkey. Three touchdowns in the first half? Absolute misery.
Then the third quarter happened. Or rather, it didn’t. The Bears defense, led by Montez Sweat and a surprisingly disciplined Gervon Dexter Sr., finally decided to show up. They forced four straight punts. It wasn’t just that they stopped the Packers; they strangled them.
Then came the "Williams Magic."
Caleb Williams finished that game with 361 passing yards—a new franchise playoff record. But the stats don't tell you about the fourth-and-8. You know the one. Williams is rolling left, basically has a Packers linebacker breathing down his neck, and somehow squares his shoulders to zip a 27-yard dime to Rome Odunze. That wasn't a play; it was a prayer that actually got answered.
The Game-Winning Connection
If you haven't rewatched the 25-yard game-winner to DJ Moore about fifty times, are you even a fan? Ben Johnson’s play-calling there was kinda brilliant in its simplicity. They faked the screen to Luther Burden III—who had been a nightmare for the Packers' corners all night—and Carrington Valentine bit hard. Moore was suddenly in his own zip code.
Williams just had to loft it.
"It was a perfect call," Williams said afterward. "We set it up with the screen earlier." It’s that kind of chess-match logic that has this team in the Divisional Round for the first time in fifteen years.
By the Numbers: Why the Highlights Are Deceiving
The highlights make it look like a well-oiled machine, but if you dig into the actual season data, the Bears are a total enigma.
- D’Andre Swift: 1,087 rushing yards this season. That’s a career high.
- Colston Loveland: 137 yards in the Wild Card game alone. As a rookie tight end? That’s unheard of.
- The Comeback Stat: This was the Bears' seventh win of the season where they trailed in the final two minutes.
That last bit is the one that keeps analysts like those at CHGO or the local beat writers up at night. Is this team actually "good," or are they just the luckiest group of guys to ever wear navy and orange? They’re currently 12-6, but they’ve played roughly ten minutes of "elite" football per game. The rest of the time, they sort of just... survive.
What People Get Wrong About This Defense
There’s a common narrative that the Bears' defense is elite. Honestly? It's complicated. Dennis Allen has them playing a high-risk, high-reward style that basically lives or dies by the takeaway. They lead the league in forced turnovers, which is great, but when they aren't stripping the ball, they tend to give up chunks of yardage.
Kevin Byard III has been a godsend in the secondary, racking up seven interceptions this year. But against a team like the Rams—who we’re facing this Sunday—that "turnover or bust" mentality is terrifying. If Matthew Stafford doesn't make mistakes, the Bears' defense can look like a stick of butter being sliced by a hot knife.
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The Austin Booker Factor
One of the most underrated parts of recent chicago bears game highlights is Austin Booker. Since coming back from that training camp knee injury, the kid has been a monster. He’s got 5.5 sacks in just ten games. His hit-stick sack on Jordan Love in the fourth quarter was probably the loudest Soldier Field has been since the 2006 NFC Championship.
How to Watch the Divisional Round Like a Pro
If you’re heading to the lakefront or just hunkering down on the couch for the Rams game, there are a few things you need to watch for that won't necessarily make the Sportscenter clip.
First, watch the offensive line’s communication. The Rams’ Jared Verse is going to be a problem. If Darnell Wright and the boys can’t keep Williams clean for more than 2.5 seconds, all the highlights in the world won't save them.
Second, look at the weather. It’s January in Chicago. Puka Nacua and the Rams are already talking about "embracing the cold," but there’s a difference between a chilly day in LA and a swirling wind off Lake Michigan that makes the ball feel like a brick.
Actionable Insights for the Next Game:
- Monitor the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on Nick McCloud’s groin injury. If he can't go at nickel, the Rams will exploit that matchup with Cooper Kupp all day.
- Watch the Run/Pass Split: The Bears' run game has dipped lately, only 93 yards against Green Bay. For the Bears to beat the Rams, Swift needs to get back to that 100-yard mark to take the pressure off Caleb.
- The First Half Focus: If the Bears go down by double digits in the first half again, the luck might finally run out. Look for Ben Johnson to script more aggressive plays in the first 15 minutes to break the "slow start" habit.
This playoff run is already historic, but it’s also exhausting. Whether they win or lose against the Rams, the 2025-26 Chicago Bears have officially ended the "boring football" era in the Windy City. Just maybe keep a bottle of aspirin nearby for the fourth quarter.