
16-6 and 21-3.
Those were the Green Bay Packers’ second-half leads over the Chicago Bears in their final two matchups, one of them coming in the NFC’s Wild Card Round.
In both instances, the Bears would come back and win late in the fourth quarter, in dramatic fashion. And, because of those two crushing losses (among others), Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has one clear offseason mission.
“Finishing games,” Gutekunst told Packers media.
It should come as no surprise that Gutekunst was asked how he’s processed the Packers’ playoff collapse, to which he responded:
“Not well.”
I can promise you there isn’t a single Bears fan reading this who is not smiling, at the very least. I, myself, was laughing out loud upon hearing Gutekunst’s comments. You just can’t beat it.
Caleb Williams might’ve single-handedly given the Packers their top offseason focus
In both of the Bears’ comeback wins over Green Bay this past season, quarterback Caleb Williams was brilliant when the game was on the line. It didn’t matter how the previous three and a half quarters had gone; Williams was pure magic.
For those who may not have known, Williams was historically good in the Bears’ playoff win over the Packers. He and the offense scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to come back and beat Green Bay.
Williams torched the Packers’ defense in that final period, throwing for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Again, that was in the fourth quarter alone — and it was the most passing yards in the final quarter of a postseason game by any quarterback since Tom Brady in Super Bowl LI.
In the Bears’ regular season comeback win over the Packers, Williams and the offense scored on four of four drives between the fourth quarter and overtime. Again, Williams was simply a playmaker when his back was up against a wall.
Over the course of this past season, Williams threw for more yards (1,096), touchdowns (nine), and first-down conversions (51) in the fourth quarter than in any other quarter.
Is it any wonder why the Packers’ own general manager is most worried about finishing games going forward? Is it any wonder why some Packer fans wanted head coach Matt LaFleur fired after the season?
It isn’t crazy to think that Caleb Williams is responsible for the Packers’ sudden concern about closing out games. In fact, I would argue that it’s crazy not to think Williams is the main reason behind Gutekunst’s concern.