Wow. The momentum had seemingly gone against the Green Bay Packers in the latter stages of the fourth quarter, but in need of one final play to seal it, Keisean Nixon intercepted Caleb Williams in the end zone to take it home.
With one heart-stopping 28-21 victory over the Chicago Bears, the Packers move back into first place in the NFC North with four games to go. It's advantage Green Bay once more.
Here are the updated NFC playoff standings:
- Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
- Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
- Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Chicago Bears (9-4)
- Detroit Lions (8-5)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
Packers take control of NFC North after stunning last-gasp victory over Bears
It's a win that means so much. The Packers knew they had to overcome a brutal five-game stretch to close out the season, and they've cleared the first hurdle. Just. It puts them at an undeniable 4-0 against NFC North opponents, but more importantly, Matt LaFleur's team reclaims the top spot in the North.
The Bears crash down to the No. 7 seed, having entered the weekend as the NFC pace-setters.
But this rocky playoff road is far from over. Green Bay visits the red-hot Denver Broncos next week, while Chicago hosts the struggling Cleveland Browns. Then, the Packers and Bears will do it again at Soldier Field under primetime lights. It doesn't get any bigger than that. It's cinematic.
For now, though, the Packers can relax after holding serve in this rivalry.
The top priority is winning the NFC North, but Green Bay will also have its sights set firmly on the No. 1 seed. The Los Angeles Rams moved back into first spot with an emphatic victory over the Arizona Cardinals. They meet the Detroit Lions next week.
The Bears' collapse from No. 1 to No. 7 shows how tight it is. The NFC North race took a significant twist on Sunday, but the Packers know the work is only just beginning.