Bears vs. Packers 2018: Final score and game highlights

The Bears are your NFC North champions for the 2018 season after defeating the Packers, 24-17, on Sunday afternoon. With a 10-4 record, there’s no chance for anyone else in the division to catch up over the final two weeks of the regular season.

The defense yet again led the way for the Bears a week after their statement win over the Rams. Khalil Mack recorded 2.5 sacks and Eddie Jackson nabbed the game-sealing interception in the end zone with about three minutes left in regulation.

Mitch Trubisky also rebounded from his shaky performance a week ago with a much steadier effort against Green Bay. The quarterback competed 20 of 28 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, good for a 120.4 passer rating.

Relive the game that clinched the Bears’ first division title since 2010 below.

Final score: Bears 24, Packers 17

Bears 24, Packers 17: Allen Robinson recovers the onside kick and that’ll do it.

Bears 24, Packers 17: After a Leonard Floyd sack – his second of the game – the Packers settle for a field goal with 15 seconds in regulation to take a stab as a possible onside kick-and-Hail Mary combination. There are 11 seconds left.

Bears 24, Packers 14: Aaron Rodgers hits Davante Adams over the middle on fourth-and-6, so the Packers continue to fight to keep this game alive inside the final two minutes.

Bears 24, Packers 14: The Bears punt it away after a three-and-out, but they were able to force the Packers to use all their remaining timeouts, so any comeback will have to happen without those.

Bears 24, Packers 14: INTERCEPTION! The Packers drive all the way inside the Bears’ 10-yard line before a tipped pass on third-and-goal ends up in the hands of Eddie Jackson, who appeared to be in a bit of pain after awkwardly going to the ground at the end of the play. The Bears’ offense will take over with about three minutes left in regulation and a 10-point lead.

Bears 24, Packers 14: Tarik Cohen loses track of where he is trying to track a catch and goes out of bounds a yard before the first down, so the Bears have to settle for a short field goal from Cody Parkey. The good news is that the lead is back up to two scores with seven minutes left in the game.

Bears 21, Packers 14: The Bears’ defense delivers the three-and-out, then Tarik Cohen goes off on the punt return to nearly score a touchdown. The offense will take the field at the Packers’ 15 after a 44-yard return by Cohen.

Bears 21, Packers 14: TOUCHDOWN! Mitch Trubisky slings it to Trey Burton in the end zone for a 13-yard score. The QB is up to 230 passing yards and two TDs in the game.

Bears 14, Packers 14: Aaron Rodgers misses on a couple deep balls so the Packers can’t take advantage of the Bears’ turnover.

Bears 14, Packers 14: Leonard Floyd’s third sack in the last six weeks pushes the Packers back on first down.

Bears 14, Packers 14: The Bears’ drive stops dead in its tracks with a fumble by Tarik Cohen on an attempted exchange with Jordan Howard on an option play.

Third quarter: Bears 14, Packers 14

Bears 14, Packers 14: The third quarter wraps up with the Bears on a lengthy drive trying to take back the lead. They’ve already milked more than four minutes off the clock while going 48 yards.

Bears 14, Packers 14: The Bears announce that Aaron Lynch won’t return due to an elbow injury.

Bears 14, Packers 14: Jamaal Williams runs it in for the touchdown, then Aaron Rodgers hits Davante Adams over the middle for the two-point conversion. Tie ballgame.

Bears 14, Packers 6: Davante Adams makes a big-time 28-yard catch on third down despite being covered closely by Prince Amukamara. The Packers are in the red zone with a chance to potentially tie this game.

Bears 14, Packers 6: The Bears go for the fake punt on fourth down near midfield, but Benny Cunningham gets bottled up behind the line of scrimmage so the Packers get favorable field position to trim further into the lead. Matt Nagy’s aggressive play-calling didn’t work out that time.

Bears 14, Packers 6: The Packers settle for a 43-yard field goal from Mason Crosby, which keeps the Bears ahead by a touchdown.

Bears 14, Packers 3: With the Packers driving near the Bears’ 40, we’ve taken an early break as trainers tend to Aaron Lynch. Green Bay also announced that running back Aaron Jones won’t be returning to the game.

Halftime: Bears 14, Packers 3

Bears 14, Packers 3: A late effort gave the Packers a shot at a Hail Mary as time expired in the second quarter, but Davante Adams couldn’t corral the ball in the end zone, so the Bears go into halftime up 11. The Packers get the ball to open the second half.

Bears 14, Packers 3: TOUCHDOWN! Tarik Cohen used a burst of speed to get to the outside, dove for the end zone and reached the ball over the pylon to complete a five-play, 61-yard drive. That drive was the first time in this game that Cohen really did some damage, and he made it count.

Bears 7, Packers 3: A quick three-and-out by the Packers gave the ball right back to the Bears, who are driving after a 22-yard run by Tarik Cohen. This is a chance for them to add to their lead before the Packers get the ball back to open the second half.

Bears 7, Packers 3: The Bears’ drive stalls out but the punt crew comes up with another strong play to pin the Packers inside the 5-yard line. Aaron Rodgers will have just over two minutes to try to take back the lead before halftime.

Bears 7, Packers 3: Mitch Trubisky’s ability to dodge pass rushers proves crucial on back-to-back plays, including a third-down conversion where he finds Adam Shaheen for a 23-yard gain. Those are the moments when he’s putting all of his tools on display.

Bears 7, Packers 3: The Packers get the ball back and drive into Bears territory, but they stall after a big run stop by Aaron Lynch on second down. Mason Crosby hits from 41 yards out to compete the nine-play, 38-yard drive and get the Packers on the scoreboard.

Bears 7, Packers 0: Mack Back Sack? Sure why not. The Bears’ pass rush delivers again with a sack on third down, and this one is particularly big because it ensures Green Bay is outside of field goal territory, so it has to settle for a punt. The Bears’ offense has a long field to go after Tarik Cohen took the fair catch inside their own 10-yard line, however.

First quarter: Bears 7, Packers 0

Bears 7, Packers 0: The first quarter wraps up with the Packers driving into Bears territory off a big catch-and-run from Jamaal Williams. Green Bay also announced that starting running back Aaron Jones is questionable to return with a knee injury, so we may see a lot more of Williams.

Bears 7, Packers 0: TOUCHDOWN! Jordan Howard’s ability to move the chains proved crucial to the Bears’ first scoring drive. He’s only got 26 yards off seven carries so far, but that’s his first rushing touchdown since Nov. 4 against the Bills.

Bears 0, Packers 0: After a stellar bit of punt coverage to pin the Packers inside the five, Khalil Mack delivers on a third down with his 11th sack of the season to end Green Bay’s first series. The Packers’ offensive line, which doesn’t have Bryan Bulaga, looks like it could be a major issue in this game. Aaron Rodgers will likely be tasked with getting the ball out quickly like he did to hit Randall Cobb for the lone first down of the drive.

Bears 0, Packers 0: The Bears’ first completion of the game puts Allen Robinson in open space for a 30-yard gain. He’s up to 47 catches for 645 yards this season.

Bears 0, Packers 0: Green Bay won the coin toss and opted to defer, so the Bears’ offense gets the ball to start the game.

Before the game

A lot has happened since the last time the Bears and Packers played in early September. The former has surged to the brink of clinching its first division title in years. The latter collapsed after a 3-2-1 start, fired its longtime head coach and likely won’t reach the playoffs.

All of that sets the stage for a Sunday afternoon showdown at Soldier Field with much different stakes from the past few seasons. The Bears have a chance to wrap the bow on their first NFC North title since 2010 if they can put away the struggling Packers, who have lost five of their last seven games. Green Bay, usually the one with Super Bowl aspirations, will try to play spoiler for its rival.

The Bears enter the contest with all the momentum based on recent play. They’re coming off an impressive Week 14 victory over the NFC West-leading Rams, who had just one loss entering that contest.

The Packers, meanwhile, had lost five of six before beating the Falcons last week. Not helping matters for Green Bay is that linemen Bryan Bulaga and Kenny Clark will be out, removing two of their key pieces from the battle at the line of scrimmage.

How to watch Bears vs. Packers

Time: 12 p.m. CT

TV: FOX

Live stream: FOX Sports Go