Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers will try to win the franchise’s first playoff game since defeating the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 NFC Wild Card Round. The Packers will travel to Chicago from Soldier Field on Saturday night to face the NFC North champion Bears in the 2025 NFC Wild Card round.
This playoff rubber game will be the third game between the two rivals since Dec. 7. Considering the evidence from 17 games and the last two games between the Packers and Bears, determining winning factors isn’t a difficult task. Both teams have a clear and obvious path to winning the game and advancing to the NFC Divisional Round.
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Can the Packers check enough win boxes? Here are five keys to the Packers’ win over the Bears at Soldier Field on Saturday night:
1. Protect Jordan Love
Main key to the offense all season long. Protect the love in the pocket and the Packers will create explosive plays and score runs. For this team, the blueprint is often that simple, and it’s especially important in the bubble. In the 2025 season, Love averaged 9.2 yards per attempt, completed 79.6% of his passes, and threw 23 touchdowns with only two interceptions. The Packers are getting back right tackle Zach Tom, who will see the bulk of the game against Chicago’s most efficient pass rusher, Montz Sweat. In Tom’s first game, Love completed 13 of 17 passes for 204 yards and three touchdown passes, including two to Christian Watson, both cleanly. This is not a strong pass-rushing Bears team. Considering the quality of game design heading into the 2025 season and the efficiency and explosiveness of the passing game, it stands to reason that if the Packers’ offensive line consistently gets the job done, it stands to reason that LaFleur and Love will produce big plays against a poor Bears defense.
2. Score a touchdown in the red zone
The Packers would have easily swept the Bears in 2025 if their offense hadn’t collapsed in the red zone in Week 16. Incredibly, the Packers scored five touchdowns inside the 20-yard line, including a fumble and a fumble. The Bears will likely run the ball and try to control the time of possession and shorten the game, making every possession and every scoring opportunity valuable. Given the likelihood that the offense will continue to move the ball, the Packers could light up the scoreboard if Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs find their way into the end zone. This is one of the highlights of Matt LaFleur. He needs to make the right plays in the red zone, and the Packers’ star needs to make some big plays in the big position. Is there any chance Malik Willis can play a red zone snap or two? His dual-threat ability becomes even more valuable in the limited space in the red zone.
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3. Start and finish quickly
Consider the Packers’ last two playoff openers. In Dallas, the Packers went on an early 14-0 run and eventually led 27-0 to start the game in dominant fashion. Last year in Philadelphia, the Packers fumbled the kickoff and quickly fell behind 7-0. A fast start would help quiet down the Soldier Field crowd, build confidence for a team that has lost four straight games and allow the Bears to escape their preferred playbook. If the first two games haven’t made that obvious enough, the fourth quarter will almost certainly decide the outcome. In both games against the Bears, the Packers led by two points in the second half; they ended the first with a takeaway but failed on the second because of an onside kick. The Bears have been warriors in the fourth quarter all season, so even leading for the first 58 minutes wasn’t enough. If the Packers’ coup de grace comes, they won’t miss it.
4. Survive running/climbing
Ben Johnson is supposed to initiate junk running in a Packers run defense that has major issues at defensive tackle. An elite offensive line and two capable running backs give Johnson everything he needs to relentlessly attack the Packers’ fatal flaws. Can Jeff Hafley’s defensive front win against enough runs to prevent explosive runs and stop the Bears from getting the ball down Green Bay’s throat? The answer may determine the outcome. Additionally, the Packers must find ways to keep Caleb Williams in the pocket and prevent some of his unique playmaking abilities as an off-scheme shooter and disruptor. The top seven face a tough task. The return of Evan Williams — a standout run-defending safety — could go a long way in preventing explosive runs and helping the Packers avoid getting cut.
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5. Win the turnover battle
The Bears are the best +22 team in the NFL in turnover and have lived (and died) on takeaways all season. How important is takeout? In 2025, Chicago was just 2-6 when creating one or fewer takeaways in a game. Josh Jacobs’ fumble in the red zone in Week 16 was one of many reasons the Bears were still alive late in the game. This is a big question for the Packers: Can Jordan Love, who missed the last 2.5 games, play fast and avoid making big mistakes? In the team’s past two playoff losses (San Francisco and Philadelphia), the Packers have committed six turnovers (including Love’s five interceptions) and lost the turnover battle 6-0. In big games, protecting the ball is absolutely crucial. Also, keep this in mind: Caleb Williams has multiple turnovers in three of the final seven games in 2025, including three (and an interception) against the Lions last week. For the Packers, this could be an opportunity to deliver a game-changing franchise. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Packers win the turnover battle but don’t win Saturday night’s game.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Bears: 5 keys to Green Bay’s win in NFC wild-card round
