Keisean Nixon has game-sealing INT
and Packers overtake Bears for NFC North lead with 28-21 win
[December 08, 2025]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Keisean Nixon couldn't have picked a better
time to get his first interception of the season.
Nixon picked off Caleb Williams' pass in the end zone with 22
seconds remaining to preserve Green Bay's 28-21 victory over the
Chicago Bears on Sunday, and the Packers moved into first place in
the NFC North.
“Man, I've been trying to get my hand on the ball all year,” Nixon
said. “I wanted that bad. I wanted it so bad.”
The Bears (9-4) were facing fourth-and-1 from Green Bay’s 14-yard
line when Williams faked a handoff and rolled to his left. Tight end
Cole Kmet had gotten behind Nixon in the end zone, but Nixon made a
leaping catch of the underthrown pass.
“In those moments, it’s, you know, a got-to-have-it moment,” said
Williams, who went 19 of 35 for 186 yards with two touchdowns. “And
they had a guy trailing me, so, I didn’t feel like I could go get it
myself (by running the ball). Just got to give Cole a better shot at
it. I think next time, just extend him a little bit more and kind of
lead him.”
Josh Jacobs scored the tiebreaking touchdown on a 2-yard run with
3:32 remaining as the Packers (9-3-1) won their fourth straight and
snapped the Bears' five-game winning streak.
This was the last of three straight divisional games for the
Packers, who trounced Minnesota 23-6 on Nov. 23 and won 31-24 at
Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. The Packers are 4-0 against NFC North
foes after going 1-5 in the division last season.
“That was the biggest thing we wanted to harp on in the offseason
was divisional games,” Jacobs said. “We know how important they
are.”
Packers coach Matt LaFleur improved his record against the Bears to
12-1, the lone loss coming in the final week of the 2024 season. It
came in his first head-to-head matchup with rookie Bears coach Ben
Johnson.
During his introductory news conference, Johnson said, “to be quite
frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a
year.” Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator last season when
the Lions swept the Packers.
LaFleur declined to comment on that remark, but Packers offensive
coordinator Adam Stenavich said, “you take it personal, for sure.
I’ll just leave it at that.”
This game featured plenty of hot tempers in cold weather, with a
kickoff temperature of 16 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-9 Celsius).
Afterward, LaFleur said he didn't take any extra satisfaction from
beating Johnson.
“Absolutely not,” LaFleur said. “It's Packers-Bears. It's a great
rivalry, and certainly with what was at stake in regards to
positioning in the NFC North, that's the only thing that matters.”
The teams meet again on Dec. 20 at Chicago.
Green Bay’s Jordan Love went 17 of 25 for 234 yards with three
touchdowns — two to Christian Watson and one to Bo Melton — and one
interception. Watson's touchdowns were from 23 and 41 yards, while
Melton had a 45-yard score.
Jacobs set up his go-ahead touchdown with a spectacular 21-yard run.
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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) scores a touchdown
against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football
game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The Packers were facing third-and-2 from Chicago’s
28 when Love pitched right to Jacobs. Chicago’s Montez Sweat, Gervon
Dexter, D’Marco Jackson and Jaylon Johnson were all converging on
Jacobs behind the line of scrimmage.
Jacobs somehow got through all of them and raced 21 yards before
Kevin Byard finally brought him down. Jacobs then scored with a
physical run up the middle on third-and-goal.
“I think we all got there, all made good reads and then I felt like
I got bumped off and didn’t finish the play, honestly,” Jaylon
Johnson said. “It’s hard to say what happened in the moment. But at
the end of the day, that’s a play we’ve all got to make again. There
was four people there, including myself. I at least got to finish
the play and make it off the field.”
After getting outscored 14-3 and outgained 207 yards to 71 in the
first half, Chicago rallied to tie it with two touchdowns and a
field goal on its first three second-half possessions. Williams
threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus and Cairo Santos
kicked a 41-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Williams floated a 1-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Colston
Loveland on third-and-goal to tie the game midway through the fourth
quarter. That capped a 17-play, 83-yard drive lasting over 8 1/2
minutes.
Williams, who has orchestrated five fourth-quarter comebacks this
year, still had plenty of time to try for another. He got Chicago
into scoring position with completions of 27 yards to Luther Burden
and 24 yards to Devin Duvernay.
Chicago faced third-and-1 from the 14 when Kingsley Enagbare stuffed
Kyle Monangai for no gain. That set up Nixon's game-clinching play.
“That’s what you want,” Nixon said. “You want the best players to
make the big plays when your back’s against the wall and you’ve got
to win. It’s fourth-and-1. Ain’t no bigger play than that.”
Injuries
Bears: CB Nahshon Wright left in the fourth quarter. WR Rome Odunze
(foot) didn't play.
Packers: LB Kristian Welch left with a concussion. DL Lukas Van Ness
(foot) didn't play.
Up next
Bears: Host Cleveland next Sunday.
Packers: Visit Denver next Sunday.
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