It was a monster day for Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers offense.
In a much-needed strong offensive performance, the Packers cruised to a 31-7 win in front of 77,755 fans. The 214th meeting between the Packers and Bears could not have started better for the home squad.
Not only was the 74-degree air temp at kickoff the 3rd warmest for an October game at Lambeau Field, but the Packers would go 91 yards on their opening drive, with QB Jordan Love hitting Christian Watson on a 42-yard deep ball.
Xavier McKinney would take advantage of a Javon Bullard pass breakup to record his 2nd interception in as many weeks, and MarShawn Lloyd would respond with a 7-yard TRD run, bulldozing over a defender to get his first rushing touchdown of his career, and the Packers first of the season.
Things would slow down in the later part of the first half, and Chicago, who found the endzone on a 4th-and-goal run, and Green Bay would enter the half up 14-7.
They bounced back with an electric opening drive in the 2nd half, with Love finding Watson on a 53-yard dot.
Trey Smack would miss the extra point, but he would recover with a 35-yard field goal late in the 3rd quarter. He did end up missing two more field goals, however.
But McKinney wasn’t done, securing his second INT of the day, which Green Bay would take advantage of with Lloyd’s second rushing TD of the day to open the 4th quarter.
Tyrone Hopper also got an interception on a 4th-and-goal play, and the defense forced two fumbles, bringing the turnover number to 5 on the day.
Safety Evan Williams told SeehaferNews.com that this defensive group is very special.
“You know, you get a group of 11 guys that just trust each other to do exactly what they’re supposed to do, and, you know, we’re all motivated towards the same thing; it’s a pretty special group,” he noted. “Then you got your leaders on the defense. Z, X, and guys that are, you know, stepping up in all three levels.”
As far as the turnovers, Williams wasn’t surprised.
“Swift had been, you know, fumbling a little bit. We just knew that there’s the ball was going to be in the air,” he explained. “We tried to eliminate the run and force him into some situations where they got to put it up and capitalize.”
Offensively, this was Guard Laken Tomlinson’s first time having his name called at Lambeau Field, and he absolutely loved it.
“It’s truly special, man,” he said with a smile. “For me in this point of my career, any time you get something like that is truly special. I’m extremely appreciative of this organization. Extremely appreciative of everyone believing in me.”
While the Packers still have not rushed for 100 yards in a game this season, they did have two rushing touchdowns.
Tomlinson explained why it was working better this week.
“It’s clicking,” he said. “Obviously we’ve still got stuff to work on, you know, but it’s clicking, man. And you guys are bought in. Guys are putting in the extra time, the extra work, extra studying, extra meeting times, extra hanging out with each other, talking, communicating everyday man is paying off.”
It was also a huge day through the air, as Jordan Love threw for 367 yards and 2 touchdowns, both of which went to Watson.
Matthew Golden and Watson each went for over 100 yards on the day thanks in part to the deep ball working well. Golden tells us to expect more of that moving forward.
“With the speed that we got, man, I feel like, you know, no matter who is lining up against us, I feel like we can get downfield,” he said confidently. “I know the coaches will say the same thing.”
Watson agreed, saying the connection between J-Love and the receivers is at an all-time high.
“You know, I know what he’s capable of, and I know the trust that he has in me, MG, and Tucker, and you know all of our pieces,” he explained. “He has 110% trust in every single guy out there, and that puts that trust right back in us.”
The Packers will be right back on their home turf next weekend as they host the Dallas Cowboys.
The game will be aired on Q102 starting at 5:03 p.m.
