So close. The Chicago Bears were so close to reaching their first NFC title game since 2011, but came up just short after the Rams were able to kick the game-winning field goal in overtime. Adding to the pain is that the Bears once again lived up to their cardiac kids moniker by tying the game in the final minute of regulation, sending it to overtime in the first place.
While the Bears ultimately didn't win the game and the loss hurts so bad right now, the fact of the matter is that this season is far from being looked at as a failed season. The reason why is that no one thought the Bears would even get to this point, yet they did.
Former Bears defensive lineman Corey Wootton summed it up perfectly after the game, stating:
"I don't think anyone, when the season started, we've talked about this, thought the Bears could go this far. On any given Sunday, we thought, 'Hey, they'll keep it close, they'll go up and down, they'll find a way to call and scratch back, and they did that again tonight,'" Wootton said. "But I think this was an incredible season to build off... They had the whole city rocking and vibing, and it was on fire. So, yes, a couple plays here or there, we'd be looking at the NFC Championship... There's a lot to build off, a lot of positions that need some upgrades, defensive line, et cetera. But incredible season, and, you know, definitely happy for Ben Johnson and his team. And, you know, obviously, you never want to be happy in a loss, but they exceeded our expectations."
Corey Wootton just said exactly how every Bears fan should feel after heartbreaking loss
It's hard to disagree with anything Wootton, who played for the Bears from 2010 to 2013, said here. Nobody predicted the Bears would make this deep a playoff run before the season began. They overcame the odds, though, winning the NFC North for the first time since 2018 and taking down the Packers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
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Clearly, the future is bright for this young Bears squad, so even though it didn't pan out the way we were all hoping it would, there's a lot to look forward to when it comes to the future of the Chicago Bears franchise.