Tyler Loop is no longer the most hated kicker in America right now.
The Chicago Bears pulled off an absolute stunner on Saturday night, coming back to defeat the division rival Green Bay Packers by a final score of 31-27 in their NFC Wild Card playoff game. Despite trailing 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 to start the fourth quarter, the Bears produced four scores in the final frame and secured the shocking come-from-behind victory at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
But the comeback by the Bears would not have been possible if not for a complete meltdown by Packers kicker Brandon McManus. The former Super Bowl champion McManus missed three kicks over the course of the game, leaving seven total points on the board.
McManus first missed a 55-yard field goal attempt just before halftime. Then in the fourth quarter, McManus pulled an extra point wide left that should have given Green Bay a 28-16 lead. Finally, McManus went wide right on a 44-yard field goal attempt with 2:56 left in the game and the Packers leading 27-24.
2 missed field goals and a missed XP. You gotta be kidding me McManus
— Hogg (@HoggNFL) January 11, 2026
pic.twitter.com/zsDq63hV31
The Bears then scored a go-ahead TD on their next possession, and Green Bay (trailing by four points instead of by three as a result of McManus’ missed XP) had to go for a touchdown on the final drive of the game and ultimately failed to get it.
McManus heard it deafeningly loud over social media as a result of his three missed kicks effectively costing the Packers their season.
Packers fans : “at least we’re in field goal range”
— 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯 (@xJahstin) January 11, 2026
Brandon McManus : pic.twitter.com/OnG8vzu59q
Brandon McManus in Chicago tonight#Packers pic.twitter.com/0VQvZfwRPu
— RGF (@rgfray1) January 11, 2026
Good news for McManus is it’s only a 4 day walk home. pic.twitter.com/ecvb2NPf6l
— Burly Johnson (@BurlyMAN3) January 11, 2026
This Needs To Be Brandon McManus Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/i3XcuJWJvl
— LaSha (@iamluhhshayy) January 11, 2026
Packers: Make this kick and game over
— Rami Elghandour (@RamiElghandour) January 11, 2026
McManus: pic.twitter.com/O5ZyX2B5JQ
Now 34 years old, McManus was the starting kicker when the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season. But he had an extremely uneven 2025 campaign for the Packers, missing six total field goals and one extra point during the regular season (including one of the worst misses we had ever seen).
McManus got to add three more missed kicks to that tally on Saturday when the lights were shining brightest. As a result of McManus’ total implosion, the Bears were able to secure their biggest playoff comeback in franchise history as well as their first playoff victory at all since the 2010 season.
