Final Score: Bears 31 Packers 27
The Bears did it! Chicago slayed the dragon this week, fending off the Packers to earn its first playoff win in over 15 years. In the most fitting way possible, Caleb Williams and the Bears clawed back into a game where they trailed by 18 points to earn an unbelievable comeback victory. D.J. Moore, the cheese-grater himself, once again hauled in the game-winning touchdown to send the Packers on their way.
We’ve seen many improbable Chicago wins this season, but none quite like this. The Bears were dead in the water at halftime, trailing 21-3. A 25-point explosion in the 4th quarter led to the Bears executing the playoff victory. It’s tough to put into words the insanity that the season has brought for Bears fans. To a certain extent, an inexplicable win like this isn’t surprising based on the way that this team has won games this year.
Regardless, the city of Chicago is on fire and for good reason. They have the coach; they have the quarterback; they’ve taken control of the Packers. San Francisco’s victory in Philadelphia has set up a Bears-LA Rams matchup next week in the divisional round. The Bears will do their best and have a great chance at beating the Rams next week, but it’s safe to say that this season has already been a success.
Bright Spots
Late Game Magic Returned
Chicago’s late game magic is back. After losing the last two games of the regular season in tight finishes, I began to wonder if the Bears’ touch had finally worn off. But, this week represented the latest of the last-minute miracles that have somehow consistently occurred for the Bears this year. They’ve done this all year long, but it’s nice to see the ball go through the hoop again. If it ever wavered, the belief is fully back that Caleb Williams and the Bears are never “out” of a football game. These players believe that they can win any game and overcome any deficit, and why shouldn’t they?
The Bears Won Without Forcing a Turnover
For the first time all year long, Chicago won without forcing a single turnover. They were 0-2 during the regular season in these situations, and 2-4 in games where they only forced 1 turnover. The magic number is 2 takeaways; in games that fit this requirement they were 9-0. All this is to say: it is insane that a team that has directly relied on dominating the turnover margin (the Bears had both the least turnovers on offense and the most takeaways on defense this year) lost that battle 2-0 in its first playoff game and still pulled off the win.
The lack of takeaways on defense could be a concern, but I consider it a positive given the fact that the Bears were able to prove that they can win without them. In addition, you have to assume that regression will kick in next week. There were several instances in this game where a ball came free and the Packers managed to recover. The takeaways should return next week.
Glaring Issues
Slow Starts are a Consistent Pattern
The biggest issue is clearly the slow starts. In two weeks in a row now, the Bears have followed an eerily similar pattern of both not being able to move the ball on offense while simultaneously playing horrendous defense. In this span, the Bears have been outscored 34-3. In both instances the team has drastically improved in the second half, but it is not sustainable to keep falling into these difficult situations. Both Ben Johnson and DC Dennis Allen are clearly skilled at making midgame adjustments, but both need to learn to either adjust quicker or come into the game with the most advantageous gameplan instead of scrambling to find it during the game.
Defense Gets Picked Apart
This year’s unit is unlike your average Chicago Bears defense. Bears defenses are known for being tough to move the ball against and always making opposing offenses work for it, with a huge takeaway season in store every few years. This year, the Bears are giving up oodles of yards (3rd-most yards per play), but are also taking the ball away at the highest rate in the NFL. You can be the judge on whether or not that evens out in the long run. Oddly, however, the group seems to be able to stiffen up on a dime. Against both the Packers and the Lions last week, the defense literally couldn’t stop the opposing offense in the first half. But when the second half rolls around, they look like the ’85 Bears, allowing only 6 points this week and 3 against the Lions. Things are good half the time but when they’re bad, they’re bad.
Standout Performers
Caleb Williams
Williams was awesome this Saturday. He posted 361 passing yards (his season-high) and 2 TDs, good enough to earn his first playoff victory. His two interceptions drug down his QBR, but can both be dismissed. The first was due to rookie WR Luther Burden III running the wrong route, while the second came on a 4th-down desperation heave into the endzone with immediate pressure up the middle.
Considering the circumstances, I think that the Iceman made the best throw of his life in this game. Trailing 11 points late in the 4th quarter, Caleb found himself facing a 4th and 8 with the season on the line. If this was not converted, the Packers would’ve overtaken possession up two scores with less than 5 minutes remaining; it would have been over. With nothing open and pressure leaking from the right side, Caleb scrambled left and hurled the ball off-platform down the field and towards the sideline, both feet off of the ground as he released the football. The ball found Rome Odunze in a sea of Packer defenders for 27 yards, keeping the drive-and season-alive. There’s less than a handful of NFL quarterbacks that can dream of making that throw. Caleb Williams was the #1 pick and was labeled a “generational prospect” for a reason. His talent is top-of-the-line and he only keeps getting better.
Colston Loveland
Loveland has been a steal of a draft pick this season. Over the final stretch of the season he had emerged as truly one of the best tight ends in the NFL and the most productive receiver on the Bears. He put up 137 yards and 8 receptions this week in his NFL playoff debut, including an infinitely important hauling in of a 2-point attempt. It’s crazy to imagine how much better he will get throughout his career.
Montez Sweat
Despite not recording a sack this week, defensive end Montez Sweat deserves props for his performance. The defensive line began to force noticeable pressure on Jordan Love in the second half which was a huge contributor to the comeback effort. Love was uncomfortable and Sweat was the main culprit. Tez had 7 pressures, leading the defense. Without the defensive line’s efforts-led by him-the Bears wouldn’t have been able to pull off the comeback.
Key Drive of the Game
After Packers rookie WR Matthew Golden squirmed into the endzone in the 4th quarter to extend Green Bay’s lead back up to 11 points, the game felt all but over. But, the Bears took the ball over with 6:36 remaining, trailing 27-16, and went on to drive 76 yards into the endzone in hardly over 2 minutes. Rome Odunze had 44 receiving yards on the drive. Facing a 4th-and-3 turned 4th-and-8 thanks to a Drew Dalman false start, Caleb Williams and the Bears had their backs against the wall. His ridiculous completion to Odunze kept the drive alive and allowed WR Olamide Zaccheaus the chance to haul in his touchdown a few plays later, quickly bringing the Bears back within 3 points. Colston Loveland’s successful 2-point conversion was a testament to Ben Johnson’s creativity. By trotting “Jumbo” personnel out onto the field (3 tight ends, extra offensive linemen), he activated Green Bay’s to counter with their run-stopping personnel (extra linebackers, less cornerbacks). By motioning into a pass play, Loveland was placed into an extremely advantageous 1-on-1 matchup against an inexperienced Packers linebacker-Loveland won.