An entire year’s worth of hard work from the entire organization is about to come to a head on Saturday. The Chicago Bears will host a playoff game for the first time since they lost to the Eagles at Soldier Field in 2018. This time, however, the Bears will face their heated division rivals, the Packers, for the third matchup this season.
The first two meetings between these teams were instant classics, each coming down to one play in the final moments. In the first game in Green Bay, Bears QB Caleb Williams‘ potential game-winning touchdown pass was intercepted in the back corner of the end zone on a fantastic play by Packers CB Keisean Nixon.
Then, in the rematch in Chicago, the Bears rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to send the game to overtime, improbably recovering an onside kick and scoring twice in quick succession to tie the game. Then, in overtime, Williams threw one of the best passes of the season to hit WR D.J. Moore in the end zone for the walk-off win.
Three Chicago Bears Players Earned a Major Honor Ahead of the Wildcard Game
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 17: Darnell Wright #58 of the Chicago Bears in action against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on November 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
On Saturday, the NFL announced the official AP All-Pro teams. As much as Pro Bowl invitations are still valued, the All-Pro teams are considered the more reputable list of the best players at each position throughout a season, and three Bears players wound up on the first- or second-team All-Pro. Chicago LG Joe Thuney and S Kevin Byard made first-team All-Pro, while RT Darnell Wright made second-team.
For Thuney, it’s yet another fantastic season under his belt. The Bears acquired Thuney in a trade from the Chiefs back in the spring as part of their mission to overhaul an underperforming offensive line. It’s Thuney’s third first-team All-Pro recognition, as the veteran guard was also named to the first team back in 2023 and 2024.
It’s also Byard’s third first-team All-Pro selection. The former Titans safety was also named first-team All-Pro in 2017 and 2021. Meanwhile, it’s the first All-Pro team of any kind for Wright, who was the No. 10 overall pick out of Tennessee for the Bears back in 2023. He’s developed into a critical part of Williams’ protection in Chicago and one of the best run-blocking tackles in the league.
The Chicago Bears Can Make a Statement Against the Packers in the Playoffs
The NFL playoffs are finally here, and the Bears earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC. They’ll take on the No. 7 seed Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago, the site of the incredible overtime victory over said Packers earlier this season.
In this rematch, the Bears are home underdogs against a deep and talented Packers team. But Green Bay is dealing with a litany of injuries, many to some of their key players. The Bears are the healthier team, and already beat them once this season.
But for the Bears to win and advance to the divisional round, they must get off to a faster start. In both of the regular season matchups, Chicago struggled in the first half before surging down the stretch. That will be difficult to replicate and win in the playoffs.
Three Bears Players Get Major Honor Ahead of Wild Card Game Against Packers