MTHATHA, South Africa (AP) — Receding floodwaters that submerged homes days before left the residents of Mthatha, South Africa, helpless. They watched the bodies of their families and neighbors being recovered from the aftermath of an extreme weather front that brought heavy rain, strong winds and snow to parts of the province.
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A woman takes a photograph of her damaged house, after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Rescue workers transport a person in a body bag after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A view of homes submerged in floodwater, in Mthatha, South Africa, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
Community members and families watch as rescue workers recover bodies after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
Forensic workers retrieve bodies of a mother and three daughters from inside a one room house after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Flood-damaged housing in Mthatha, South Africa, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A woman is consoled by community members as bodies of her sister and three daughters were retrieved from inside a one room house, after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A resident looks through the remnants after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Women wash their clothes along the river next a car that was swept through by floods in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A man with a child look at a home submerged in floodwater, in Mthatha, South Africa, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
Rescue workers transport a person in a body bag during a rescue operation after floods swept through the area, in Mthatha, South Africa, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
A view of homes submerged in floodwater, in Mthatha, South Africa, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
A woman takes a photograph of her damaged house, after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Rescue workers transport a person in a body bag after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A view of homes submerged in floodwater, in Mthatha, South Africa, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
Community members and families watch as rescue workers recover bodies after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
Forensic workers retrieve bodies of a mother and three daughters from inside a one room house after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Flood-damaged housing in Mthatha, South Africa, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A woman is consoled by community members as bodies of her sister and three daughters were retrieved from inside a one room house, after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A resident looks through the remnants after floods swept through the area in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Women wash their clothes along the river next a car that was swept through by floods in Mthatha, South Africa, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A man with a child look at a home submerged in floodwater, in Mthatha, South Africa, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
Rescue workers transport a person in a body bag during a rescue operation after floods swept through the area, in Mthatha, South Africa, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
A view of homes submerged in floodwater, in Mthatha, South Africa, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Hoseya Jubase)
CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams came through in his playoff debut, throwing a go-ahead, 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore with 1:43 remaining, and the Chicago Bears rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the rival Green Bay Packers 31-27 in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday night.
The NFC North champion Bears (12-6) extended their resurgent first season under coach Ben Johnson with their seventh fourth-quarter comeback victory. They split two down-to-the-wire games with Green Bay in the regular season, and this one turned out to be a thriller when it looked like it would be a breeze for the Packers (9-8-1).
Chicago trailed 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 through three quarters, only to outscore Green Bay 25-6 in the fourth on the way to its first playoff win in 15 years.
Williams found a wide-open Moore along the left sideline to give Chicago a 31-27 lead with 1:43 remaining.
Jordan Love then led Green Bay into Chicago territory. But on third down at the 28, Jaquan Brisker broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired, setting off a wild celebration — and a curt handshake between Johnson and Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
The Bears will host a divisional-round game next weekend.
Chicago pulled within 21-16 on D’Andre Swift’s 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The Packers responded, with rookie Matthew Golden breaking three tackles and leapfrogging a fourth defender on a 23-yard catch-and-run for his first career touchdown, making it 27-16. Brandon McManus missed the extra point wide left.
The Bears then went 76 yards, with Williams throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus and hitting rookie Colston Loveland for the 2-point conversion to make it 27-24 with 4:18 remaining.
The Packers then drove to the Chicago 21, only to come away with nothing when McManus missed wide right on a 44-yard field goal attempt. The Bears responded with the go-ahead touchdown drive and hung on for their first playoff win since the 2010 team beat Seattle in the divisional round at Soldier Field. They had lost three straight in the postseason, starting with a loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC championship game that season.
Green Bay dominated Chicago for years. But the momentum in the NFL's longest-running rivalry seems to be turning, with the Bears beating the Packers for the third time in the past five games.
The Bears envisioned nights like this when they drafted Williams No. 1 overall last year, and when they hired Johnson in the offseason. Williams delivered after a shaky start, throwing for 361 yards and the two late touchdowns. He completed 24 of 48 passes and was intercepted twice.
Loveland caught eight passes for 137 yards for the Bears, who had closed the regular season with tight losses to San Francisco and Detroit.
The Packers finished a season that began with Super Bowl hopes by dropping five in a row.
Love threw for 323 and four touchdowns after missing the final two regular-season games. He hadn’t played since a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago’s Austin Booker in the second quarter of a Week 16 loss at Soldier Field.
Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed each had TD catches in the first half. Ty’Ron Hopper stopped a threat in the third quarter when he intercepted a backpedaling Williams near the goal line.
Packers: RT Zach Tom (knee) was inactive after missing the Packers’ final three regular-season games. ... Backup OL Jacob Monk (biceps) left the game in the first half.
Bears: LB T.J. Edwards was carted off the field with an left ankle injury in the second quarter. His left foot got caught up with the leg of Watson and bent awkwardly. He was fitted with an air cast before he was carted away. ... CB Kyler Gordon (groin) was activated from injured reserve after being sidelined since Week 13.
Packers: Start the offseason.
Bears: Host a divisional-round game against either the Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia. The Eagles play San Francisco on Sunday, and the Rams knocked out Carolina on Saturday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Green Bay Packers' Jayden Reed catches a touchdown pass in front of Chicago Bears' Tremaine Edmunds during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) is tackled by Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears' Colston Loveland runs after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams throws during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Green Bay Packers' Matthew Golden gets past Chicago Bears' Montez Sweat for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams celebrates after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Bears' DJ Moore catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
