Sportsnaut
Saturday’s NFL doubleheader wrapped up with a classic, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in frigid temperatures with strong winds. Unlike matchups in previous seasons, though, Saturday’s game had the NFC North at stake.
Let’s dive into the winners and losers from an iconic Packers vs Bears duel at Solder Field.
When Jordan Love went down with a concussion, it felt like things could get ugly in a hurry for Matt LaFleur and the Packers offense. Malik Willis promptly came in and led the team on a scoring drive, including a fourth-down conversion with his legs, to give Green Bay a 6-0 lead. In the second half, Willis engineered a 62-yard drive that put the Packers at the goal line and might have ended in a touchdown if not for a Josh Jacobs fumble. After that turnover, he got Green Bay into the end zone with a downfield strike to Romeo Doubs for a 10-point lead. Willis’ career has been revitalized with this franchise, and he has rewarded them for the second chance by saving their season multiple years in a row. He is going to cash in nicely this offseason as a free agent quarterback who should get high-end backup money ($8-plus million a year), and maybe a team is willing to give him a chance to be a bridge starter.
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Coming into Saturday night, the Packers offense was without Tucker Kraft, Elgton Jenkins, and Zach Tom, with other key starters missing defensively. Things only got worse in Chicago. Jordan Love suffered a concussion in the second quarter, forcing Matt LaFleur to rely on backup quarterback Malik Willis and running back Josh Jacobs. Mind you, Jacobs was using crutches on Monday and did not practice all week due to a knee injury. To make matters worse, they were left with just one healthy tight end after blocking tight end John FitzPatrick went down with a non-contact Achilles injury. The only good news for Green Bay is that Love could return in Week 17 along with Tom and safety Evan Williams.
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Playmakers make plays in critical spots. Nahshon Wright has been exactly that for this Bears defense this season. Typically, it is interceptions (five) that Wright has used to show off his hands and instincts. On Saturday night, he found a different way to generate a massive stop. On 1st-and-Goal from the 4-yard line, Wright ripped the football out of Josh Jacobs’ hands, and Chicago recovered it. While the Bears offense could not turn it into points, the takeaway essentially prevented Green Bay from potentially extending a 13-3 lead, instead giving the football back to the Chicago defense at its own 2-yard line.
There is rightful criticism of Bears head coach...
