- The Packers’ offense put together a gotta-have-it drive.
Green Bay’s offense went into feast-or-famine mode in the second half, sandwiching a pair of three-and-outs around a touchdown drive. That allowed the Bears to rally from deficits of 14-3 and 21-11 to tie the game at 21 with eight minutes left.
Chicago controlled the clock, pounded away with its ground game, and effectively mixed in the pass in scoring two TDs (plus a two-point conversion) and a field goal on three second-half drives.
But with the game tied at 21, the Packers answered when they had to, driving 65 yards in eight plays for the go-ahead touchdown with 3:32 left. Josh Jacobs finished it by plowing in on third-and-goal from the 2.
“Everybody in that huddle, nobody blinks,” Love said of the clutch situation. “We know what we need to go accomplish.”
The key play came on third-and-2 from the Chicago 28-yard line, as Jacobs took a pitch outside and looked to be strung out by multiple Bears defenders. But he somehow powered through them as he cut upfield and ripped off a 21-yard run to make it first-and-goal.
“That was a hell of an individual effort, because, I mean, we missed (the block),” LaFleur said. “All of a sudden, I just see a burst right in front of my face.”
It was Jacobs’ longest run on a 20-carry, 86-yard day.
- One of Love’s three TD passes went to a surprise target.
That was receiver-turned-cornerback-but-still-playing-receiver Bo Melton, who got behind the Bears’ defense in the final minute of the first half and hauled in a deep ball for a 45-yard score.
“In that progression, he’s the big alert over the top,” Love said of the play. “I got to my drop and saw that they just dropped him. It’s a perfect kind of route for the coverage they were giving us.”
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker came flying over at the last second and appeared to have a shot at deflecting the ball, but it fell into Melton’s arms. The TD gave the Packers a 14-3 halftime lead.
“It was close,” Love said of Brisker’s attempt. “Yeah, it was close.”
The Packers also got receiver Jayden Reed back from injury in this game, as the third-year receiver played for the first time since Week 2 and produced 53 yards from scrimmage (31 receiving, 22 rushing), including a big 18-yard reception to get into Chicago territory on the game-winning drive.
