GREEN BAY — At long last, the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers. Cairo Santos made a 51-yard field goal as time expired Sunday at Lambeau Field to lift the Bears to a 24-22 victory in their season finale. Santos, who had a potential winning field-goal attempt blocked in the previous Bears-Packers meeting in November, raced around the field in celebration after making the kick. The Bears (5-12) ended an 11-game losing streak in the rivalry with the Packers. It was their first victory in the series since December 2018 and their first win in Green Bay since 2015. They also broke a 10-game losing streak this season, tied for the franchise’s longest single-season skid with the stretch that ended the 2022 season. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams engineered the winning drive in the final minute after the Packers pulled ahead 22-21. He completed an 18-yard pass to DJ Moore in the middle of the field to get the Bears to the Green Bay 33-yard line, then spiked the ball with two seconds left to set up Santos’ field goal. Williams threw for 148 yards and a touchdown. The Packers played most of the last three quarters without starting quarterback Jordan Love, who injured his elbow. Malik Willis filled in and threw for 136 yards. Emanuel Wilson rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown. The Packers (11-6) already had made the playoffs, but they were playing to move up in seeding from No. 7 to No. 6 with a win over the Bears and a Dallas Cowboys win over the Washington Commanders. The Commanders won 23-19. With a 21-19 lead, the Bears had the ball and were trying to pull farther ahead or at least run out the clock. But Moore fumbled and the Packers recovered at the Bears 43-yard line. Four plays later, Packers kicker Brandon McManus made a 55-yard field goal for the lead. The Bears went up 21-13 when Moore took a short Williams pass and turned it into a 32-yard touchdown. The Bears originally went for a 2-point conversion, which was stopped but negated by a defensive penalty. They then kicked the extra point. Bears wide receiver DJ Moore points towards fans after scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Packers on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) The Packers pulled within 21-19 on Wilson’s 21-yard touchdown run, but Willis’ 2-point conversion pass to try to tie the game was incomplete. Willis had a 41-yard pass to Malik Heath the play before the touchdown. After leading 14-13 at halftime, the Bears got to the Packers 40 on their first drive of the third quarter, but a trick play went awry. Williams pitched the football to Moore, who pitched to Keenan Allen, who threw an interception to Packers safety Xavier McKinney. The Bears got the ball back four plays later when safety Kevin Byard slammed into Willis, forcing a fumble. Linebacker T.J. Edwards recovered at the Bears 46, but the offense couldn’t convert the takeaway into points. Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson left in the second half with a quadriceps injury and didn’t return. Here’s how the game unfolded. Inactives: Zacch Pickens a healthy scratch again for Bears Bears defensive end Daniel Hardy warms up before playing the Packers on Sunday in Green Bay. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) The Bears didn’t have any surprises on their game-day inactives list Sunday morning before the season finale against the Packers at Lambeau Field. They previously declared out left guard Teven Jenkins (calf), safety Elijah Hicks (ankle/foot) and running back Travis Homer (hamstring). Interim coach Thomas Brown said Jake Curhan will start in place of Jenkins, who is missing his second straight game with the calf injury. The Bears made defensive tackle Zacch Pickens a healthy scratch for the second straight week. Linebacker Noah Sewell and defensive back Ameer Speed are also inactive. For the Packers, wide receiver Christian Watson, who was questionable with a knee injury, is active. But wide receiver Romeo Doubs is out with an illness. The Packers previously declared out cornerback Zaire Alexander (knee), safety Zayne Anderson (concussion), offensive tackle Andre Dillard (concussion), linebacker Quay Walker (ankle) and safety Evan Williams (foot). Defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. (foot) is also inactive. Halftime: Defense, special teams carry Bears to 14-13 lead Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell returns a punt 94 yards for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Packers on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) The Bears hold a lead for the first time in six weeks at halftime Sunday at Lambeau Field. The defense and special teams paved the way to a 14-13 lead against the Packers with a punt-return touchdown and a takeaway that led to a score. The Packers outgained the Bears 222 yards to 57 in the half. Packers quarterback Jordan Love left in the second quarter with an elbow injury and is questionable to return. Malik Willis replaced him and threw for 56 yards. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams completed 8 of 12 passes for 33 yards. Running back D’Andre Swift ran for 35 yards and a touchdown. The Bears took their first lead since Nov. 24 when Josh Blackwell returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Bears had DJ Moore drop back and serve as a decoy returner while Bears players faked as if the punt was going to Moore. Meanwhile, Blackwell fielded the punt and raced up the right sideline untouched for the first return touchdown of his career. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson came up with a big tackle and pass breakup to help the Bears hold the Packers to a 37-yard Brandon McManus field goal on the next drive. Bears safety Jonathan Owens (36) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the Packers on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) On the Packers’ next drive, cornerback Jaylon Johnson punched out the football from wide receiver Jayden Reed, and safety Jonathan Owens recovered and returned it 14 yards to the Green Bay 21-yard line. Williams hit Moore for a quick 15-yard pass, and Swift scored on a 4-yard run for a 14-3 Bears lead. The Packers cut it to 14-10 on Josh Jacobs’ 9-yard touchdown run. That came after Willis’ 20-yard pass to Tucker Kraft. Willis had just gone in for Love, who was having his right elbow looked at. McManus made a 30-yard field goal with 1 minute, 57 seconds to play in the half to cut it to 14-13. Catch up on all of our coverage. 5 things to watch — plus our predictions Packers quarterback Jordan Love dives just short of the end zone while being tackled by Bears safety Kevin Byard during the fourth quarter on Nov. 17, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) There’s more than one double-digit losing streak at play here. Yes, the Bears have lost 10 in a row. But they’ve also lost 11 in a row to the Packers dating to the 2018 season. No Bears player on the active roster has beaten the Packers while in Chicago, and for longer-tenured players such as tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson that’s maddening. “F−−− ’em. That’s how I’m feeling,” Johnson said when asked about his mindset. “I’m going to try to go out with a bang. It’s the last opponent on the schedule, so I’m looking forward to it.” Read more here. Luke Getsy — the former Bears OC — is helping out the Packers as they prepare for the playoffs NFC’s No. 1 seed comes down to Vikings-Lions showdown at Detroit in Week 18 Jaylon Johnson is the Bears’ lone Pro Bowl representative Coaching search Bears tight end Cole Kmet walks off the field after a loss to the Seahawks on Dec. 26, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) As the Bears embark on yet another coaching search to begin 2025, what do players want from the next leader of the team? What qualities can stabilize and energize this frustrated locker room? “We need a culture shift for sure,” tight end Cole Kmet said without hesitating. “And I know a lot of people get caught up in wanting this hot name or that hot name. But I would hope that management upstairs would just be looking for the best possible head coach.” That coach, Kmet believes, should have an immediate understanding of how to raise the bar inside Halas Hall, how to establish standards and expectations and make certain everyone involved upholds them. No questions asked. No wiggle room allowed. Read more here. Bears Q&A: Would retaining GM Ryan Poles deter a top coaching candidate? Are Pete Carroll and Kliff Kingsbury legitimate options? Column: Why Pete Carroll makes sense as a candidate for the Bears coaching job What Bears QB should focus on heading into a critical offseason Bears quarterback Caleb Williams walks onto the field before the game against the Seahawks at Soldier Field on Dec. 26, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Caleb Williams has one game left in his rookie season. When he takes the field Sunday at Lambeau Field, he’ll become the first Chicago Bears quarterback since Jay Cutler in 2009 to start every game. Williams will look to deliver a strong performance that creates belief and momentum heading into the 2025 offseason. He also will try to help the Bears break two ignominious losing streaks: a 10-game slide this season that began Oct. 27 at Washington and an 11-game skid against the rival Packers that dates to the 2019 season opener. But a real eye test is coming soon for Williams. Read more here. Column: Caleb Williams has flashed enough to give the Bears hope. But, boy, did they botch his rookie season. True or false? Bears QB Caleb Williams deserves more blame for his league-high sack total 4 things we learned from the Bears, including Caleb Williams on ‘stupid’ offensive line narrative Tracking Caleb Williams: How the Bears QB is performing in his rookie season ‘You keep your head down’ Bears safety Kevin Byard celebrates after getting an interception during the third quarter against the Panthers at Soldier Field on Oct. 6, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Kevin Byard’s first season with the Bears has been a challenge. The veteran safety won’t dispute that. But Byard has a unique perspective on playing through the Bears’ 2024 trials as he prepares to start his 17th game of the season against the Packers at Lambeau Field. It will be his 147th consecutive regular-season game played. Now in his ninth NFL season, Byard, 31, hasn’t missed a game, aside from an October 2023 trade from the Titans to the Eagles that resulted in his having two bye weeks. The streak is a testament to his physical durability, his work to maintain his health — and a mental fortitude that has helped him persist despite considerable adversity. Read more here. New Year’s resolutions for Bears GM Bears general manager Ryan Poles speaks with the media during a press conference with Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren at Halas Hall on Dec. 2, 2024. (Stacey Wescott/ Chicago Tribune) When the book closes on the season, Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren and GM Ryan Poles must dive into their most important work — identifying the changes, hires and moves that need to happen in order for them to turn the page not only on 2024, but also to a new era. If Poles remains in his post — as Warren said he would last month — his job will include learning from his mistakes over the previous three seasons to build a coaching staff and roster that are better equipped to elevate Williams in 2025. Poles has a lot from which to learn. With that in mind, here are five New Year’s resolutions that the GM must consider to make next year a better experience for all involved with the Bears. Column: 2024 sucked for Chicago sports. Here’s one last look back at another lost year for fans. Read more here. How the Bears-Packers rivalry has unfolded Halas and LombardiChicago Tribune fileBears coach George Halas and Packers coach Vince Lombardi at Lambeau Field in 1964. Except for two years — 1922 and 1982 — the Bears and Packers have played each other every season since 1921. They are the two oldest teams in continuous operation in the National Football League with a rivalry spanning 207 regular season games and two playoff meetings. The Packers hold a slight lead in the series with 108 wins to the Bears’ 95, with six ties. Here’s a look back, decade by decade, at how the teams have fared and the highlights — and lowlights — of their matchups. Read more here.