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Bears' Wild-Card Victory Over Packers Sparks Controversy and Historic Comeback

The Chicago Bears achieved a historic 31-27 comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC wild-card game, marking their first playoff win since 2010. Despite a rocky start, trailing 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 after three quarters, the Bears rallied with a 25-6 fourth-quarter surge, orchestrated by quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns. The win was fueled by intense rivalry sentiments, with Bears coach Ben Johnson expressing his motivation by shouting, 'F--- the Packers!' in his postgame locker room speech, which drew criticism from ESPN analyst Dick Vitale for its lack of sportsmanship. Johnson acknowledged that Packers' comments earlier in the week motivated the Bears, noting that the rivalry has been intensified by comments from Packers players Christian Watson and Keisean Nixon, as well as Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's remarks about beating Chicago next week. The victory also set several records and milestones, including the Bears' seventh fourth-quarter comeback of the season, tying their most in a single season, and marking their first playoff win in 15 years. Caleb Williams became the first Bears QB since Jim Harbaugh in 1991 to beat the Packers multiple times in a season. The win was characterized as one of the most impressive in playoff history, with notable stats such as the Bears being only the third team to overcome a 15-point deficit with a 25-point fourth-quarter comeback in a playoff game. The rivalry's history dates back to 1921, with only three playoff meetings, including this recent thriller. The victory has ignited both celebration and controversy, with Johnson's fiery speech drawing mixed reactions, highlighting the intense rivalry between the two NFC North teams.

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