Packers Issue Official Statement After NFL Makes Final Major Decision

Chicago, Illinois – December , 2025

Green Bay Packers have officially responded after the NFL announced a major scheduling decision, flexing the Week 16 Packers vs. Bears game into national prime-time spotlight. This classic NFC North rivalry will now take place at 7:20 PM CST on Saturday, December 20, at Soldier Field, broadcast nationwide on FOX. It is one of the very few Week 16 games granted this special spotlight treatment.

NFL Puts Packers–Bears on Prime-Time Stage

According to official confirmation, the NFL has flexed Packers vs. Bears into the Saturday Night prime-time slot, highlighting the direct impact this game will have on the NFC North race and the overall NFC playoff picture. Instead of a regular time slot, the oldest rivalry in NFL history now becomes the centerpiece of Saturday night, watched by millions nationwide.

Choosing Soldier Field for late-season prime time clearly reflects the NFL’s belief that this matchup carries not only historic value but could also decide playoff positioning and NFC seeding.

Why This Decision Means So Much to the Packers

• Division race: Heading into Week 16, the Packers know every win is do-or-die. A positive result against the Bears in Chicago could allow Green Bay to seize control of the NFC North or at least gain a massive playoff advantage.
• National stage: Playing in prime time on FOX is confirmation that the Packers remain one of the NFL’s centerpiece brands, especially in iconic rivalry games.
• Maximum pressure: December football, Soldier Field, freezing weather — everything creates the exact “playoff-like” atmosphere the NFL expects from a late-season prime-time game.

Packers Officially Respond

Immediately after the NFL announcement, the Packers released a short but firm statement emphasizing their readiness to face the biggest challenge of the final stretch.

“These are the games that define a team’s character and identity,” the message from the Packers clearly stated. “Prime time doesn’t change how we prepare. It only makes the importance of the task ahead even clearer.”*

Soldier Field, Prime Time, and a Destiny-Defining Battle

Kickoff at 7:20 PM CST means the Packers will face cold, wind, and a hostile crowd — exactly the kind of test the NFL wants for a late-season prime-time showdown. The game will air on FOX, with radio broadcast on 95.7 BIG FM WRIT – Milwaukee, and full national market coverage.

When the NFL made its final decision and placed Packers vs. Bears in the Week 16 spotlight, the message was crystal clear: this is not just a rivalry game — it is a contest that could shape the entire NFC. And for the Packers, this is the moment to prove they are ready to walk through Chicago, under the prime-time lights, and write their own playoff destiny.