Wow! Just wow... HC Matt Lafleur is now 11-0 against the Chicago Bears as the Green Bay Packers found a way to get their first division win bringing their overall record to 7-3 for the season. QB Jordan Love finished 13/17 averaging 15.4 yards per pass with 261 YDS, 2 TD (one rushing) and one INT. WR Christian Watson, who deserved a game ball, had 4 catches for 150 YDS including an amazing diving catch and run to set up the game winning touchdown. In case you missed it, here is the recap: 

Packers received the ball to start the game fresh off the bye with a sense of urgency to score first. After a 10-yard first down run by RB Jacobs, QB Love completed a 17-yard pass to WR Romeo Doubs into CHI territory. RB Jacobs continued to move the chains with an 8-yard then 6-yard gain. On first-and-10 at the CHI 15, QB Love hit WR Jayden Reed in the middle of the end zone for the touchdown. K Brandon McManus kicked the extra point giving the Packers the lead GB 7 CHI 0 with 11:15 left in the first quarter.

GB defense was looking to set the tone early with an early run stop and forcing an incomplete pass. QB Caleb Williams was able to use his feet to pick up the first down on a 16-yard scramble. On second-and-7, DE Brenton Cox made a great backfield tackle for a 3-yard loss. QB Williams threw an inaccurate incomplete pass setting up a successful 53-yard field goal attempt by K Cairo Santos bringing the score to GB 7 CHI 3 with 7:49 left in the first quarter.

After a 5-yard RB Jacobs run, QB Love completed a quick check down pass to WR Reed for the 8-yard gain. On third-and-10, QB Love completed a pass to RB Jacobs who was stopped 5 yards short of the first down as the Packers were forced to punt. P Daniel Whelan punted the ball 47 yards to the GB 5-yard line. Chicago was able to move the ball at will after first down completions to WR Rome Odunze and WR DJ Moore. After an illegal motion penalty negated a WR Keenan Allen first down, QB Williams kept the ball on a designed QB run and the refs threw a bogus penalty on S Xavier McKinney for an unnecessary roughness penalty adding an additional 15 yards after the run which caused HC Matt Lafleur to start yelling, “Soft ass call” (indeed it was). That concluded the first quarter GB 7 CHI 3.

Second Quarter: Packers 7 Bears 3

DE Cox did not fall for play action as he wrapped he QB Williams for his first career sack on a 10-yard loss. GB defense was able to stop WR Moore on a short catch forcing the Bears to punt. CHI was called for an unnecessary roughness on the punt tacking on 15-yards giving GB possession at their own 24. On third-and-11, QB Love stayed poised in the pocket as brilliant blocking from the offensive line gave him enough time to complete a 17-yard pass to WR Watson. After a drop from WR Doubs, GB decided to go for it on fourth-and-3 as QB Love’s hard count got the CHI defense to invade the neutral zone giving the Packers a first down. QB Love completed a pass with a spectacular catch by RB Jacobs for a 23-yard gain then connected with RB Chris Brooks for the first down to the CHI 14-yard line. GB ranked 29th in offensive red zone efficiency as CHI defensively was first. What could go wrong? Well, after an illegal man down field penalty and 5-yard loss by WR Reed, QB Love overthrew TE Tucker Kraft and the ball was intercepted by CB Terell Smith who returned it to the CHI 23-yard line. Ouch. 

On third-and-5, the GB defense brought a 4-man rush as QB Williams once again found some breathing room to run 13 yards for the first down into GB territory as the clocked stopped for the two minute warning. QB Williams continued to run all over the GB defense for another 12-yard gain. At this point in the game, QB Williams lead both teams in rushing with 60 YDS on 6 attempts. On third-and-goal at the GB inch-yard line, RB Roscoe Johnson got in the end zone for the Bears’ first touchdown since week 8. The extra point attempt was good as QB Love took a knee concluding the first half. CHI 10 GB 7.  The Packers only had the ball three times in the first half. 

Third Quarter: Bears 10 Packers 7

CHI came out of halftime moving down the field with a 14-yard RB D;Andre Swift run then a TE Cole Kemt 25-yard catch. GB forced CHI to go for it on fourth-and-2 as QB Williams completed a short pass to RB Johnson for the first down. On third-and-4 at the GB 8, QB Williams threw an incomplete pass in the back of the end zone setting up a successful 27-yard field goal attempt by K Santos. CHI 13 GB 7 with 10:17 left in the third quarter. 

RB Jacobs got the Packers offense going with a 21-yard catch and run. QB Love completed a 25-yard pass to WR Watson for a big gain to the CHI 7-yard line. On first-and-goal, RB Jacobs found a gaping hole with beautiful blocking for the 7-yard touchdown run and his 50th rushing touchdown of his career. K McManus made the extra point as the Packers took the lead GB 14 CHI 13 with 6:34 left in the third quarter. 

CB Jaire Alexander was ruled out the rest of the game with a knee injury. CHI moved the chains on third-and-4 after QB Williams found a wide open WR Odunze for 8 yards. LB Quay Walker had a nice pass break up on WR Keenan Allen preventing a big gain. On fourth-and-1, QB Williams kept the ball to himself and picked up the first down to the GB 39. On second-and-10, RB Swift ran to the left and found himself plenty of running space finding the end zone nearly untouched for the 39-yard touchdown. The two point conversion attempt failed as the score was now CHI 19 GB 14 with 31 seconds left in the third quarter. The last play of the quarter was an 8-yard pass from QB Love to RB Jacobs to the GB 32.

Fourth Quarter: Bears 19 Packers 14

On first-and-10 at the GB 44, QB Love rolled out of the pocket and threw a dime to WR Watson for a 48-yard completion setting up first-and-goal at the CHI 8. The Packers’ red zone inefficiency once again lead to an underwhelming result as two running plays by RB Jacobs and then two QB Love scrambles were stopped short of the goal line. Turnover on downs for GB with 11:19 left in the fourth quarter. 

Packers had a chance to force a three-and-out, but RB Johnson was able to pick up the first down on the second effort one-yard gain. After the refs missed a false start penalty on RB Swift, QB Williams was able to pick up the first down finding WR Moore for the 6-yard gain. On third-and-8, GB defense was able to contain QB Williams with a short completion to WR Odunze setting up fourth-and-3 forcing the Bears to punt. On second-and-6 at the GB 26, QB Love once again connected with WR Watson on a diving catch (which was reviewed and upheld) for a 60-yard gain after the extra yards-after-catch. On the next play, QB Love ran for a 13-yard gain getting stopped just short of the end zone (Lafluer challenged the call, play stands). QB Love kept it to himself on first-and-goal and snuck into the end zone for the touchdown. The two point conversion run by RB Jacobs failed (questionable play call), but the score was GB 20 CHI 19 with 2:59 left in the fourth quarter.

The GB defensive line showed up when it mattered most with back-to-back sacks by DT T.J. Slaton and DT Rashan Gary setting up third-and-19 as the two minute warning hit. QB Williams was able to pick up the first down on fourth down after a 21-yard pass to WR Odunze. A 12-yard completion to WR Allen set Chicago up for a field goal attempt. With 3 seconds left, K Santos got his kick blocked  by the almighty hand of DE Karl Brooks securing the Green Bay Packers’ victory and their 11th win in a row against their all-time rival Chicago Bears. Final score GB 20 CHI 19. 

Five Fascinating Stats of the Game:

Third Down Efficiency- GB 1-5 CHI 9-16
Total Yards- GB 366 CHI 391
Time of Possession- GB 23:39 CHI 36:21
Penalties: GB 3-25 CHI 7-50 
4th Down Efficiency: GB 0-1 CHI 3-3