Jordan Love’s first year as the Packers’ starting quarterback will extend into the postseason. Love helped the Packers clinch a playoff berth after leading Green Bay to a 17-9 win over the Bears in Week 18. The win marked the Packers’ 10th straight over the rival Bears.
Love was nothing short of brilliant on Sunday. The 2020 first-round pick threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-32 passing. Both of his touchdown passes were caught by Dontayvion Wicks, while Jayden Reed led both teams with 112 yards on four catches.
Love had plenty of help from running back Aaron Jones, who rumbled for 111 yards on 22 carries. Conversely, Bears quarterback Justin Fields received little help from a Chicago ground game that as a team picked up 75 yards on 25 carries.
With little running game, the Bears never found the end zone and had to settle for three Cairo Santos field goals. The lack of a running game also contributed to Fields being sacked five times. Quay Walker led the Packers’ defense with nine tackles and one sack of Fields.
Here’s a closer look at what transpired on Sunday.
Why the Packers won
One quarterback had a running game, the other one didn’t. No surprise, it was the quarterback that had a running game was the one that game out on top. The Packers’ near perfect offensive balance led to big days for both Love and Jones. Love also had stellar protection that allowed him to complete passes to seven different teammates.
Green Bay was also money on possession downs. The Packers were 7 of 10 on third down on offense and held the Bears’ offense to just 3 of 11 on third down. Green Bay’s defense also held Chicago to 0 of 2 in the red zone.
Why the Bears lost
Fields and the Bears’ offense had some early success, but it was clear early on that that success wouldn’t be sustainable if Chicago’s running game continued to be a non-factor. Unfortunately for the Bears, that’s exactly what happened.
Chicago’s inability to run the ball put Fields in too many obvious passing situations. The Packers took advantage by pinning their ears back and blitzing Fields, who spent a lot of the game picking himself off the ground.
Turning point
Chicago got the turnover it needed when Jaquon Brisker scooped up Love’s fumble on a third down run at midfield late in the third quarter. Instead of taking the lead, the Bears had to settle for a field goal on their ensuing drive, cutting its deficit to 14-9.
The Packers quickly recouped those points after a 59-yard catch-and-run by Reed set up a short Anders Carlson’s field goal. The Bears punted on their next drive, and the Packers put the game on ice when Love hit tight end Tucker Kraft for a 15-yard gain on a third-down play on the game’s final drive.
Play of the game
Love’s second touchdown pass ended up being the game-winning score. The touchdown, which came on a third-down play, was the result of a perfect throw by Love and Wicks not being denied at the goal line.
Quotable
“I feel like we just keep getting better and better. We haven’t reached our ceiling yet. We’re going to keep that mindset going into the playoffs. Go in there with that underdog mentality.” — Love to CBS Sports on the Packers’ chances in the playoffs
What’s next
The Packers will face the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the NFC playoffs. Green Bay has won four straight games over the Cowboys that includes a 34-31 win in the 2017 playoffs.
The Bears will head into the offseason after finishing the 2023 season with a 7-10 record. Chicago will soon turn its attention to an offseason that includes having the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
