The Green Bay Packers used three touchdown passes from Jordan Love, a pair of scoring plays from Aaron Jones and a disruptive defensive performance featuring an interception return for a touchdown from Quay Walker to help blow out the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday.
The Packers are now 1-0 to start the 2023 season after producing a ninth straight win over the Bears.
Buy Packers TicketsHere’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Packers’ 38-20 win over the Bears in Week 1:
The Good
Pass protection: As was the case during the preseason, the Packers protected Jordan Love exceedingly well in the passing game. He was sacked once, but it came on a play he was taking off-schedule.
Clutch Love: His accuracy was sporadic at times, especially in the first half, but Love still threw three touchdown passes and produced a passer rating of 123.2. Poised as ever, he took just one sack and didn’t have a turnover. Love was deadly on third and fourth down.
Aaron Jones: He got only 11 touches before exiting with a hamstring injury, but Jones created 127 total yards and two scores, including a huge 35-yard score on fourth down in the second half. His 51-yard catch-and-run was the game’s longest play from scrimmage.
Disruptive defense: Joe Barry’s defense produced four sacks, two takeaways, six quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss and a touchdown while relentlessly pressuring Justin Fields and doing a fair job containing the run.
Red zone: The Packers finished 3-for-3 scoring touchdowns in the red zone. Twice, Love connected with Romeo Doubs for touchdown passes inside the 10-yard line.
Explosive passing plays: Love hit Aaron Jones for a 51-yard completion and 35-yard touchdown, Jayden Reed for a 30-yard completion on third down and Luke Musgrave for a 37-yard completion. All four passing plays either scored or set up eventual scores.
Special teams: Jayden Reed had a 35-yard punt return, setting up a touchdown; Anders Carlson made all six of his kicks, including a 52-yard field goal; and Daniel Whelan had a punt inside the 20-yard and a 68-yarder.
The Bad
.@justnfields hits @Darnell_M1 for 6 🎯
📺: #GBvsCHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/Cii1xYTRxh
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 10, 2023
Coverage on Mooney’s touchdown: Justin Fields hit Darnell Mooney for a 20-yard touchdown in the third quarter when Mooney got behind slot corner Keisean Nixon. It appeared there was some confusion in coverage. Douglas, the perimeter corner, carried the deep post, while Nixon got caught flat-footed on Mooney’s slot fade. The result was an easy touchdown pass for Fields. Remember, Nixon entered the season as the preferred starter in the slot for the first time in his career.
Aaron Jones’ injury: The Packers will hope Jones’ hamstring injury isn’t a lingering one. He pulled up at the end of his 35-yard touchdown and never re-entered the game, although preliminary indications are the injury isn’t a serious one. Hamstring injuries can be tricky, as the Packers know. Christian Watson missed Week 1 because of one. Also, Quay Walker exited with a possible concussion after taking a big hit on his interception return for a touchdown.
The Ugly
Two-series swing: The Packers successfully rebounded, but a two-series span late in the third quarter threatened to turn the game Chicago’s way. Up 24-6, Rasul Douglas recovered a Justin Fields fumble at the 28-yard line, but a 15-yard penalty pushed the Packers back to the 43. After a quick three-and-out, the Packers punted. A touchback plus a 15-yard face mask penalty gave the Bears the ball back at the 35-yard line, and Chicago drove the 65 yards for the touchdown. After a two-point conversion, the Bears trailed 24-14. The Packers could have led 27-6 or 31-6 after the takeaway. Despite the ugly sequence, credit Jordan Love and the offense for marching 61 yards for the quick response.
