The Chicago Bears could have the elements on their side when they take on the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2025 NFL playoffs at Soldier Field.
According to the National Weather Service, a large winter storm system is moving from the southern Rockies to the Great Lakes over the next several days that will expectedly bring low temperatures along with “gusty winds and heavy snow” to the Chicago area on the same day as their wild-card matchup at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 10.
While the weather report is subject to change, a blanket of heavy or active snowfall during the Bears-Packers game would only serve to make the rare NFC North playoff clash all the more iconic. It may also help the Bears and their high-powered run game.
The Bears finished the regular season as the No. 3 rushing offense in the NFL, building steam throughout the season as veteran D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai found their step within head coach Ben Johnson’s offense. The Packers also surrendered 150 rushing yards to Chicago when the two teams last met at Soldier Field in Week 16.
If the snow comes in full force, the Bears may lean more heavily into pounding the rock.
Bears Must Establish Run Game Early Against Packers
While a blanket of heavy snowfall would make for one heck of an atmosphere in a night playoff game between two NFC North foes, the Bears should have one objective in mind against the Packers regardless of whether the field is clear or snow-coated: run the ball.
The Bears have their single-worst rushing performance of the season against the Detroit Lions in Week 18, finishing with just 65 total rushing yards and no runs of more than 10 yards. Take away the 10-yard sweep that rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III added, and it would have looked even worse for the Bears in their discouraging 19-16 loss.
That cannot happen again when the Bears meet the Packers in a few days.
The Packers had one of the strongest run defenses in the league in the first half of the regular season, giving up more than 100 rushing yards just once in their first seven games and holding opponents under 60 rushing yards in three of those seven. They have struggled more often since losing Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt, though.
Look no further than Green Bay’s loss to Baltimore in Week 17. Derrick Henry rolled through that defense like wet paper, helping the Ravens take the Packers for a season-high 307 rushing yards. The Packers gave up another 137 yards on the ground to the Minnesota Vikings the following week, too, establishing a concerning trend for them.
The Bears would be wise to exploit that weakness.
Will Josh Jacobs Present Problems for Bears Defense?
While the Bears could theoretically have an easier time running the ball against the Packers in the snow, it works both ways with star Josh Jacobs on the other side.
Jacobs rushed for exactly 400 fewer yards in 2025 than he did in 2024 for the Packers, but he also spent the second half of the season dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just 13 offensive snaps over the final two games. What’s more, the Packers also rested Jacobs in Week 18 in hopes that it would improve his health for the playoffs.
Based on Jacobs’ comments this week, the plan seems to have worked.
“My body coming into this game is the best I’ve felt probably in the last six weeks, so it’s pretty good to be in,” Jacobs told reporters on January 7.
That could prove problematic for the Bears’ 27th-ranked rushing offense, especially if they are caught in a snowstorm trying to slow down the 2022 NFL rushing champion. They did hold him to 36 yards on 12 carries when they beat the Packers in Week 16, but Emanuel Wilson was more efficient as his complement, gaining 82 yards on 14 carries.
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