The Chicago Bears faced the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 10 in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. Here are takeaways and highlights from the game.
The Green Bay Packers renewed their ownership of the Chicago Bears, walking into Soldier Field and thumping the Bears, 38-20.
It’s an impressive ninth-straight win for Green Bay over the rival Bears. In contrast, it’s a painful and embarrassing blowout loss for the Bears, who hoped to flip the narrative this season.
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Final Score: Green Bay Packers 38, Chicago Bears 20
Chicago Bears
What was considered the start of a new era, where Chicago could challenge Green Bay, went bad quickly.
Almost everything went wrong for the Bears on Sunday. The offensive line couldn’t block, the defensive line couldn’t generate much pressure, the secondary struggled, Justin Fields struggled, and more. But much of the blame has been placed on the coaching staff, specifically the play-calling of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and defensive coordinator Alan Williams.
Getsy did a horrible job using the best aspects of the offense. Star wide receiver D.J. Moore was inexplicably only targeted twice all game. After having two straight receptions, Moore was again taken off the field in the red zone. In addition, just four of Justin Fields‘ 37 pass attempts went over 10 yards when one of his biggest strengths is the deep ball. Getsy was also calling a baffling amount of screen passes, with 14 of Fields’ pass attempts at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Getsy’s inability to call plays that fit the strengths of his top players is a massive cause for concern, and it has caused many fans to lose their patience with the offensive coordinator, just like how they’ve lost it with Williams.
Williams hasn’t been dealt the best hand personnel-wise, but his defensive schemes were very poor. The defense played soft off-man and passive zone coverage and paid the price by giving up many key plays. It’s time for head coach Matt Eberflus to take control of the defense and call the plays himself.
This performance has led to many people discussing the possibility of this coaching staff being the right one moving forward.
Lots of hope was crushed out of Bears fans Sunday. However, it’s only Week 1, and things could still change. If things remain like this, the Bears could be in for a long and painful season.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers couldn’t have asked for a better start to the Jordan Love era. Even with a new quarterback under center, Green Bay defeated Chicago, as usual.
The new man in town, Love impressed in his 2023 debut with 245 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Love wasn’t a world-beater, but he played very well and gave Packers fans real hope he could be the franchise’s future.
The MVP for the Packers was Aaron Jones, who recorded 41 rushing yards, 86 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns. Jones, one of the most experienced players on the offense, stepped up when the team needed him most.
The Packers’ offensive rookies also shined bright, with Luke Musgrave and Jayden Reed making key plays at critical moments in the game. Musgrave finished the game with three receptions for 50 yards while Reed racked up 48 yards on two receptions. In addition, Musgrave’s 37-yard reception led to a touchdown the very next play, which was the death blow that put the game out of reach.
The Packers’ defense also shined as Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, and Karl Brooks all recorded sacks. Rasul Douglas led the team in tackles with eight while also making a nice pass breakup in the end zone early in the game.
2022 first-round pick Quay Walker made the play of the day on defense with an impressive pick-six, which put the game at a score of 38-14 and made it a blowout.
The Packers blew the Bears out of the water, plain and simple. This game filled Packer fans with real hope that Jordan Love is the next guy in the line of star quarterbacks to play for Green Bay. They were also reassured that regardless of quarterback, they still hold ownership of the Bears.
Highlights
.@roschon punches it in for his first NFL touchdown
📺: #GBvsCHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/pfQHKvRod9
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 10, 2023
.@justnfields hits @Darnell_M1 for 6 🎯
📺: #GBvsCHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/Cii1xYTRxh
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 10, 2023
QUAY WALKER WILL NOT BE DENIED!
PICK-SIX 🙌#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/GjnirpPMqu
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 10, 2023
A thing of beauty. 🏈@RomeoDoubs with another TD catch from @jordan3love!#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/9SspVfI0qx
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 10, 2023
35-yard TOUCHDOWN! 🙌#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/PWnVHFnfk9
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 10, 2023
THE LOVE CONNECTION FOR THE TD!@jordan3love ➡️ @RomeoDoubs#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/zvARnxoTFj
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 10, 2023
51-yard pickup for @Showtyme_33!#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/aQSMxx4eDU
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 10, 2023
Looking Forward
This game was a huge disappointment for Chicago. All the anticipation and hype built up around this team, just to take a beating at home in Week 1. The good news is that it’s only Week 1, but this is going to be a hard game to forget for a long time in Chicago. Moving forward in the season, things need to change. Plain and simple.
For Green Bay, you couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2023 season. This Packers team played with a confidence that they lacked last season. Players are rallying around their new QB1, Jordan Love, and things seem good in Green Bay. It’ll be very interesting to see how this Packers team fares as the season moves along.
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