The Chicago Bears are preparing for their first playoff appearance since 2020 as the Green Bay Packers are set to come to Soldier Field on Saturday, January 10th. Despite their 212 prior matchups with each other, this is only the third time these teams will face off in the postseason.
Chicago’s ascension through the NFC has been linked to the growth of Caleb Williams in his second year. Former Bears quarterback Vince Evans shared his thoughts on Chicago’s current signal caller in an interview with Andscape, ahead of Williams’ playoff debut.
“I’ve been admiring his work so much,” Evans said. “I’m just so excited about his future.”
Vince Evans played for the Bears from 1977 to 1983, but his ties to Williams go beyond just the professional level.
Vince Evans Provides His Evaluation of Caleb Williams’ Rookie Season
GettyCaleb Williams threw for 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns his rookie season while adding an additional 489 yards on the ground.
Vince Evans made history as Chicago’s first African American starting quarterback. But before his time in the league, he was a product of the University of Southern California, just like Caleb Williams. Evans discussed the connection he felt with Williams, given their shared history, and provided his thoughts on his rookie season.
“In that first year, for anybody as highly touted as Caleb was, the expectations are so high, as they should be,” Evans said. “But when you look at star quarterbacks taken in the first round, and especially at the very top of the draft, it usually takes some time.”
“That’s just the whole maturation process. It’s what a lot of these guys face – and what they have to go through. Caleb was no different. But what you saw, even when he was going through it as a rookie, was his athleticism and his skill set. It was just noteworthy. He was doing things a lot of guys just can’t do in terms of throwing the football.”
Evans praised Williams’ duel-threat ability, stating, “He just does it so well. Throwing the ball the way he does on the run, his accuracy on hard throws, just puts a super burden on the defense. … Yeah. I’m looking forward to watching this weekend.”
Evans isn’t the only one looking forward to watching Caleb and the Bears tomorrow. The young quarterback famously said on Hard Knocks last year that he “doesn’t get nervous”, and now it remains to be seen if he can stay calm ahead of the biggest game of his career so far.
Chicago Bears’ Key Advantages vs. Green Bay Packers
Getty2025 marks the second time Kevin Byard III has led the NFL in interceptions during the regular season (2017, 2025).
Division games can get weird, and they only get weirder when those divisional teams are forced to play each other three times within a season, and that weirdness only compounds when it’s the third time they’ll play each other within a five-week span. That being said, statistically, Pro Football Focus has provided insights into some key areas where Chicago has the upper hand over Green Bay.
On the offensive side, Chicago is tied for the second-best run grade among all 32 teams. This is a significant advantage as they are facing the Packers’ 23rd-ranked run defense.
Green Bay will be without star defensive end Micah Parsons once again. Parsons is currently the Packers’ highest graded pass rusher with a score of 92.9. Green Bay’s next highest graded player among the defensive line is defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt at 71.4
Wyatt will be facing off against Chicago’s sixth-ranked pass-blocking offensive line, and he’ll be lined up against the Bears’ highest graded pass blocker guard Joe Thuney, who supports an 88.6 score.
On the defensive side, the Bears still support the best turnover differential in the NFL, and safety Kevin Byard III leads the league with seven interceptions.
Beyond the analytical advantages both teams support, the game will come down to who handles the pressure better. Soldier Field is set for a championship-style atmosphere as the longest-lasting rivalry in the NFL is set to take place on another national stage.
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