Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Bears-Packers Sunday Night Football game at Lambeau Field. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Ah yes, the annual primetime showdown in Green Bay. The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers met on Sunday night at Lambeau Field yet again. However, the both teams came into the game riding different emotional waves than anticipated.
The Packers got demolished at U.S. Bank Stadium last Sunday, falling to the new-look Minnesota Vikings, 23-7. Aaron Rodgers struggled with connecting with his young, new receivers, and the defense had no answers for Justin Jefferson.
Meanwhile, the Bears shocked much of the football world by knocking off the San Francisco 49ers in a monsoon at Soldier Field. Even with a young, inexperienced QB in Trey Lance, the 49ers were expected to come into Chicago and beat up on a young football team that couldn’t compete with the way San Francisco is built. Instead, the Bears let the 49ers beat themselves in an impressive second half turnaround.
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Officially dubbing this "The Rain Game" pic.twitter.com/MjDgaXxJ6g
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 13, 2022
The Bears at 1-0 and the Packers at 0-1? Meeting in a game in prime time? I couldn’t tell you the last time that’s happened.
But the Bears had a chance tonight to not only make a national statement that, even with a team full of rookies, they’re no slouch, but also somewhat bury the Packers at 0-2 in the division to start the year.
In the end, the Bears just didn’t have any answers for Green Bay, as the Packers ran wild all over Chicago to a dominant win.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. The Packers took the ball first and — after a laughable “illegal low block” call on Kindle Vildor on the first play from scrimmage gave the Pack a free 15 yards — mixed in some nice runs and passes to stay balanced on the opening drive. Aaron Rodgers targeted the Bears’ rookies in coverage, beating Kyler Gordon a couple times on the drive, including twice on third down. But Gordon made a beautiful PBU on a sure-fire touchdown pass, and then Trevis Gipson sacked Rodgers on 3rd and 15 to make Green Bay settle for a FG. Nice result at the end of the day.
LONG drive by Green Bay ends in three points — their first lead of the 2022 season.
Nice hold by the Bears, but they've gotta be better on third down from here on out.
Offense needs to establish themselves here.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) September 19, 2022
2. That was an awesome first drive for the Bears’ offense. Luke Getsy brought out some intriguing stops on the opening script — with some neat schematic runs from David Montgomery, a flea-flicker to Equanimeous St. Brown for 30 yards, and Justin Fields calling his own number on a touchdown run. The OL was strong against a stout Packers DL, and they stayed ahead of the chains well. 7-3, Bears after a drive each.
The Bears' OL beat up the Packers' DL on that drive.
That was fun.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) September 19, 2022
3. Bears’ pass coverage has been rough overall in this one. Gordon got burned again in the MOF against Sammy Watkins that set up the Packers in the red zone again. And then Aaron Jones took a pitch for 15 yards for a TD to put Green Bay up again, 10-7. Really nice blocking by the OL on that touchdown. Overall, the run defense has been fine through one quarter against a very good RB room. But the pass defense against some questionable receivers (so far) has just been bad.
Naturally, the Bears responded with a “negative” drive where Fields got sacked, a swing pass to Darnell Mooney lost yardage, and a 3rd and 19 checkdown didn’t pick up much.
That kind of drive, historically, is a clear "unraveling" signal for Bears teams at Lambeau Field.
The defense must pick up the pieces here.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) September 19, 2022
Indeed — Robert Quinn sacked Rodgers on 3rd and 10 to force a punt. Big play.
4. My word. After a brutal offensive drive where Justin Fields fired a pass two yards beyond the LOS for an illegal forward pass led to a punt, the Packers carved up Chicago all the way for a touchdown. Brutal tackling, undisciplined play, and just unacceptable fundamentals. The Packers converted a 2nd and 28 with a WR screen that went for 20 and a Randall Cobb slant went for nine. Roquan Smith looks lost. This is a schematic clinic from Matt LaFleur tonight.
And Cobb converts it. Shocking stuff from the Bears' D tonight.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) September 19, 2022
Aaron Jones touchdown and the Packers are cured.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) September 19, 2022
And I have to agree with this right now…
Roquan isn't looking like an 100 million dollar linebacker tonight
— 79th & Halas Podcast (@79thAndHalas) September 19, 2022
5. This has been a clinic from the Green Bay Packers tonight. Matt LaFleur has been brilliant and so have the RBs. Aaron Rodgers has basically done nothing special himself, it’s been the RBs and the Bears beating themselves with the penalties and missed tackles.
Aaron Rodgers literally told everyone what the offensive game plan was this week.
The Bears have no answer for the RBs.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) September 19, 2022
Gordon again.
Twenty-four to seven.
It's kinda over.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) September 19, 2022
The Packers go into halftime up 24-7 and can’t seem to do anything wrong. Let’s see what kind of adjustments the coaching staff can cook up for the second half. They’re gonna need ’em.
Oh, and it’s raining now at Lambeau Field.
6. The entire third quarter just passed with basically nothing noteworthy to speak of.
The Packers continue to drain the game away with an excellent run game. They did fumble an exchange in Bears territory that Chicago recovered — and drove for a field goal which led to a swing of at least six points.
But it’s 24-10 Packers after three quarters and just not a lot of life visible from this Bears team.
7. I think the talent gap is extremely evident tonight. The Packers are built like a contender; the Bears are not. Through three quarters, it’s clear this team has a LONG way to go to compete consistently. I think the biggest issue, though, is how bad some of the “cornerstones” have looked tonight. Roquan Smith has been brutal. Kyler Gordon has looked lost. Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet have been invisible.
Tough game.
8. Man, oh man. The Bears got jobbed with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. After a very powerful drive, led by David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, Justin Fields was stopped at the 1-yard line on 3rd and goal. On 4th and goal, a terrible shotgun run call from Getsy led to Fields getting stuffed. The replay showed a possible touchdown, but the call stood. That would’ve made it 24-16, PAT pending. Unfortunately, it’s a turnover on downs.
Man, I think that was actually pretty clear… view of the football or not.
Damn.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) September 19, 2022
Have to credit the Bears’ heart, but it may be for naught.
9. And Kyler Gordon got burned again by Sammy Watkins on a deep throw to put away the game. WHEW, has he been bad tonight.
10. Not a great return to Lambeau Field for Luke Getsy tonight. So much for that storyline.
11. We didn’t see a ton from Justin Fields tonight, either. He didn’t get to throw a lot, but also didn’t play particularly well, missing some open receivers (including not seeing an open EQSB on what could’ve been a touchdown). He took some sacks that shouldn’t have been sacks. But he should’ve been rewarded with his second touchdown and made this a game, too…
12. Masterclass from Matt LaFleur. He has absolutely dominated Bears coaches since arriving in Green Bay.
13. The Bears return to Soldier Field next Sunday to take on Lovie Smith and the 0-1-1 Houston Texans, who have battled the Colts to a tie and fought valiantly against the Broncos in Denver. Two similar teams (rebuilding, defensive schemes, young second-year QBs) battle along the lakefront. This might be one of the most boring games the Bears play all year.
Early prediction: Bears 16, Texans 13.
Dylan is like a typical liberal idiot. Can’t dispute what is said, but since he doesn’t like it, he attacks the poster.
This tells me I am on the right track.
man I though Vikings fans blame the refs but bears fans are the worst. The bears never got called for numerous amounts of holding calls against the packer defense and I mean numerous they held Campbell three obvious times on big runs no calls if anything bears got way more home cooking than the packers did you fools are laughable every time blaming the refs enough especially when the refs were trying to help your sorry ass teem
I’m glad to get some validation of my Roquan evaluation. I think he looks slow and heavy.
Please don’t post stupid comments
That’s very true the Packers oline never gets called for holding especially at home…. That flag that they ultimately picked up was terrible the defender literally got dragged to the ground but on the bright side at least they got a sack on the play