Deep Dive: Packers Can’t Overcome Early Mistakes – Lose to Bears 24-22

The Packers are in the playoffs, riding a two-game losing streak. In a game they dominated statistically, the Packers took a late 22-21 lead, their first of the game, with just under a minute left on a gritty 55-yard field goal by Brandon McManus.
But the Packer defense could not stop the Bears’ last drive. Caleb Williams looked lost most of the day, but he did just enough to lead the Bears to the Green Bay 32. Kicker Cairo Santos made sure the Bears were not eligible for the first selection in the draft in April.

Special Teams and Turnovers

The game did not start well for the Packers. Their first drive achieved one first down before Green Bay punted. And what a punt it was! Daniel Whelan had the snap sail over his head, but calmly turned around, grabbed the bouncing ball, and somehow got off a 35-yard punt.

Caleb Williams had never won a cold-weather game. The Bears’ first offensive snap went through his fingers, and a quick three and out ensued. But Jordan Love and company could do nothing; again, one first down and then a punt. The first down did include a tough catch off the ground by Luke Musgrave that required a challenge by LaFleur—his first successful challenge of the year.

On his second punt, Whelan got a good snap and hit a nice spiral to the six-yard line. But the Green Bay coverage team was fooled by a trick play, drawing the coverage away from the ball. Chicago took advantage by returning the punt 94 yards for a touchdown.

Green Bay did score on their next drive, but only a field goal. The Packer defense then held strong—another 3 and out for negative yardage. But Jayden Reed fumbled on the first play of the drive, recovered by former Packer Jonathon Owens. The Bears were set up at the Packers’ 21-yard line, and they found the end zone three plays later. 14-3 Bears.

There are old adages in the NFL: you do not win if you give up scores on special teams, and you do not win if you lose the turnover battle. The Packers were down in both categories early, and the 14-3 losing score reflected their poor execution.

Injuries and Missed Opportunities

From the second touchdown by the Bears, the Packers played better. A seven-play, 63-yard touchdown drive was the successful result of the next Packer drive. But there was bad news too: Jordan Love and Christian Watson both suffered injuries and were out of the game. Love’s injury did not look serious, but his day was done. Watson’s did look serious; he was carted to the locker room with an apparent knee injury.

Watson grabbed the knee as he was running free down the field. The knee he grabbed was not his braced knee, which he had bruised two weeks ago. The injury appears to be new. Green Bay continued to battle, getting the score to a one-point deficit for halftime.

The second half started with Green Bay being gifted an interception on the Bears’ second trick play of the game. On a double reverse, Kenyon Allen threw an ill-advised downfield pass that Xavier McKinney snagged for his seventh interception this season. But while Chicago capitalized on Green Bay errors, the Packers could not. Instead, Malik Willis was sacked, never seeing a blitzer. Willis coughed up the ball, and Chicago had their second turnover of the game.

After the Packer defense forced another punt, the offense had a short drive that ended when they tried to convert on 4th down and 3. They elected to run a Jayden Reed end around that failed miserably. Chicago then put together their longest drive of the game: sixty-one yards on 8 plays. Three or four short passes gained 7 yards apiece, but the defense was broken on a wide receiver screen that gained 32 yards for the score. The defense seemed to give up only a couple of big plays, but as in the last game against Minnesota, Javon Bullard seemed to be slow in recognition in most of them.

Playoff Bound

Green Bay did rally for a touchdown drive in the 4th to get the score close, and the final drive that resulted in McManus’ field goal felt like a win. But Chicago had one last possession and did just enough. Now the Packers are going into the playoffs with two straight games where Love struggled to move the offense early. They now have injury concerns at quarterback and receiver, and they are the 7th seed in the playoffs.

The Fox broadcast said LaFleur’s message to the team this week was to play a clean game. The team did not get the message. So, they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in the Wild Card Game—as close to full circle as you can get in the NFL. Let’s hope for a fast start in Philadelphia.