CHICAGO — If your heart rate finally returned to normal this morning, you probably aren’t a Bears fan. The NFL released its official ranking of the Top 10 Games of the 2025 season today, and the results confirmed what Chicago faithful have known for months: The 2025 Bears were the most electrifying show in sports. In a league of 285 matchups, four Bears games cracked the top 10—a staggering 40% of the list—highlighted by a postseason comeback that will be played on highlight reels for decades.
The Caleb Williams Effect
Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams didn’t just avoid the sophomore slump; he took a sledgehammer to it. Williams orchestrated seven game-winning drives this season, an NFL record for a quarterback under 25. That resilience turned the “Cardiac Bears” into appointment viewing. When the offense stalled, the defense held. When the defense bent, Williams launched a missile. It was a symbiotic chaos that produced some of the finest football of the 21st century.
The List: Chicago’s Four masterpieces
#4: The Shootout by the Bay (Week 17 vs. 49ers)
Coming in at ninth was the Week 17 fireworks display against San Francisco. This 42-38 slugfest became the first regular-season game in history to be tied at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. It was a heavyweight bout where neither side refused to blink, setting the tone for the playoff drama that followed.
#3: Heartbreak in Overtime (Divisional Round vs. Rams)
The season’s end was as dramatic as its start. Ranked seventh, the 20-17 overtime thriller against the Rams saw two exhausted defenses trading blows until the bitter end. While the result stung, the quality of play was undeniable. It was a masterclass in tension, proving Chicago belongs in the heavyweight division moving forward.
#2: The Lambeau Silencer (Week 16 vs. Packers)
Just weeks before their playoff clash, Chicago pulled off a miraculous 22-16 overtime win against Green Bay. This game had everything: a wildest-dreams second-half rally, a photo finish, and a silenced Lambeau crowd. It lands at sixth on the list, though many in the Windy City would argue it deserves a podium spot.
#1: The Miracle at Soldier Field (Wild Card vs. Packers)
Unsurprisingly, the crown jewel of the Bears’ season took silver. The 31-27 Wild Card victory over Green Bay wasn’t just a win; it was an exorcism. Down 25 points entering the fourth quarter, the Bears staged the largest playoff comeback in their 106-year history. Williams was surgical, the defense was suffocating, and the stadium actually shook. It stands as the defining moment of the rivalry’s modern era.
“We never looked at the scoreboard. That’s the honest truth. We just looked at each other and said, ‘We’re not done.’ When you have 60,000 people screaming and believing even when you’re down 25, you find a way. We found a way.”
— Caleb Williams, Bears Quarterback
The Ones That Got Away
Incredibly, you could argue the list snubbed Chicago. The Week 9 barnburner against Cincinnati (a 47-42 Bears win) was relegated to the “More games worth revisiting” section despite being an offensive clinic. The Week 14 loss to Green Bay (28-21) also featured a frantic comeback that fell just short. Under different circumstances, Chicago could have easily owned six spots on this list.
What This Means for 2026
The league has taken notice. With the Rams and Bills being the only other teams featured more than twice, expect the Bears to live in primetime next season. The narrative has shifted. Chicago isn’t just a scrappy underdog anymore; they are the league’s premier adrenaline rush. The 2025 season proved they can hang with anyone. Now, the goal for 2026 is simple: turn those thrillers into a trophy.
