Packers score vs. Bears, takeaway: Aaron Jones goes wild as Green Bay rolls past Bears at Rambo Field

It wasn’t a perfect game for the Packers, but Sunday night’s prime-time matchup against the Bears was a marked improvement over Green Bay’s week one. Not only did Aaron Rodgers pass the ball to his makeshift receiving team more efficiently, but Matt LaFleur managed to unleash his dynamic backcourt duo, especially with Aaron Jones at the center of the green and yellow offense. Despite a few turnovers, the Packers have a Week 2 victory firmly in their hands, beating Justin Fields and the Bears by a 27-10 decision to get them back to .500 in the NFC North.

Here are some instant takeaways from “Sunday Night Football”:

Why the Packers won

With a lack of elite weapons, Green Bay can’t consistently push the ball up the floor, wisely turning to a Jones-focused, balanced offense. Provides a double threat that translates the average game into an elusive gain on nearly every tee shot to 170 yards. Rodgers played his quiet part well, mostly quick short strikes, especially Randall Cobb stepping up on key drops. Sammy Watkins also showed up, including a deep shot in the fourth quarter that nearly set the stage for the win. The offense did have turnovers, drawing momentum from the Bears with a couple of missed smashes/handovers, but was always in control after the first touchdown.

On the defensive end, the Packers weren’t necessarily stunning early on, struggling to contain David Montgomery as the game went on. They also never allowed Justin Fields to settle down as a passer, which allowed the conservative Bears to dare their young QB to unlock it. Preston Smith headlined the group to stand out. Meanwhile, Jaire Alexander quickly swept the field in the final moments of the game, knocking Fields down and bowing his thanks for the game.

Why the Bears lost

They ran out of juice on the first drive. Matt Eberflux’s defense put enough pressure on Rodgers to give Chicago a chance. Even a 24-7 deficit didn’t kill them with a timely forced error and three early sacks by the A-Rod. But Fields’ team slowed after a confident start, averaging just 4 yards per pass attempt entering the fourth quarter. The Bears’ heavy reliance on the ground game was also bittersweet, as Fields, Khalil Herbert and a fresher-than-ever Montgomery (over 130 yards combined) all made important runs, but never An accompanying airstrike was set up. The fact that Fields didn’t hit double-digit pass attempts until the final two minutes may or may not be an indictment of the Bears’ trust (or lack thereof) in him. Their decision-making also leaves something to be desired, as evidenced by their failed fourth-and-target shotgun QB tie, with a chance to tie a point in Game 4.

turning point

You might point to Rodgers’ pinpoint 3-pointer on Cobb, or Jones’ second touchdown of the night, a comprehensive “catch” that gave Green Bay a 10-point first-half lead. But the Packers’ goal line stood on Fields’ fourth shotgun tie with eight minutes left, and the Bears threatened to make it a one-game game that nearly sealed a deal for Green Bay. Fields was all-out in this game, having nearly fought for a TD by extending to the tower in the previous game. The replay may have shown that Fields did indeed cross the goal line. Alas, these things leave the ball — and the game — in the hands of the Packers.

Gameplay

It wasn’t a Dolphin-Crows drama frenzy, but a grunt special, which is why Rodgers’ first knockout of Cobb late in the second quarter was so impressive. Not only did it show Rodgers’ legs still had enough power to get up and out of the pocket, but it also helped prolong Green Bay’s offense in the first half and lead 24-7 at halftime.

what’s next

The Packers (1-1) will play Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (2-0), who beat the Saints on Sunday after beating Green Bay in the 2020 NFC Championship. Meanwhile, the Bears (1-1) will return to host the Texans (0-1-1), who were beaten by the Broncos in Week 2.



Source link