Bears & Rams claim thrilling NFL play-off wins

The Chicago Bears produced a stunning fightback to beat divisional rivals Green Bay and claim their first play-off win in 15 years.

The Bears managed a record six comebacks in the regular season having trailed inside the final two minutes and they pulled off another escape act to beat the Packers 31-27 in Chicago.

Green Bay led for most of Saturday’s Wildcard Weekend game but Chicago scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to recover from an 18-point deficit – a franchise record for the post-season.

The Bears follow the Los Angeles Rams into the Divisional Round after they avoided a huge upset at the Carolina Panthers, with Colby Parkinson’s touchdown giving them a 34-31 win with 38 seconds remaining.

The rivalry between Chicago and Green Bay is the oldest and most-played rivalry in the NFL, with this the 213th meeting between the divisional rivals – and just the third in the play-offs, with the others coming in 1941 and 2011.

The Bears surpassed expectations this season to win the NFC North division in Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach and claim the NFC’s second seed.

Green Bay claimed the seventh so had to visit a snowy Chicago for the first play-off game at Soldier Field since 2019, and during the first half it seemed the occasion may be too much for the Bears.

Quarterback Jordan Love returned after two games out following a concussion and threw three touchdown passes as the Packers charged into a 21-3 lead by half-time.

But the Bears’ defence stepped up in the second half to stifle Love and two field goals made it 21-9 heading into the final quarter.

Chicago added another before second-year quarterback Caleb Williams showed why he has been nicknamed ‘the Iceman’ by leading his team to touchdowns on three straight possessions, with the latter by DJ Moore putting the Bears in front with 1:43 remaining.

Green Bay still had time to win it, and Love got the Packers to Chicago’s 28-yard line for the final play, but his hopeful throw towards the end zone went incomplete and the home fans celebrated a famous victory against their most familiar foe.

The Rams were not only heavy favourites to beat Carolina but are one of the favourites to win Super Bowl 60 on 8 February.

Despite coming into the post-season with a losing 8-9 record, the Panthers had home advantage having stumbled to the NFC South title.

The Rams, who finished the regular season 12-5, looked on course for a straightforward passage to the Divisional Round after Puka Nacua scored the opening two touchdowns.

But the Panthers regrouped and cut the score to 17-14 at half-time, before tying the game in the third quarter.

The final quarter produced four touchdowns, with the Panthers twice going in front, only for the Rams to reply each time through Kyren Williams and Parkinson.

Both scores were from passes by Rams quarterback Matt Stafford, the favourite for this season’s Most Valuable Player award, who threw for 304 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young threw for 264 yards on his play-off debut, plus one interception, while throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another.