CHICAGO – The Packers let a big game get away Saturday night at Soldier Field, blowing a 10-point lead in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter and then losing, 22-16, on a 46-yard TD pass to WR DJ Moore in overtime.
Green Bay dominated the first 55 minutes of the game despite losing QB Jordan Love in the first half to a concussion. The Packers took a 16-6 lead with a field goal when the Bears drove for their own field goal, recovered an onside kick that Packers WR Romeo Doubs failed to corral, and then scored the game-tying TD in the last half-minute on a fourth-and-4 pass from the 6-yard line to WR Jahdae Walker. A coverage bust left Walker wide open in the corner of the end zone.
In the overtime, the Packers drove into Bears territory but QB Malik Willis was stopped on a third-and-1 scramble at the Chicago 36-yard line. On fourth-and-1, Willis, who had played a terrific game, fumbled the snap from Sean Rhyan and the Bears recovered.
A few snaps later, QB Caleb Williams took the deep shot to Moore, and it was right on the money against single coverage for the winning TD.
With the win, the Bears moved 1 ½ games ahead of the Packers in first place in the NFC North at 11-4. Green Bay fell to 9-5-1.
The Packers also fumbled inside the 5-yard line in the third quarter and were stopped on a fourth-down play inside the 10 on the opening drive of the game, leaving a lot of points out there. The Bears also blew a fourth down in goal-to-go early, and then did not score a touchdown until the very end of regulation.
For the Packers, Willis was 9-of-11 for 121 yards with one TD and a 142.8 passer rating. He also rushed 10 times for 44 yards. Emanuel Wilson had 14 rushes for 82 yards, and RB Josh Jacobs added 12 carries for 36 yards. Doubs had five catches for 84 yards and a TD.
For the Bears, Williams was 19-of-34 for 250 yards with two TDs and a 98.9 passer rating. RB D'Andre Swift had 13 carries for 58 yards, and RB Kyle Monongai added nine rushes for 50 yards. Moore had five catches for 95 yards and a score.
Here's a recap of all the action:
Packers and Bears play a scoreless first quarter
Chicago won the coin toss and elected to defer. During Bo Melton's 29-yard return, Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson was flagged for unnecessary roughness after jumping on the pile to give the Packers the ball at their 47..
Jordan Love completed his first pass to tight end Luke Musgrave for a 7-yard gain on second-and-8. On third-and-1, Austin Booker was flagged for a late hit on Love to move the ball to the Chicago 29.
Love hit Romeo Doubs on an out for 12 yards on a third-and-9 and went back to him again for a 6-yard pickup on third-and-7 at the Bears' 13. After using a timeout, Love and Christian Watson failed to connect on an out for the turnover on downs.
Chicago moved the ball 85 yards without seeing a third down until D'Andre Swift was tackled a yard short of a first down at the Green Bay 4.
On fourth-and-1, the Bears tried a direct snap to running back Kyle Monangai, but Drew Dalman's snap sailed over his head for an 18-yard loss and turnover on downs.
Starting at its 22, Green Bay converted the initial first down with a Love scramble on third-and-6. A 13-yard out to Doubs moved the Packers to their 46. Two Josh Jacobs carries for 11 yards moved Green Bay back into Chicago territory.
The first quarter ended with Doubs' fourth reception, a 20-yard completion to the Bears' 23.
Packers lead Bears 6-0 at halftime
Jacobs opened the second quarter with three straight touches – an 8-yard catch, a 6-yard run and a 4-yard reception – to move Green Bay to the Chicago.
A backward pass to Emanuel Wilson went out of bounds and Love missed Watson high on third-in-goal, resulting in a Brandon McManus 26-yard field goal to put Green Bay up 3-0 with 12 minutes, 45 seconds left in the first half.
Three straight Monangai touches gained 15 yards and moved the Bears across midfield. Jordon Riley held Monangai to a 2-yard gain on second-and-10 before Darnell Wright was called for a false start on the next play.
Chicago punted after Caleb Williams was forced to throw the ball away on third-and-13. Tory Taylor's 40-yard punt pinned Green Bay back at its own 5.
Packers announced linebacker Kristian Welch is questionable with an ankle injury before their next drive. Green Bay gained the initial first down with a 5-yard Wilson run and 7-yard out to Watson.
On the next play, Love left the game to be evaluated for a concussion after Booker's second roughing the passer penalty. Malik Willis stepped in for Love and converted on fourth-and-1 with 13-yard run off a read-option to the Bears' 46.
Willis and Wilson combined for 13 yards on back-to-back runs before Willis hit Dontayvion Wicks for six yards on an out. Wilson gained 14 yards on a stretch right to the Chicago 5 to set up first-and-goal.
The drive stalled there and Green Bay settled for a 22-yard field goal to push the Packers' lead to 6-0 with 1:41 left in the first half. The 16-play, 91-yard scoring drive lasted 7:53.
Williams hit Colston Loveland for 13 yards on first down, but the Bears were forced to punt after his third-and-4 pass to Loveland sailed high. Green Bay took over at its 8 after Doubs' fair catch with 45 seconds left in the quarter.
Packers lead Bears 13-3 after three quarters
Green Bay announced quarterback Jordan Love has been ruled out with a concussion at the start of the third quarter.
Quay Walker came free on a linebacker blitz on second-and-8, but Williams got it off in time to Monangai who picked up 34 yards down the sideline. Nate Hobbs dropped D'Andre Swift for a 3-yard loss on the next play.
On second-and-13, Xavier McKinney nearly picked off Williams on a pass intended for Loveland across the middle. Chicago settled for a 46-yard Cairo Santos field goal to cut Green Bay's lead to 6-3 with 12:12 left in the second quarter.
Opening in play-action, Willis threw a 26-yard dart to Luke Musgrave across the middle. He went back to Musgrave on a 5-yard out on third-and-1 to move the ball to the Chicago 25.
Willis scrambled for 11 yards and converted on fourth-and-1 with a sneak to set up first-and-goal at the Bears' 4. Jacobs fumbled on the next play, with Chicago recovering it at its 3.
Monangai gained 13 yards on first down. Quay Walker dropped Monangai for a 1-yard loss on second-and-7 and Chicago was forced to punt after a check down. Green Bay took back over at its 36 after Taylor's 40-yard punt bounced out of bounds.
Wilson gained 12 yards on first down and a 10-yard pass to Watson gave Green Bay a first down at the Chicago 41. Willis canned the play on third-and-2 and fired a perfect deep ball to Doubs for a 33-yard touchdown to push the Packers' lead to 13-3 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter.
Packers and Bears head to overtime tied at 16
The Bears recovered the onside kick and quickly moved downfield. On fourth-and-4, Williams found an open Jahdae Walker for a 6-yard touchdown to tie the game at 16 with 24 seconds left. Willis was sacked at the end of regulation.
Bears rally for 22-16 win in overtime, Packers fall to 9-5-1
Chicago won the coin toss and elected to kick. On second-and-7 from the Green Bay 24, Willis fired a 31-yard pass to Reed to the Bears' 45. The Packers worked the ball down to the 36 before an aborted play on fourth-and-1.
After Monangai converted on third-and-3, Williams fired a game-winning 46-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore to end the game.
