Despite a team loss, Matthew Golden's playoff debut ignited hope with explosive catches and a touchdown, showcasing his big-play ability.
Saturday night ended the Green Bay Packers’ season, but for Longhorn fans, it felt like the beginning of something.
With the Packers clinging to postseason hope in the NFC Wild Card round, the Chicago Bears ripped it away late, taking a four-point lead with under five minutes remaining and closing the door on Green Bay’s playoff run. It was a brutal ending for a young team still learning how to win in January.
Still, one former Texas Longhorn gave fans something to circle, screenshot, and file away for the future.
In his first career playoff game, Matthew Golden looked like a player built for the moment.
Golden hauled in four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, averaging a ridiculous 21 yards per reception. He finished second on the team in receiving yards, trailing only Romeo Doubs, and was the Packers’ most consistent big play threat when the pressure spiked.
Not bad for a rookie seeing playoff football for the first time.
For those who watched Golden at Texas, this performance felt familiar. He was never the loudest player on the field, but he always showed up when the stakes climbed.
At Texas, Golden was the only Longhorn to average more than 15 yards per catch during his final season, often delivering momentum flipping plays just when the offense needed oxygen.
That carried over Saturday night.
Golden entered the postseason after a rookie year that could best be described as uneven but promising. Injuries slowed him at times, and he crossed the 80-yard mark only once during the regular season.
Then the playoffs arrived, and suddenly he looked right at home doing something he supposedly did not do often.
Big stage. Bigger confidence.
The chemistry between Golden and Packers quarterback Jordan Love stood out immediately. Routes were crisp, timing was clean, and Love trusted the rookie to win downfield in traffic.
By the end of his rookie campaign, Golden totaled 361 receiving yards on 29 catches, finishing fourth on the team despite missing time.
Those numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, but context matters. This is a young offense loaded with pass catchers, and earning meaningful snaps is not handed out like participation trophies.
For young receivers, playoff reps are gold. They expose weaknesses, speed up processing, and harden confidence, and Golden got that education early.
The Packers may be disappointed today, but they are also hopeful. Golden’s performance offered a glimpse of what could be coming next.
If Saturday night was Matthew Golden announcing himself to the NFL postseason, Green Bay will gladly take the introduction again next year.