Everything felt fine. Honestly, it felt better than fine for anyone wearing green and gold at Soldier Field last Saturday. If you checked the Green Bay Packers score at halftime during that NFC Wild Card matchup against the Chicago Bears, you probably started looking up flights to Seattle for the Divisional Round.
The scoreboard read 21–3.
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It was a clinic. Jordan Love was slicing through the Bears' secondary like it was a warm-up drill. Three possessions, three touchdowns. Love went into the locker room with a 130.0 passer rating. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and even the rookie Matthew Golden were finding soft spots in a Chicago defense that looked completely lost.
But as any veteran of the "frozen tundra" knows, a halftime score is just a snapshot. And this particular snapshot turned out to be a cruel joke.
Why the Green Bay Packers Score at Halftime Was a Total Mirage
Football is a game of two halves, but this felt like two different seasons compressed into sixty minutes. The Packers went into the break with all the momentum in the world. They had just capped off an 85-yard drive with a 1-yard toss to Doubs. The vibes were immaculate.
Then the third quarter happened.
Basically, the Packers' offense vanished. Ben Johnson—the Bears' coach who has been a thorn in Green Bay's side all year—apparently gave the speech of a lifetime at the half. Or maybe Jeff Hafley’s defense just ran out of gas. Either way, that 18-point cushion started evaporating immediately.
Here is how that halftime lead fell apart:
- The Packers' first four drives of the second half resulted in punts. Three of those were three-and-outs.
- Josh Jacobs, who was a workhorse in the first half with 49 yards, was held to just 6 yards on 7 carries after the break.
- Caleb Williams, who looked like a rattled rookie early on, suddenly became the "Cardiac Caleb" Chicago fans have learned to love (and Packers fans have learned to hate).
The Stats That Don't Make Sense
It’s kinda wild when you look at the final box score. Jordan Love finished with 323 yards and four touchdowns. In most universes, those are winning numbers. But after the Green Bay Packers score at halftime peaked at 21, the execution fell off a cliff.
Missing Zach Tom at right tackle finally started to show. Jordan Morgan, the rookie stepping in, struggled as the Bears ramped up the pressure in the fourth quarter. Love’s passer rating, which was nearly perfect at the half, plummeted as he was forced into desperate throws late in the game.
The Turning Point No One Saw Coming
There was a moment late in the third quarter where it felt like Green Bay might stabilize. They were still up 21–16. They had the ball. But the rhythm was gone. The play-calling became conservative, almost as if Matt LaFleur was trying to run out the clock with 20 minutes left to play.
You've seen this movie before if you're a Packers fan. The prevent defense that doesn't actually prevent anything. The missed opportunities on special teams—specifically Brandon McManus missing a 44-yard field goal and an extra point—that left the door wide open.
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When Caleb Williams hit DJ Moore for that 25-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:43 left, the 21–3 halftime lead felt like it happened in a different decade.
A Season Defined by the "Almost"
This loss capped off a bizarre 9–7–1 season. Remember that Week 4 tie against Dallas? Or the four-game losing streak to end the regular season after Micah Parsons went down with his ACL tear? This team was the definition of "unpredictable."
Experts like Mike Spofford and Wes Hodkiewicz have pointed out that the 21–3 lead proved the Packers had the right game plan. They just couldn't sustain it. Whether it was the lack of depth on defense or the offense losing its aggressive edge, the collapse was total.
What This Halftime Heartbreak Means for 2026
The Packers are now heading into an offseason filled with "what ifs." Matt LaFleur avoided questions about his job security immediately after the game, but the pressure is mounting. Ending the season on a five-game losing streak—including a playoff exit where you blew an 18-point lead—is a tough pill for the front office to swallow.
The silver lining? The 2026 schedule is already set. Green Bay will face the NFC South and AFC East next year. They’ll host the Bills and the Texans at Lambeau, and they have another date with the Cowboys on the horizon.
But for now, the only thing on fans' minds is that scoreboard at Soldier Field. That beautiful, misleading Green Bay Packers score at halftime. 21–3. It was supposed to be a blowout. Instead, it was the beginning of the end.
If you're looking to process this loss, keep an eye on the defensive coordinator search. There’s a good chance the Packers look for a fresh voice to ensure a second-half meltdown like this doesn't happen again. The talent is there, but as we saw on Saturday, talent without four quarters of execution is just a recipe for a long, quiet flight home.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Audit the Roster: Watch the film on Jordan Morgan’s performance at right tackle; the Packers may need to prioritize offensive line depth in the 2026 draft.
- Track Coaching Changes: Follow the Green Bay coaching carousel closely, as defensive staff shifts are likely following the second-half collapse.
- Manage 2026 Expectations: Review the 2026 opponents list to see how the Packers match up against high-powered offenses like Buffalo and Houston.