How Have Packers Fared in Wild Card Rematches?
Packers running back Josh Jacobs returns from an injury that slowed him down in last month's Packers-Bears game. Saturday is a rematch from Week 16.
Saturday night’s rubber match between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will be Green Bay’s 17th wild card game since the NFL playoffs expanded in 1990.
Entering this year’s game with the Bears, the Packers are 10-6 in the previous 16 games. Seven of those games were played on the road, the Packers being victorious in four of the seven games.
| Year | Opponent | Result | Memorable Moment |
| 1993 | at Detroit | W 28-24 | Favre to Sharpe GW TD |
| 1994 | Detroit | W 16-12 | Sanders held to -1 yds rushing |
| 1995 | Atlanta | W 37-20 | Favre 3 TD passes vs former team |
| 1998 | at San Francisco | L 27-30 | Rice fumble not called in final minute |
| 2001 | San Francisco | W 25-15 | McKenzie-T. Williams dagger INT |
| 2002 | Atlanta | L 7-27 | First home playoff loss in GB history |
| 2003 | Seattle | W 33-27(ot) | Harris walk-off INT return TD in OT |
| 2004 | Minnesota | L 17-31 | GB can't complete 3-game sweep of Min |
| 2009 | at Arizona | L 45-51(ot) | Rodgers 422 yds in highest scoring playoff game |
| 2010 | at Philadelphia | W 21-16 | Williams INT seals win en route to SB title |
| 2012 | Minnesota | W 24-10 | Kuhn 2 TDs |
| 2013 | San Francisco | L 20-23 | Defense allows big day from Kaepernick |
| 2015 | at Washington | W 35-18 | Lacy, Starks 126 yds rushing, 2 TDs in win |
| 2016 | NY Giants | W 38-13 | Rodgers to Cobb Hail Mary to end 1st Half |
| 2023 | at Dallas | W 48-32 | Love 3 TDs; wins first playoff start |
| 2024 | at Philadelphia | L 10-22 | Nixon fumble on opening kickoff |
| 2025 | at Chicago | Sat. 7 PM | Amazon Prime |
This year’s game will be the 12th time the Packers are having a regular season rematch in the wild card round. It is the 5th time it will be a division opponent in the wild card round, playing both the Lions (1993, 1994) and Vikings (2004, 2012) twice in wild card games. The Packers beat the Lions in both 1993 and 1994 after splitting their two regular-season games.
In 2004, the Packers swept the Vikings in the regular season with a pair of 34-31 wins, but then lost the third game, a 31-17 loss at Lambeau Field. In 2012, when the two teams met again at Lambeau Field, the Packers and Vikings split their regular season games, with each team winning at home before the Packers won the playoff rematch, 24-10.
This year, like three of the previous four occurrences, the Packers and their division opponent both won the games during the regular season. The Packers won their home game in Week 14, a 28-21 win that was sealed by a Keisan Nixon interception in the end zone. The Bears won their home game, also in exciting fashion, a 22-16 overtime win that was highlighted by the Caleb Williams to D.J. Moore touchdown catch in overtime.
| Year | Opponent | Reg Season Results | Playoff Result |
| 1993 | Detroit | GB W 26-17, Det W 30-20 | GB Win 28-24 |
| 1994 | Detroit | GB W 38-30, Det W 34-31 | GB Win 16-12 |
| 1998 | San Francisco | GB W 36-22 | SF Win 30-27 |
| 2002 | Atlanta | GB W 37-34(ot) | Atl Win 27-7 |
| 2003 | Seattle | GB W 35-13 | GB Win 33-27(ot) |
| 2004 | Minnesota | GB W 34-31, GB W 34-31 | Min Win 31-17 |
| 2009 | Arizona | GB W 33-7 | Arz Win 51-45(ot) |
| 2010 | Philadelphia | GB W 27-20 | GB Win 21-16 |
| 2012 | Minnesota | GB W 23-14, Min W 37-34 | GB Win 24-10 |
| 2013 | San Francisco | SF W 34-28 | SF Win 23-20 |
| 2016 | NY Giants | GB W 23-16 | GB Win 38-13 |
| 2024 | Philadelphia | Phi W 34-29 | Phi Win 22-10 |
| 2025 | Chicago | GB W 28-21, Chi W 22-16(ot) | Sat. 7 PM |
In 2004, the Packers swept the Vikings in the regular season with a pair of 34-31 wins, but then lost the third game, a 31-17 loss at Lambeau Field. In 2012, when the two teams met again at Lambeau Field, the Packers and Vikings split their regular season games, with which each team winning at home.
As painful as the Week 16 loss was for Packers fans, as it evoked several eerie moments that were nearly identical to the infamous loss in Seattle 11 years ago, the Packers entering this game splitting with their division rivals in the regular season should give the team some motivation heading into their playoff contest.
Green Bay lost a game that it controlled for 58 minutes without its starting quarterback for two-thirds of the game, its best offensive lineman Zach Tom for the entire game, as well as starting safety Evan Williams. Having those three players back, as well as a fresher Josh Jacobs should be keys for the Packers.
A major key will also be the turnover battle. The two teams each had one takeaway (an interception) in the Week 14 game at Lambeau Field. The Bears had the edge in takeaways 1-0 in the game at Soldier Field. But they also recovered the onside kick in the 4th quarter which was like a turnover and turned the Packers over on downs on their first drive in overtime.
In order to get the better end of the Bears this time around, the Packers have to be on the positive end of turnovers. For a team that has been relatively strong in turnover ratio under head coach Matt LaFleur, they struggled for most of the 2025 season in winning this phase of the game. Since week 12, the only games where the Packers had more takeaways were in the two games against the Minnesota Vikings.
In the last two playoff losses, to the 49ers and the Eagles, the Packers had six turnovers to zero takeaways. That’s a trend that must change on Saturday night for the Packers to move on to the divisional playoff round.
Saturday night's matchup with the Bears will mark just the fifth time the Packers have a Saturday Wild Card game.
1993: GB 28, DET 24
1994: GB 16, DET 12
2002: ATL 27, GB 7
2012: GB 24, MIN 10
2025: GB @ CHI— Packers History (@HistoricPackers) January 5, 2026
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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Comments (17)
MooPack
January 06, 2026 at 06:12 pm
I remember that game in '94 against Detroit. Sanders held to -1 yds rushing. Was probably the most dominant Defensive performances I've seen. IIRC, lots of fighting.
CheeseEdWest2
January 06, 2026 at 08:16 pm
I remember that Detroit game. An awesome performance by the Packers D.
Starrbrite
January 06, 2026 at 10:21 pm
Shurmur schemed a shutdown of Samders. It was brilliant.
Starrbrite
January 06, 2026 at 10:23 pm
Sorry- Sanders—Geesh.
Old people—nursing home not giving me enough applesauce.
Joster11
January 07, 2026 at 10:23 am
I miss Fritz. He was a dynamic DC.
heyjoe4
January 07, 2026 at 06:54 am
It's mind boggling to think that any NFL RB could be held to -1 yard for a game. But Barry Sanders? That's just unthinkable. It was a heroic effort by the GB defense, and one of the finest moments in a history of fine moments.
PhantomII
January 06, 2026 at 08:57 pm
I fully expect them to try and run our guts into the ground like the Ravens did....I like how when the Ravens want to show run, they have a 300 lb FB / Guard in the back field to make it work. Maybe ML has learned a thing or 2 about imposing your will on a team from it happening in front of his eyes. Maybe the DC has showed a bigger importance on learning how to stop a run game by looking at what not to do....Hopefully some of these big bodies will help. Scoring early and often is the recipe and the defense getting off the field without giving up points. No huddle the entire first series. GPG
Starrbrite
January 06, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Yep—gotta score more than FGs in the red zone.
BabeParilli
January 06, 2026 at 09:24 pm
Rodgers Sunday night dropped back to pass 49 times and the Steelers ran the ball 24 times and the Steelers won.
However with Gutekunst's prize - Jordan - the Packers cannot pass consistently.
The only way the Packers beat the Bears is if Lafleur takes the ball out of Jordan's hands and runs on more offensive plays that Jordan drops back to pass.
Jordan is now 11 wins 18 losses and 1 tie in games where Jordan drops back to pass more than the Packers run - that is a ABSYMAL 38.3% winning percentage!!!
These are the updated won loss tie records with Jordan as starting quarterback:
8 wins 20 losses and 1 tie - 28.1% winning percentage - when Jordan either throws an interception or losses a fumble.
20 wins 2 losses - 90.9% winning percentage - when Jordan does not throw an interception or lose a fumble.
Lafleur now after 3 years - 51 games - with Jordan as the starter is 28 wins 22 losses and 1 tie - 55.9% winning percentage - AND JORDAN HAD A TOP 10 Packer Defense in 2 of the 3 years and this year's 11th ranked defense was in the top 10 through week 16 of 18. The Rams allowed only 20 and 19 points in week 17 and 18 relative to the Packers 41 and 16 points allowed after which the Rams overtook the Packers for the 10th position.
Lafleur after 3 years - 53 games - with Rodgers as the starter was 41 wins 12 losses - a winning percentage of 77.4%.
Overall 77.4% winning record with Rodgers after 3 years compared to 55.9% overall winning percentage with 3 years of Jordan starting.
Let that sink in, but don't stop there.
And in 46 of those 53 games - 86.8% - that Rodgers started the Packers dropped back to pass on at least 50% of the play calls. And in those 46 games where Packers and Rodgers dropped back to pass more than they ran, the Packers won 34 times or 73.9% of the time..
Jordan is now 11 wins 18 losses and 1 tie in games where Jordan drops back to pass more than the Packers run - that is a ABSYMAL 38.3% winning percentage!!!
So what we had in Rodgers for 15 years was a Franchise Quarterback as a starter who was a 4 time MVP and Super Bowl MVP Super Bowl winning QB that was graced a top 10 defense by Packers General Managers Gutekunst and Thompson just 3 times in 15 years and not afforded the overwhelming # of top offensive draft picks that Jordan has been graced the last 4 years.
And what we have in Jordan is nothing more than a game manager that Lafleur cannot trust or count in in critical situations when the Packers need to pass.
And in 17 of those 18 games that Jordan and the Packers lost where Jordan had passed more than the Packers ran, Jordan threw an interception or fumbled. The only game that Jordan did not lose a fumble or throw an interception was the Falcon game in 2023 when Jordan tried to do a quarterback sneak without the ball on 4th down and turned the ball over that way.
The Packers are now 17 wins and 4 losses - 80.9% winning percentage - when Lafleur takes the ball out of Jordan's hands and running plays account for at least 50% of the Packers offensive plays.
Lafleur can only do so much to hide Jordan's issues - and Lafleur has done a hell of a job hiding them.
This is a Jordan problem and thus a Packers problem as there our times the Packers are forced to pass. When the Packers fall behind - often do to Jordan's inaccuracy and/or fumbles or interceptions - the Packers need to score more quickly and are forced to pass. When the defenses of the opponents put 8 in the box, the Packers are forced to pass downfield.
Lafleur could call as many passes as he needed with an ELITE QB and he had one in 4 time MVP Rodgers and Lafleur and Rodgers were deadly when Rodgers dropped back to pass more than the the Packers ran.
Gutekunst destroyed the Packers chances for Super Bowls - past, present and future - with his ego and incompetence and insensitivity to veteran Packer players.
Does Gutekunst have the the character to admit he made a mistake - many of them - and to trade Jordan Love as Roseman did with Carson Wentz? Most true Packers fans knew back in 2020 that the pick of Jordan was terrible and the trade of Rodgers in 2023 was terrible and now that Gutekunst in desperation overpaid for Micah Parsons.
Malik Willis is our Jalen Hurts.
Jordan Love is our Carson Wentz.
If the Packers run more times than Jordan drops back to pass the Packer beat the Bears Saturday night.
heyjoe4
January 07, 2026 at 07:02 am
Well said Babe, although I think Love is better than what you portray. I don't care for him much. He does have talent, but it appears inconsistently and for no apparent reason. Worst of all, he plays the game with no emotion, no fire. That's hard to take after Rodgers and Favre - guys who truly led their respective teams.
But to the point about running - thanks for the W/L stat when the run game dominated. A great offense must have a consistently good running game. So I hope that Jacobs can be his best Saturday night, along with a solid dose of the very capable Wilson. And a solid run game wears out an opponents' defense.
That said, Love and the receivers have to do their part. There is no room for error, and so TOs will have to be zero for the Packers. Instead, I'd love the season's first pic 6 for Diggs.
Mister Chievous
January 07, 2026 at 07:43 am
I think Jacobs best years are behind him. there are at least 20 backs in the league better than him. we need an upgrade.
Mister Chievous
January 07, 2026 at 07:41 am
you failed to factor in that teams who are ahead in the 4th quarter run the ball most of the time to kill the clock. get back to work, stat nerd.
still, I think all Packers fans are wondering if Willis might be better than love. it Willis goes to another team and becomes a top QB in the league we will be sick to our stomach.
BabeParilli
January 06, 2026 at 09:30 pm
Rodgers Sunday night dropped back to pass 49 times and the Steelers ran the ball 24 times and the Steelers won.
However with Gutekunst's prize - Jordan - the Packers cannot pass consistently without Jordan making some BONEHEADED DECISION - not to mention his slow processing of what is in front of him and his lack of lateral movement and agility or elusiveness in and outside of the pocket.
The only way the Packers beat the Bears is if Lafleur takes the ball out of Jordan's hands and runs on more offensive plays that Jordan drops back to pass. Beyond Jordan's inept play, the Bears defense allows the most yards per carry of any of the 14 teams remaining in the playoffs - 5.0 yards per carry.
Jordan is now 11 wins 18 losses and 1 tie in games where Jordan drops back to pass more than the Packers run - that is a ABSYMAL 38.3% winning percentage!!!
These are the updated won loss tie records with Jordan as starting quarterback:
8 wins 20 losses and 1 tie - 28.1% winning percentage - when Jordan either throws an interception or losses a fumble.
20 wins 2 losses - 90.9% winning percentage - when Jordan does not throw an interception or lose a fumble.
Lafleur now after 3 years - 51 games - with Jordan as the starter is 28 wins 22 losses and 1 tie - 55.9% winning percentage - AND JORDAN HAD A TOP 10 Packer Defense in 2 of the 3 years and this year's 11th ranked defense was in the top 10 through week 16 of 18. The Rams allowed only 20 and 19 points in week 17 and 18 relative to the Packers 41 and 16 points allowed after which the Rams overtook the Packers for the 10th position.
Lafleur after 3 years - 53 games - with Rodgers as the starter was 41 wins 12 losses - a winning percentage of 77.4%.
Overall 77.4% winning record with Rodgers after 3 years compared to 55.9% overall winning percentage with 3 years of Jordan starting.
Let that sink in, but don't stop there.
And in 46 of those 53 games - 86.8% - that Rodgers started the Packers dropped back to pass on at least 50% of the play calls. And in those 46 games where Packers and Rodgers dropped back to pass more than they ran, the Packers won 34 times or 73.9% of the time..
Jordan is now 11 wins 18 losses and 1 tie in games where Jordan drops back to pass more than the Packers run - that is a ABSYMAL 38.3% winning percentage!!!
So what we had in Rodgers for 15 years was a Franchise Quarterback as a starter who was a 4 time MVP and Super Bowl MVP Super Bowl winning QB that was graced a top 10 defense by Packers General Managers Gutekunst and Thompson just 3 times in 15 years and not afforded the overwhelming # of top offensive draft picks that Jordan has been graced the last 4 years.
And what we have in Jordan is nothing more than a game manager that Lafleur cannot trust or count in in critical situations when the Packers need to pass.
And in 17 of those 18 games that Jordan and the Packers lost where Jordan had passed more than the Packers ran, Jordan threw an interception or fumbled. The only game that Jordan did not lose a fumble or throw an interception was the Falcon game in 2023 when Jordan tried to do a quarterback sneak without the ball on 4th down and turned the ball over that way.
The Packers are now 17 wins and 4 losses - 80.9% winning percentage - when Lafleur takes the ball out of Jordan's hands and running plays account for at least 50% of the Packers offensive plays.
Lafleur can only do so much to hide Jordan's issues - and Lafleur has done a hell of a job hiding them.
This is a Jordan problem and thus a Packers problem as there our times the Packers are forced to pass. When the Packers fall behind - often do to Jordan's inaccuracy and/or fumbles or interceptions - the Packers need to score more quickly and are forced to pass. When the defenses of the opponents put 8 in the box, the Packers are forced to pass downfield.
Lafleur could call as many passes as he needed with an ELITE QB and he had one in 4 time MVP Rodgers and Lafleur and Rodgers were deadly when Rodgers dropped back to pass more than the the Packers ran.
Gutekunst destroyed the Packers chances for Super Bowls - past, present and future - with his ego and incompetence and insensitivity to veteran Packer players.
Does Gutekunst have the the character to admit he made a mistake - many of them - and to trade Jordan Love as Roseman did with Carson Wentz? Most true Packers fans knew back in 2020 that the pick of Jordan was terrible and the trade of Rodgers in 2023 was terrible and now that Gutekunst in desperation overpaid for Micah Parsons.
Malik Willis is our Jalen Hurts.
Jordan Love is our Carson Wentz.
If the Packers run more times than Jordan drops back to pass the Packer beat the Bears Saturday night.
Starrbrite
January 06, 2026 at 11:31 pm
I will say this—I get a little nervous when Love must make a critical play.
heyjoe4
January 07, 2026 at 06:52 am
I think it's fair to say this is the playoff game we all wanted, after the horrific loss to the Bears in the last matchup. The Packers, with or without Parsons, have clearly been the better team in the regular season matchups. And the Packers still are the better team.
The Bears were always a friendly rivalry IMO. Ben Johnson changed all that when he said that, while at Detroit, he "enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year". Oops, bad idea.
Now the rivalry is more akin to the queens, extreme dislike bordering on hatred. I'm looking forward to this "rubber match" and to GB completely dominating Ben Johnson's team. Johnson made this personal, and MLF will have his team ready to respond appropriately.
Spock
January 07, 2026 at 01:04 pm
heyjoe4
Ben Johnson didn't say that "while at Detroit"; he said it AT HIS INTRODUCTORY NEWS CONFERENCE as the Bears new HC. It's nothing new for new HC's in Chicago to say their number one goal is to beat THE PACKERS but Johnson made it personal by calling out MLF specifically. Hence the "flyby handshakes" after each game.
NFLfan
January 07, 2026 at 08:35 am
The O-Line needs to perform-if not neither Jordan nor Jacobs will have a good day.