Packers win last-second thriller as Karl Brooks blocks Bears field goal attempt, other takeaways
(This story was updated to add a photo and a gallery.)
CHICAGO – The Green Bay Packers are mastering the art of winning ugly, but they aren't about to apologize for it. Even on a day they did enough to lose, the Packers only know how to beat the Chicago Bears.
Defensive lineman Karl Brooks blocked a potential 46-yard game-winning field goal from Bears kicker Cairo Santos as time expired, preserving what would have been a disastrous loss. The Packers’ 20-19 win was ugly, but they it extended their streak of rivalry wins under Matt LaFleur.
The Packers coach still has never lost to the Bears, improving his all-time record to 11-0.
Here are some quick observations from a win that put the Packers record at 7-3.
Jordan Love’s decision making better even as interception streak continues
Jordan Love still hasn’t played a game this season without throwing an interception, but Sunday was improvement. More than any game before the bye, Love showed a willingness to make the right play, whether that be a checkdown or throwing away the football. Love’s lone interception was crucial, preventing points inside the end zone when he sailed a pass over the head of wide-open tight end Tucker Kraft, but the decision was sound. Kraft had plenty of separation in the right flat. Love simply didn’t make the play. That’s going to happen for every quarterback. It’s the decision-making the Packers wanted Love to improve, and he consistently put the football in places he needed to. They’ve got to eventually have a game without a Love pick, but this was progress.
Packers defensive line continues to search for its pass rush
The Bears allowed nine sacks last week in a loss to the New England Patriots. Even with bookend tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright back from knee injuries, this was an offensive line – without starting left guard Teven Jenkins – ripe to be picked apart because rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had been sacked 38 times this season, most in the NFL. After changing offensive coordinators this week, new Bears play-caller Thomas Brown had a conservative game plan, including a bevy of screens and short passing routes. He might not have needed it. The Packers looked incapable of generating consistent pressure on Williams, and when they did, he often escaped to make plays with his legs. Williams, who finished with 70 yards rushing on nine carries, was sacked three times, twice on the final drive. Brenton Cox Jr., a healthy scratch on the inactive list until this week, had the Packers’ lone sack until the final drive when T.J. Slaton and Rashon Gary got to Williams. Cox now has as many sacks this season as Lukas Van Ness, the Packers’ first-round draft pick last season. Cox has more sacks than Kenny Clark, who remains stuck on 0. The Packers have to figure out how to get more pressure consistently from this defensive line.
Christian Watson has best game of NFL career to set up Packers’ game-winning touchdown
Christian Watson is here to remind you he’s still a game-changer in the offense. Watson had the best game of his NFL career, catching all four of his targets for a career-high 150 yards. His last catch was a diving grab near midfield. Watson was untouched going to the ground and got back to his feet, eventually gaining 60 yards to set up the Packers’ game-winning touchdown. It was the first time Watson has crossed 100 yards since the 2022 regular-season finale, and only the third time in his career. Watson’s big-play ability has been intermittent in the Packers offense this season, but when he’s a presence, this offense can match any in explosiveness.
If Josh Jacobs can’t fix this Packers red-zone offense, they might be in trouble
When an offense with one of the NFL’s best running backs struggles finishing drives in the red zone, it’s usually wise to stick with that running back inside the 20. The Packers hadn’t done that consistently enough this season. Jacobs had just three touchdown runs in his first nine games. They saw Sunday that Jacobs might be able to make a difference, but it isn’t guaranteed. In the first half, Jacobs had a 9-yard run to set up second-and-1 at Chicago’s 5. The Packers passed on their next two plays. The first was a 5-yard penalty on Elgton Jenkins drifting ineligibly downfield, setting up second-and-6. On the second, Love airmailed a throw to wide-open Tucker Kraft that was intercepted. The Packers entered the red zone on their next drive early in the third quarter. This time, they stuck with Jacobs, and he delivered a 7-yard touchdown run to regain a 14-13 lead. The more Jacobs has the ball close to the goal line, the better things will go for this offense in the red zone. But it didn’t later in the second half, when Jacobs got only 3 yards on a pair of carries before the Packers eventually handed it over on downs inside the Bears’ 5.
Packers clean up the penalties but Xavier McKinney’s unnecessary roughness call was puzzling
The Packers showed signs of cleaning up some of their execution after the bye week, specifically fewer penalties. There were only three Sunday, and while Jenkins’ ineligible downfield and Van Ness’ neutral-zone infraction were easy calls, the unnecessary roughness call safety Xavier McKinney had in the first half was a head-scratcher. McKinney was called for pushing Caleb Williams out of bounds at the end of a scramble, and while McKinney placed two hands on Williams, there was no shove. It was clear McKinney checked up when he had a chance to level the quarterback. While the 15-yard penalty gave the Bears a first down on second-and-13, the message that penalty sent to the league was even more problematic. McKinney was penalized despite holding up, which the NFL wants defensive players to do, especially against quarterbacks. Given the 15-yard demerit, he might as well gotten a free shot and crushed Williams instead. What incentive does a defender have to pull up when he’s going to get penalized 15 yards anyway?