Acme Packing Company
It was a back-and-forth affair, but the Green Bay Packers showed why they are the team to beat in the NFC North on Sunday afternoon. Green Bay defeated the Chicago Bears 28-21, getting a go-ahead touchdown from Josh Jacobs with under four minutes left and a game-sealing interception from Keisean Nixon in the end zone with just seconds left and the Bears threatening to tie the game.
With the win, the Packers improve to 9-3-1 on the season, taking over the top spot in the NFC North from the Bears, who fall to 9-4. Green Bay also moves into the #2 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
It was another big day from Jordan Love, who shook off an early interception to throw for three touchdowns on the day — all of them longer than 20 yards. Christian Watson was the biggest recipient of Love’s passes, catching all four of his targets for 89 yards and two touchdowns, while Bo Melton added a 45-yard score. The run game came up clutch in the fourth quarter as well, with Josh Jacobs delivering a critical 21-yard run to move the chains on 3rd down as well as punching in the go-ahead score.
Defensively, the Packers’ defense was gassed in the second half, at one point dealing with a 34-10 play advantage for the Bears after the break. But they got the big play they needed at the end, with Nixon sealing the deal in the end zone after being the goat on a pair of personal foul penalties earlier in the half. Caleb Williams got off to a particularly slow start but picked it up in the second half, throwing for two touchdowns but delivering the game-sealing pick.
The Green Bay defense got off to a stellar start, however, forcing a three-and-out on the Bears’ first drive. They were aided by a holding penalty on Bears right tackle on a 3rd-and-5 scramble by Caleb Williams, who threw incomplete deep on the ensuing 3rd-and-15 to force a punt.
The Packers committed a rare turnover on their first series, as the Bears’ opportunistic defense capitalized on a bad throw by Jordan Love. After a lengthy drive to reach Chicago territory that featured returning wide receiver Jayden Reed heavily, Love reared back on 3rd-and-17 from near midfield and targeted Matthew Golden over the middle. He didn’t appear to see safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in zone coverage underneath Golden’s route, and the veteran safety picked off the pass and returned it to the Packers’ 36.
The very next play seemed to be a takeaway for the Packers, after Evan Williams appeared to strip Colston Loveland of the football and recover. The play was originally ruled a catch on the field and Matt LaFleur challenged, expecting a turnover, but referee Craig Wrolstad called the play in incomplete pass after replay review. A false start and two pressures by Micah Parsons forced a pair of additional incomplete passes, however, forcing a Bears punt.
Green Bay was unable to...
