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Malik Willis didn’t win the game, but he may have won himself a future. In Week 16, Willis seized a prime opportunity when it arrived in the most unforgiving of settings. It was on Soldier Field, against the Bears, with the NFC North on the line and the Packers’ season teetering. What followed was not just a competent relief appearance. It was a statement that will certainly force front offices to take notes. Agents will start making calls, and teams desperate for quarterback stability will quietly circle his name.
The Chicago Bears stunned the Packers 22–16 in overtime in Week 16 at Soldier Field. They rallied from a 16–6 deficit late in the fourth quarter to seize control of the NFC North. The loss dropped Green Bay to 9-5-1. It also swung the division race sharply in Chicago’s favor. The headline from the Packers’ side, though, wasn’t the collapse. It was the quarterback who nearly saved them.
Incumbent starter Jordan Love exited in the second quarter after sustaining a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit. That forced Willis into extended action in one of the highest-leverage situations of the NFL season. Willis responded with poise and production. He efficiently directed the offense, attacked downfield, and added value with his legs. He threw for over 120 yards with a touchdown, added more than 40 rushing yards, and accounted for three total scores without turning the ball over.
His night was highlighted by a 33-yard strike to Romeo Doubs and several off-schedule plays that kept Green Bay afloat. Ultimately, a botched fourth-down snap in overtime stalled the Packers’ final possession. Eventually, Caleb Williams’ 46-yard overtime bomb to DJ Moore sealed the Bears’ comeback. However, by then, Willis had already changed the conversation.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss why Willis is about to get paid after huge game vs. the Bears.
What made Willis’ performance so compelling were both the stat line and the context. He wasn’t preparing all week to start. He wasn’t eased in with a conservative game plan. Willis entered cold, on the road, in brutal conditions, and with the Packers clinging to first place in the division.
When he came in against the run of play, he looked ready.
Willis completed the vast majority of his throws. He posted a passer rating well north of 120, and played turnover-free football. At one point, he rattled off a near-perfect stretch through the air. Willis showcased touch, decisiveness, and timing. Just as importantly, he punished Chicago when lanes opened, turning broken plays into positive gains with his legs.
Matt LaFleur didn’t hesitate to praise him afterward.
“I thought Malik went in there and did a helluva job,” LaFleur said. “He was poised, made some plays with his legs, made some plays with his arm, made some off-schedule plays.”
That composure matters. Teams aren’t just paying for arm talent anymore. They are also paying for calm.
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