2025 Week 16: Chicago Bears 22, Green Bay Packers 16 (OT)

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: December 28, 2025

Cold as ice. [Photo: SportsMockery]

Player Grades

The grading scale goes from -2 to +2, in half-point increments, for each play. Screens are graded as runs. Penalties are counted in whatever phase they were committed. Pre- and post-snap penalties are in the “Misc.” column. “Short” throws are less than 15 yards, “Deep” is over 15 or more. Everything else (scrambles, throwaways, reads, etc.) is under “Miscellaneous.” Parentheses in a column denote grades/snaps from the opposite side of the ball and are not included in grades/snaps from the player’s usual side. Snap counts are from Pro Football Reference. Box score and other relevant info can be found at that link as well.

Bend, don’t break

One TD on a coverage bust by Gardner-Johnson, otherwise, the defense did a great job of limiting Green Bay to field goals when they got into the red zone. That said, it would be nice to, you know, not let them in the red zone to begin with. Time of possession isn’t as important as it used to be in the NFL, but you still don’t want to let opposing offenses dictate the action. And this is where the lack of a pass rush hurts.

Don’t you talk about that every week?

Yup, sure do! Because this team can’t get pressure without bringing extra guys and when the secondary is as banged up as it is, bringing those extra guys is ultra risky. So you’re left picking your poison.

Can you give me some optimism about this playoff run?

Yeah, absolutely. Caleb’s progress over the course of this season has been immense. The offensive line has been good-to-great and they can run the ball – very important on those cold January days in Chicago. Above all else, though, the biggest reason for optimism is that they don’t quit. They have the belief that they’re never out of a game. And that’s where you can tell that this isn’t fools’ gold like 2018 was. For one, Matt Nagy came here from Kansas City and the Chiefs kept right on rolling. Now, a lot of that has to do with having the best QB in the world at the time, but it’s also that Andy Reid was the important guy, not Nagy. Look at what’s happened in Detroit this year. Everything just looks sloppy. Dan Campbell’s a great leader and a great motivator, but not the greatest tactitian. And tales of patella munching are no substitue for quality scheming.

Monsters

Caleb, both RBs, Loveland, DJ, Darnell Wright, Jarrett, Byard, Cairo

Chipmunks

Dominique Robinson was awful. Chris Williams only played 9 snaps, but still racked up a -4.

Four Stars of the Game

Caleb Williams