Three winners after Packers' blowout win over Bears
When you beat your top rival by 18-points, the typical perception is that day -whether it was a Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or Saturday- was a good day.And, for the most part, that was the exact case with the Green Bay Packers' 38-20 win over the Chicago Bears. The Packers got off to a bit of […]
When you beat your top rival by 18-points, the typical perception is that day -whether it was a Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or Saturday- was a good day.
And, for the most part, that was the exact case with the Green Bay Packers' 38-20 win over the Chicago Bears.
The Packers got off to a bit of a slow start and led just 10-6 at halftime, but things really picked up for Green Bay in the second half, while it was not-so-much for Chicago. The Packers eventually pulled away and never looked back en route to their ninth-straight win over the Bears.
There were plenty of good performances, but these three were pivotal in Sunday's win.
DL Devonte Wyatt
Man, if Week 1 is any indication of what Wyatt's sophomore season is going to look like, then the Packers defense will be an elite unit in 2023.
The former first-rounder finished the day with 1.5 sacks, 2.0 tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and three total tackles. He was all over the place and yes, while he was unblocked on his sack, it was still very impressive to watch the big man take down Bears QB Justin Fields because that's something hardly anyone can do.
Per Pro Football Focus, Wyatt led the team with six total pressures that included four hurries and 2.0 sacks. PFF grades their sacks differently than traditional NFL stats, therefore, that's not a typo you're seeing. He also tied with Rashan Gary for the most pressures against a true pass set (5) and he his win rate of 21.4% was second-best only to Gary's 50% win rate, but Gary also rushed just 10 times compared to Wyatt's 22.
After an OK year, Wyatt's stock has never been higher. And it's going to soar if he keeps this up.
RB Aaron Jones
Of course Jones provided the spark that helped the Packers cruise to victory. Love is the quarterback and his teammates love him, but Jones is undoubtedly the heart and soul of this team. So it's completely fitting for him to have the biggest impact on Sunday's game.
"Like I said earlier, he's a guy who tilts the field in your favor. He's so dynamic [and] so explosive," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game. "And take all his ability as a football player out of it – he means so much to that locker room. By his actions, by what he says and what he does on a daily basis. He's a real leader in that locker room [and] he's a real leader for our football team. He inspires everybody and he comes to work each and every day with a great attitude."I can't say enough great things about him. I've said it a million times, about the kind of person he is. You cannot have enough Aaron Jones on your football team."
Jones didn't have a great first half due to the Packers playing catch-up with the chains, but LaFleur made it a point to get him the ball after halftime and the star running back immediately repaid him with a 51-yard grab and then a 35-yard touchdown scamper off a choice route on 4th and 3 in the third quarter.
In all, Jones recorded 127 total yards and the above touchdown on 11 touches. That's a pretty solid day.
It likely could've been more if Jones didn't pull up at the end of his touchdown run, but so far, it sounds like the Packers avoided anything serious with that. Jones even said after the game that it wasn't a hamstring pull. But, obviously, we'll know more about that if LaFleur brings it up on Monday. If not, we'll definitely have a better idea when Week 2's first injury report comes out on Wednesday.
LB Quay Walker
Walker, the other first-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, looked like he's ready to take the next step in Year 2, as well.
He ended up with four total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, a pass break-up, and an interception. The latter was either the play of the game or right behind Jones' touchdown on 4th and 3. Both plays helped the Packers extend their lead to three scores and essentially kept the Bears from ever mounting a serious comeback attempt.
Like Jones, Walker's day could've been a lot bigger, but he had to exit the game after the pick-six because he got rocked as he crossed the goal line. The Packers took him into the locker room to evaluate him for a concussion and he never returned to the game. But, the score also could've played a big decision in keeping Walker on the sidelines.
If Walker and Wyatt continue this trajectory in Year 2, then the Packers defense is going to be hard to score against and it's going to be even harder keeping the pass rushers out of opposing offense's backfields.
Packers still own Bears after blowout win
The Packers’ grip on the Bears looks as strong as ever.
Featured image via Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
