The Green Bay Packers secured their 10th consecutive victory against the Chicago Bears in the Matt LaFleur era, this time clinching a spot in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs with a 17-9 victory on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay earned the 7th seed in the NFC Playoffs and will face the 2nd seed Dallas next week. The game is scheduled for Sunday, January 14th, at 3:30 PM and will be broadcast on CBS and Fox.
Although the Packers missed several scoring opportunities, they dominated the Bears everywhere on the field, gaining a total of 432 yards compared to Chicago’s 192. Despite leaving the scoreboard, the Bears struggled to gain ground, settling for 3rd place and never finding the end zone with three field goals.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, after the Packers halted the Bears’ midfield progress, Green Bay seized control at their own 6-yard line with 6:08 on the clock, securing an eight-point lead and running out the rest of the time.
Returning from a chest injury that kept him out of the previous two games, WR Davante Adams caught two touchdown passes from QB Aaron Rodgers, finishing with 27 completions on 32 attempts, a 128.6 passer rating, and 316 yards. RB Aaron Jones also had an impressive game, achieving his third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance with 111 yards on 22 carries, adding five receptions for 30 yards. After the first quarter, the Bears took the lead against the Packers with a 3-0 score.
Here’s a recap of all the action:
After the first quarter, the Bears took the lead against the Packers with a 3-0 score.
Chicago flipped the coin, won the toss, and decided to receive. Justin Fields connected with Equanimeous St. Brown for an 18-yard completion at Green Bay’s 26, but Lucas Van Noy sacked Fields for a 6-yard loss in the next play.
In the third and 13th, Carl Brooks tackled Khalil Herbert for a 3-yard loss on a screen pass. Cairo Santos scored a 50-yard field goal with 8 minutes and 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter, putting the Bears ahead 3-0.
In the third and sixth, Jordan Love avoided the Chicago blitz and found Aaron Jones for a 7-yard completion. Then, Love threw a double-move to Dontevian Vicks on the corner route for an 18-yard touchdown.
Jones broke tackles from Tae End and left tackle Rashid Walker on his 14-yard run. In the Bears’ 14th place, Love almost connected with Romeo Dubs near the end zone. Love was sacked on 18-yard corner route by Dontevian Vicks on the corner route.
Jones broke tackles from tight end Josiah Deguara and left tackle Rashid Walker on his 14-yard run. Love connected with Dontevian Vicks on a double-move for an 18-yard touchdown.
In the second and fifth, Jordan Love broke free from Romeo Dubs in almost the last zone. Jordan Love was sacked for an 8-yard loss on third down by Romeo Dubs and left tackle Rashid Walker missed solid blocks.
Rashan Gary tackled Fields for a 4-yard loss on fourth down at Green Bay’s 42 and ended the first quarter.
The Packers took the lead over the Bears at halftime with a score of 7-6
Chicago consistently ran the ball in their next possession, reaching Bears’ 49, but their drive stalled when Preston Smith pressured Fields on third and seventh, causing a 3-yard loss and forcing Fields to throw the ball away.
Melton gained a 12-yard advantage on the end-around on the first down, and Green Bay pushed the ball into midfield before Love was sacked on third and second down, which Jakwan Brisker recovered at the Packers’ 42.
The Packers defeated the Bears 17-9, securing a spot in the playoffs.
The fourth quarter started with a 11-yard throw on third-and-7 by Moore. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur challenged the play, but the ruling on the field stood.
In the next play, Fields avoided Smith’s sack and connected with Kmet, resulting in a 27-yard completion to the Green Bay 17. Alexander broke up an end-zone pass intended for Robert Tonyan on first down, and without any gain on second down, Keshaun Nixon tackled Roshon Johnson on the scrimmage line on third down. Santos made a 35-yard field goal, making it 14-9 for Green Bay with 13:03 remaining.
The Packers initiated their next series with a 59-yard perfection pass to Reed, most of which came after the catch. Love connected with Melton on third and fourth down for what was initially ruled a 7-yard touchdown. After a review, it was overturned, and Carlson extended Green Bay’s lead to 17-9 with a 25-yard field goal with 10:54 remaining.
Fields came out, and Herbert found a 16-yard pickup. Kingsley Enagbare faced Herbert for a loss on second and fourth down, and without any gain on the scrimmage line, Kaisen Nixon made a catch on Fields’ pass on third down. Kenny Clark forced center Dan Feeney to catch a pass for a second and sixth-place, and in the next game, Carl Brooks dismissed Fields for a loss of six on the next game. Fields threw a deep ball to Tonyan but couldn’t connect, and the Bears were forced to punt with 6:08 remaining.
Starting from their 6, the Packers moved the ball with a 10-yard pass to Lazard and a 15-yard strike to Reed, taking the ball to the 29. His 112 receiving yards this season are the most by a Packers receiver.
Jones obtained the next first down with back-to-back carries for 11 yards. Chicago used their first timeout with 3:15 remaining. Jones now joins the sixth player in team history with over 8,000 career yards. On third and eighth, Green Bay used their second timeout with 2:25 remaining.
Love kept it in the pocket and threw a 15-yard strike to Craft, taking the Bears to their last timeout with 2:17 remaining, forcing them to use their last timeout. Jones kept the clock ticking with a 1-yard gain on first down. Jones broke a run for 10 yards on the second and 9th minute, and the Packers successfully secured the win after running the clock down for the final 2 minutes.
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