Final Score: Bears 24 Packers 22
In a stunning turn of events, the Bears took down the big bad wolf this week. Sunday marked Chicago’s first win against Green Bay since 2018. The players, organization, and fans all needed this victory badly. Heading into the game, nobody on the Bears roster had beaten the Packers as a member of the team. Now the stigma has disappeared, regarding both the rivalry and 2024 season. Instead of heading into the offseason having lost 11 straight, the players have something positive to build off of (and Caleb Williams is undefeated at Lambeau Field)!
Bright Spots
Offensive Line and Williams Limited Sacks
Diving into the game itself, Chicago put itself in a good position by limiting sacks. After taking 7 sacks in Week 17, QB Caleb Williams was only taken down once this Sunday. This marked only the second time this season that the Bears allowed just 1 sack. Posting 3 sacks itself on defense, this week’s game was the first contest in which the Bears out-sacked their opponent since Week 5 per PFF. It’s no coincidence that the ending of that streak occured at the same time as the ending of the losing streak.
RG Matt Pryor and RT Darnell Wright were the strongest forces on the offensive line, respectively finishing 4th and 29th in PFF pass block grade this week among the entire NFL.
Ended Season on a High Note
This week’s win was huge. Not only was it the first win against Green Bay since 2018, but it prevented the Bears from heading into the offseason on a demoralizing 11-game losing streak. After losing so many close games during the slide, it had begun to feel like it was impossible to actually come out on top. Now, two metaphorical monkeys are off of Chicago’s back and it can focus on improving over the offseason without a sour taste in its mouth (or at least, a much less sour taste).
Glaring Issues
Still Couldn’t Slow Down the Run
Despite emerging from Lambeau Field victorious, the Bears still remained helpless against the run. The Packers racked up 183 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns all while averaging 5.5 yards per carry (for reference, the Bears managed only 83 yards and 1 touchdown while averaging 3.2 yards per carry). Packers running back Emmanuel Wilson was easily able to scamper into the endzone late in the fourth quarter for a crucial touchdown, glorifying the issue.
Ever since big nose tackle Andrew Billings went down for the season a couple months back, the Bears haven’t been the same up front. It’s concerning that one player getting injured was so detrimental to the group. GM Ryan Poles has to consider run-stopping as a pressing concern this offseason.
Standout Performers
DJ Moore
Despite a late fumble that nearly cost the game, DJ Moore deserves props. Although he fell just short of 1,000 receiving yards on the season, Moore posted the most receptions of his career this year (98). 9 of those came in this game, including a touchdown grab on a wide receiver screen. The veteran wide receiver is so good with the ball in his hands, and his sure-handedness makes him an extremely reliable target for Caleb Williams. This was evident after multiple crucial 3rd-down receptions in Green Bay this week.
Terrell Smith
Cornerback Terrell Smith also deserves recognition for his contributions this Sunday. With starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson leaving due to injury, Smith was tasked with filling in. In only 16 defensive snaps, Smith quickly made his presence known with a tackle-for-loss and a pass deflection. He was only targeted once and did not allow the pass to be completed. Smith is a fine cornerback and I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a starter somewhere down the line.
Key Drive of the Game
With the contest concluding with a 51-yard game-winning field goal via the leg of Cairo Santos, there isn’t much debate regarding the key drive of the game. Caleb Williams and the offense took over possession with only 54 seconds remaining, trailing by 1. As he has done several times already in his short career, Williams found a way to put the Bears in position to win. After a beautiful toe-tapping grab by rookie WR Rome Odunze and a short pass to DJ Moore, the ball was still at the 49-yard-line with only 15 seconds remaining. Williams then made a risky decision that paid off, finding the trusty DJ Moore on an in-breaker. Out of timeouts, he was able to organize the offense and get the spike down just in time to stop the clock before it read double zeroes. Cairo Santos did the rest.