GREEN BAY, Wis. -- "And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year."
Those were Ben Johnson's words at his introductory press conference as the Chicago Bears' head coach back in January. At the time, it seemed like another artificial attempt at pumping some juice in a long-dormant rivalry. Because let's be real -- as much as the fans hate each other, the results had long been one-sided.
Today's game was the latest in a regular season that both teams were actually playing for something since the 2013 season finale. Since then, they've had games that mattered "at the time" (season openers in 2018, 2019, and 2023 come to mind), but the Bears' seasons would end some time before Halloween. Today was real.
And with two games in 14 days, the direction of the NFC North -- and potentially the conference -- could possibly be determined by these outcomes.
This one was at Lambeau - where the Bears walked off the Packers to close the 2024 regular season. Could they make it two wins in Green Bay in a calendar year?
The Bears got their heads caved in the first half -- falling behind to a 14-3 deficit (which looked worse than the score). But then they picked things up and gave their all in the second half, losing on the final play on a tough 4th down pass from Caleb Williams that was picked off.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on X @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1a. (PREGAME) -- Kyler Gordon got injured pregame in warmups (groin) and was ruled out. Just about the worst news before kickoff that you could imagine. Bears really have to figure something out here with Gordon, because they paid him, and he's barely stayed on the field. The fear is it's another multi-week injury now at the worst possible time.
1b. A very sloppy start to this game for the Bears. A penalty wiped out a first down scramble on the first drive which resulted in a punt.
The Bears were fairly fortunate to not give up points on a methodical Packers drive -- thankfully Montez Sweat fought through for a sack near midfield and then C.J. Gardner-Johnson picked off Jordan Love on a deep dig on 3rd and 17.
With the Bears starting at the +36, they ended up punting, thanks to a drop by Colston Loveland that started the drive.
In a game like this, you want to see a better handle from the entire team. They're not in rhythm and are fortunate to be in a scoreless tie after two drives each.
2. Not much to say so far other than the Bears have gotten whipped on both sides of the ball in the trenches. The Packers' run game is succeeding with ease, and they're getting very little pressure on Jordan Love. In fact, they sent the house on a 3rd and 10 and nobody came within three yards of Love before a lofted a TD to Christian Watson. Really nice design by Matt LaFleur to call a bender and get Watson on Kevin Byard.
On offense, the Bears' OL hasn't been able to handle the Packers' rush packages and have consistently been whipped in the run game as well. Getting out-physicaled is the anti-Ben Johnson Bears. But so far at Lambeau, the Packers have been much better.
3. At the 2-minute warning, here is my summation of what I want to see from this team tonight:
4. Sheesh, the Jordan Love to Bo Melton deep touchdown before halftime was a dagger. Another situation where the safety (Brisker) was lost as part of a Dime look and the Packers got a big chunk for a score. Bears have a lot of work to do on defense next year, but also, they're just down so many key players. Consider:
5. Halftime thought:
<HALFTIME>
6. The Bears' defense got a nice three and out to open the half, with the Packers committing OPI on third down that would've resulted in yet another Nahshon Wright INT. Bears took over in decent field position.
And Caleb Williams led a masterful drive - highlighted by a nice third down conversion to Colston Loveland, a total beauty up the sideline to Cole Kmet, and a missile shot to the end zone corner to Olamide Zaccheaus to make it 14-11 after a 2-point try.
The Bears' OL physicality was back on that drive and they allowed plays to materialize well.
7. Dennis Allen tried again to blitz Jordan Love on a third down. It did not go well. A beautiful call by Matt LaFleur to run a slant to Watson against CJGJ resulted in a LONG touchdown scamper. A brutal result after the offense had snatched some momentum back. LaFleur is one of the best in the game.
It's unbelievable to me that Packers fans wanted him fired earlier in the season. Madness.
Offense's turn to respond again.
8. I'm not sure what Ben Johnson said to these guys at halftime, but my goodness, what a turnaround. The OL established their physicality again and absolutely obliterated the Packers' front after the Bears took over at their own 17. A 17-play, 83-yard drive resulted in a beauty of a play fake to Colston Loveland from the 1-yard line for a touchdown to tie the game 21-21.
Just an exquisite mix of runs, action, boots, trickery and good old-fashioned big boy football from the OL and RBs turned in that drive. In a "gotta have it" moment, the offense delivered. Beautiful.
9. Brutal response from the Bears' defense. Two plays had the Packers to the Bears' 36 yard line. And on 3rd and 2, Montez Sweat and a couple others had Josh Jacobs stopped in the backfield... until he pushed past them and rumbled 21 yards to make it "goal to go."
An opportunity to keep it at a FG -- gone by the wayside. A touchdown put the Packers up 28-21 with 3:32 to go. Does the offense have one more response in them?
10. Goodness gracious... Caleb ripped two beautiful throws (to Burden and Duvernay) to get the Bears to the Packers' 23 at the 2 minute warning.
Chicago ran it three straight times -- the third one hitting a wall to make it 4th and 1. And on 4th and 1, the Bears ran the same play they hit to Kmet last week -- and it was open. But Caleb was late and underthrew it, and Nixon picked it off.
Ballgame.
Brutal way to lose, but such a good game, all things considered.
11. The Bears' needs on defense are certainly clear, but they just need their players to come back healthy, too. Undermanned all game, they just didn't have the horses to compete with the Packers' fantastic offense.
The offense has plenty of work to do too, but we got a taste of what it can be when it's firing on all cylinders in the second half. That was a lot of fun.
12. All things considered, the Bears woke up after an awful first half and played quite well -- especially on offense -- in the second half to certainly put a scare in the Green Bay faithful for a bit. Take that momentum and handle business next week against Cleveland. And then get ready for Round 2.
Early prediction: Bears 24, Browns 21.
