Green Bay has secured the 7th seed in the NFC playoffs and is gearing up to face Dallas, the 2nd seed. The game is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14, at 3:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on FOX
The Green Bay Packers emerged victorious against their rivals, the Chicago Bears, with a final score of 17-9 at Lambeau Field. This win not only sealed the Packers’ place in the NFC Wild Card playoffs but also marked their 10th consecutive triumph over the Bears under the leadership of Coach Matt LaFleur. The Packers and their fans are undoubtedly thrilled about this accomplishment as they prepare for the postseason.
The Packers had numerous scoring opportunities, and despite missing some, their offense gained an impressive 432 total yards, outperforming the Bears. In contrast, the Bears only managed 192 yards, struggled on third downs (3 out of 11), and couldn’t score a touchdown, settling for three field goals.
In the fourth quarter, the Packers stopped the Bears at midfield. With 6:08 left on the clock and holding an eight-point lead, the Packers took over on their own 6-yard line and successfully ran out the remaining time to secure the victory.
Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks returned after a chest injury and caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Jordan Love. Love had an impressive performance, completing 27 of 32 passes for 316 yards, two touchdowns, and boasting a high passer rating of 128.6. Running back Aaron Jones continued his strong form with his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game, gaining 111 yards on 22 carries, and contributing five receptions for 30 yards.
Wide receiver Jayden Reed made four catches for 112 yards, while Dontayvion Wicks had six catches for 61 yards and both of Love’s touchdown passes. Bo Melton also had a noteworthy performance with five catches for 62 yards. Unfortunately, the Packers played without Christian Watson (inactive), and Romeo Doubs had to leave the game in the first half due to a chest injury.
For the Bears, quarterback Justin Fields had a solid performance, completing 11 out of 16 passes for 148 yards with a passer rating of 97.9. Running back Khalil Herbert, who previously had back-to-back 100-yard games, faced tougher opposition this time, managing 28 yards on 12 carries, with Fields adding 27 yards on eight rushes. Wide receiver DJ Moore made four receptions for 64 yards.
The Bears took an early 3-0 lead against the Packers in the first quarter.
Chicago won the coin toss and opted to receive. Justin Fields completed an 18-yard pass to Equanimeous St. Brown, but a subsequent sack by Lukas Van Ness set them back by 6 yards. On third-and-13, Khalil Herbert was tackled for a 3-yard loss by Karl Brooks during a screen play. Cairo Santos then kicked a 50-yard field goal off the left upright, giving the Bears a 3-0 lead with 8 minutes and 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
In the Packers’ offensive drive, Jordan Love, under pressure from a Chicago Blitz, completed a 7-yard pass to Aaron Jones on third-and-6. Love then found Dontayvion Wicks for an 18-yard gain, crossing midfield. Despite a 14-yard run by Jones and a close attempt at a touchdown with Romeo Doubs, the drive fell short. Jordan Love was sacked, and Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard field goal wide left. The first quarter concluded with Rashan Gary tackling Justin Fields for a loss of four at the Green Bay 42.
The Packers are leading the Bears at halftime with a score of 7-6.
In the second quarter, Green Bay had a strong defensive play, forcing the Bears to punt. Starting from their own 8-yard line, the Packers made significant progress with passes to Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, along with a run by Bo Melton.
On a crucial third-and-5 play, Melton caught an 11-yard pass, and Aaron Jones contributed with an 11-yard run, bringing the Packers into the Bears’ red zone. Jones added six more yards with a run, setting up third-and-1. Following a timeout, Jordan Love threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Wicks, putting the Packers ahead 7-3. This drive covered 92 yards and marked the Packers’ longest of the season.
The Bears responded by converting on fourth-and-1, and Justin Fields threw a 33-yard pass to D.J. Moore. Despite an 8-yard sack by Kenny Clark on third down, the Bears kicked a 39-yard field goal, reducing the Packers’ lead to 7-6 with 1:17 left in the half.
With two timeouts, Love quickly led the Packers down the field, making a 24-yard pass to Bo Melton. Short passes to Aaron Jones and Tucker Kraft set up a first down at the Chicago 22 with 16 seconds left. However, a 3-yard completion to Wicks and time running out meant the Packers couldn’t score again before halftime. Despite this, Love surpassed 4,000 passing yards for the season during the first half.
The Packers are ahead of the Bears 14-6 after the third quarter.
In the opening of the second half, Dontayvion Wicks made a quick 9-yard catch, skillfully evading the first defender. Bo Melton then secured an 18-yard catch, moving the Packers past midfield. Aaron Jones followed with a 16-yard run, advancing to the Bears’ 30.
Subsequent plays, including a 7-yard run by Jones and a 4-yard pass to Malik Heath, placed the Packers in the red zone for the third time. Jones surpassed 100 total yards for the third consecutive time on this drive. On third-and-3, Jordan Love threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Wicks on a slant, expanding the Packers’ lead to 14-6 with 9:47 left in the third quarter.
The Bears attempted to run the ball seven times on their next possession, but their drive stalled at their own 49. Preston Smith pressured Justin Fields into a sack by Quay Walker for a 3-yard loss on third-and-7.
Bo Melton gained 12 yards on an end-around on first down, and the Packers moved the ball to midfield. However, on a third-and-2 keeper, Jordan Love fumbled, and Jaquan Brisker recovered at the Packers’ 42.
The Packers secured a 17-9 victory over the Bears, earning them a spot in the playoffs.
In the fourth quarter, there were significant plays. D.J. Moore caught an 11-yard pass, and despite a challenge from the Packers’ coach, the ruling stood. The Bears’ Justin Fields connected with Cole Kmet for a 27-yard gain, but they settled for a field goal by Cairo Santos, bringing the score to 14-9.
In response, the Packers had a notable 59-yard play to Jayden Reed. Though initially ruled as a touchdown, it was overturned upon review, leading to a 25-yard field goal by Anders Carlson, extending the Packers’ lead to 17-9. Despite efforts from the Bears, the Packers’ defense held strong, and the Packers efficiently managed the clock, securing the win with a final score of 17-9 and clinching their spot in the playoffs.