The Packers will live to see another week, as they route the Bears 17-9 to clinch a wild card spot in the playoffs. They become the youngest team to ever qualify for the playoffs.
It looked like it was going to be a repeat of last year, when Green Bay was in a win-or-go-home season finale and lost. The Bears scored first followed by a missed field goal from the Packers. But in the first drive of the second half, Jordan Love connected with Dontayvion Wicks for his first touchdowns.
The Packers led by one at halftime, but unintentionally ran out the clock, leaving three more points on the field. When they returned, it was Wicks once again, scoring a touchdown on the first drive. And Green Bay never looked back.
Love finished with 316 yards and no interceptions for the fourth straight game. He becomes the first quarterback in franchise history to make the playoffs in his first season starting. Justin Fields had only 148 yards but no interceptions on 16 attempts. The second-best rushing team in the league, the Bears had only 75 yards in their 10th straight loss to their division rivals.
The Packers have secured the NFC seventh seed and will travel to the Cowboys for the first round of playoffs.
MORE: Watch Packers vs. Bears live with Fubo (free trial)
The Sporting News tracked live updates and highlights from the Packers vs. Bears game in Week 18.
Packers vs. Bears score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Packers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 9 |
| Bears | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Packers vs. Bears results, highlights from Week 18 game
All times Eastern.
Final: Packers 17, Bears 9
6:00 p.m. – That'll do it! The Packers are playoff bound.
6:55 p.m. – Love finds Kraft for 15 yards and a first down. Green Bay is is two minutes left from the playoffs.
6:42 p.m. – Fields exits the field after a hit from Jonathan Owens. Nathan Peterman enters for one play before Fields returns.
6:40 p.m. – The Packers are called offsides. It's five yards for the Bears and a first down. The penalty is the first of the night.
PACKERS 17, BEARS 9
6:33 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Carlson makes his first field goal of the evening on a 25-yard attempt. Green Bay leads by eight with10:54 on the clock.
6:32 p.m. – After review, Melton's catch is incomplete and not a touchdown.
PACKERS 14, BEARS 9
6:24 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Santos nails the 35-yarder to bring Chicago within five. It has 13:03 left to complete a comeback.
6:23 p.m. – Carrington Valentine with the deflection! He doesn't get the interception but still prevents a Bears' touchdown by Kmet.
End of third quarter: Packers 14, Bears 6
6:10 p.m. FUMBLE – Love bobbles the ball, and it's recovered by Jaquan Brisker for the turnover! The Bears take control at their own 42.
PACKERS 14, BEARS 6
5:53 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – He's in! Wicks barrels over the end line for his second score of the night. It's Love's 32nd touchdown pass of the season, which is currently the second most in the league.
Halftime: Packers 7, Bears 6
5:31 p.m. – Wicks in tackled in-bounds by Stevenson, and the clock keeps running. With no timeouts left, the Packers leave a field goal on the board at the Bears' 22 at halftime. It's a crucially missed chance for Green Bay to extend its lead.
PACKERS 7, BEARS 6
5:21 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Chicago is within one with Santos's 39-yard field goal attempt. There's 1:17 left until halftime.
5:20 p.m. – Fields is sacked for the third time in the first half alone. This time, Kenny Clark gets the job done for a loss of eight yards.
5:12 p.m. – Fields keeps on 4th and 1 at Chicago's 43, and after review it's a, questionable, first down.
PACKERS 7, BEARS 3
5:05 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Green Bay is on the board! Love goes off one leg to find Dontayvion Wicks in the end zone. The Packers take their first lead of the game with 7:20 left in the second.
4:57 p.m. – To the 45! Love connects with the wide-open Jayden Reed for 32 yards.
End of first quarter: Packers 0, Bears 3
4:48 p.m. – The Packers had a chance to score, but the rookie Tyrique Stevenson was too good.
4:44 p.m. – No good! Anders Carlson misses wide left on the 45-yard field goal attempt. The Packers remain scoreless.
4:41 p.m. – And Green Bay is in the red zone thanks to Aaron Jones. The running back has 23 yards on four carries this drive.
PACKERS 0, BEARS 3
4:32 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Cairo Santos doinks in the 50-yard field goal from the left post to put the Bears on top in their first drive.
4:30 p.m. – Sacked! Lukas Van Ness reaches Fields for a loss of six. It's 2nd and 16 at Green Bay's 32-yard line.
4:26 p.m. – Chicago is ready to go, taking the first possession.
4:20 p.m. – The Bears haven't won at Lambeau Field since December 2018. Could today be the day, and the Packers lose their final playoff-clinching game for the second straight year?
3:48 p.m. – With the Bucs win and the Saints a few minutes away from beating the Falcons, the Packers must win to clinch a wild card in the playoffs.
3:15 p.m. – The inactives have been released.
The Packers will be without:
- WR Christian Watson
- RB AJ Dillon
- LB Brenton Cox Jr.
- LB Isaiah McDuffie
- T Caleb Jones
- WR Grant DuBose
The Bears will be without:
- CB Jaylon Johnson
- WR Darnell Mooney
- RB D'Onta Foreman
- QB Tyson Bagent
- DB Quindell Johnson
- G Ja'Tyre Carter
- DB Greg Stroman Jr.
2:26 p.m. – It's a big game for the Packers already, but Jordan Love has more on the line than just the playoffs.
What channel is Packers vs. Bears on today?
- TV channel: CBS
- Live stream: Paramount+, Fubo (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)
CBS will broadcast the season finale between the Packers and Bears with Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson on the call.
Viewers can stream the game on Paramount+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial. Those in Canada can stream every NFL game on DAZN.
Packers vs. Bears start time
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 7
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET / 3:25 p.m. CT
NFL's Week 18 continues Sunday, Jan. 7, with the Packers-Bears kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET live from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.