Jordan Love did not tremble for the first game of his taking command of the Packers attack
Chicago Bears (0-1) – Green Bay Packers (1-0): 20-38
Jordan Love (15/27, 245 yards, 3TD) continues the tradition! Used to manhandling the Bears in recent years, the Packers did not need Aaron Rodgers to do so in this first game of the 2023 season.
Sluggish in the first half, the Packers progressed in the second half thanks to their attack but also to a gala Aaron Jones (9 carries, 2 receptions, 127 yards, 2TD). With two touchdowns in the second half, the runner was key to his team’s success.
The Bears were disappointing for this first match. Scrambled on offense, overwhelmed on defense, there’s still work to be done for the Illinois men.
On a level playing field
Green Bay strikes first in this game. After blocking a 4th attempt on defense, the attack can start again from the opposing 40. Jordan Love’s attack then takes its time with 11 actions and 5 minutes to make up the missing yards. Aaron Jones advances his team and Love concludes by finding Romeo Doubs in the end zone for the first touchdown (0-7) of the “Love era”.
Chicago responds with two consecutive field goals (6-7). The attack manages to advance thanks to a few races from Justin Fields (24/37, 216 yards, 1Td, 1INT, 59 yards rushing), but it is still too approximate at the conclusion.
The teams move on with difficulty in this first half where the punts follow one another in the 2nd quarter. You ultimately have to wait until the very last seconds to find an attack moving forward.
It was the visitors who scored a kick just before half-time to lead 10-6 as they returned to the locker room.
Green Bay passes second
The Packers resume the match at the same pace. It’s Aaron Jones who dynamizes the attack with several winning runs and especially a reception on a lateral pass transformed into a gain of 51 yards to the Bears’ 3 yards. Behind, the runner needs an attempt to score the touchdown (6-17).
The runner makes a double hit on the next series. This time Love finds Jones in the middle for a 5-6 yard pass, but the runner uses his speed to leave his defender on the spot and cover the 35 yards he misses for the touchdown (6-24). Winning bet for Lafleur who called this play on a 4&3.
The locals tried to react with a touchdown from Darrell Mooney to get back to 14-24 but the attack made too many mistakes. A fumble and especially an ugly interception thrown by Justin Fields put the nails on the Bears’ coffin.
The interception is made by Quay Walker who breaks tackles and manages to reach the end zone for the touchdown (14-38). Just before, Love found Doubs again for the touchdown.
Chicago reduced the gap at the end of the match with another touchdown (20-38) but that changed nothing in the match.
