Acme Packing Company
In a back and forth game, special teams gave the Packers a victory over their oldest rivals.
Finally, we have reached the #1 play of the Green Bay Packers’ 2024 season as voted on by the APC staff. This play should come as little surprise, and it is only fitting that the top spot involves the game-winning play to beat the Chicago Bears.
The Green Bay Packers entered the game with a 6-3 record, but their three losses to this point were notable. After a rough game in Brazil to start the season, the Packers started 0-2 in NFC North games. In week 4, Jordan Love had come back quickly from his Week 1 injury to see the Minnesota Vikings jump out to a large lead, and fell short on a near-miracle comeback. Then just before the bye week, the Packers lost to the Detroit Lions at home after falling to a 24-6 deficit and having to play catchup again.
The Packers were able to recover some and rest through the bye week before playing the Bears at Soldier Field in week 11. In the five prior seasons under Matt LaFleur, the Packers had gone 2-3 when coming out of the bye. The Packers were hoping to get healthy and continue climbing out of the early season difficulties.
However, the Bears were on an opposite trajectory. Chicago had started off 4-2 before their week seven bye. Afterwards, the Bears lost to Washington on a Hail Mary and dropped three straight games, entering the matchup with a 4-5 record. After some early season fireworks, Chicago had averaged just nine points a game in those three losses.
The Packers got the ball first and put together a tidy eight play, 70 yard drive for a touchdown. They never faced a third down and things looked to be heading the way all recent Packers-Bears games had. The opening drive finished as Jordan Love hit Jayden Reed with a 15 yard touchdown pass while the Bears were caught with 12 men on the field.
The Bears responded on the next possession by pushing for 34 yards and setting up a 53 yard field goal by Cairo Santos. Chicago was able to convert and early third and eight when Caleb Williams scrambled for 16 yards.
The Packers and Bears then exchanged punts before an unfortunate turnover killed a long Green Bay drive. On third and 11 from the Bears’ 15, Jordan Love threw an interception which was returned to the Bears’ 24 yard line. Chicago drove 76 yards and scored a touchdown with just seven seconds left in the half to take a 10-7 halftime lead. For the third straight divisional game, the Packers walked to the locker room with a deficit to overcome.
The second half saw both teams come out swinging. The Bears fought down the Packers’ nine yard line, but had to settle for a field goal to push to a 13-7 lead. The Packers...
