On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers extended an eight-game winning streak against the Chicago Bears. They beat the Bears 38-20. Despite all the offseason changes, it felt like another Sunday against the insubstantial Bears. Another routine defeat of the Chicago Bears is much more meaningful than people think.
Entering the season, the Packers had several questions about itself it was hoping to answer.
Can Jordan Love Run Matt Lafleur’s Offense at a High Level?
Answer: Love far exceeded what most people thought he would be capable of this early on. Nobody expects him to fill Aaron Rodgers shoes in his first full season as the starter, but Sunday was a fantastic start.
We all knew there would be some growing pains offensively, losing crucial pieces like Allen Lazard, Mercedes Lewis, and Randall Cobb. The loss of those players was felt early in the game with some blown blocking assignments that halted a few early drives. Even without those players and standout second-year wideout Christian Watson, Jordan Love was incredibly efficient.
The Packers went 10-18 on third and fourth down. It was encouraging to see Love step in big moments and show that he isn’t rattled when the pressure intensifies down the stretch. The Packers were a middle-of-the-road team on 3rd down efficiency last year, averaging a 39.5 percent conversion rate. Hopefully, they can improve this season.
Love delivered the ball accurately and on time for most of the night, ending up with an impressive 245-yard passing with three touchdowns, no turnovers, and a 123.2 QB rating. It is still too early to evaluate the player he will be moving forward, but Sunday was an encouraging showing.
Can the Green Bay Packers Defense Become a Top 10 NFL Defense?
Answer: Yes! I believe this defense can be elite. Sunday’s win showed that the defense is ready to take over games. With Rodgers leaving for the Jets, the Packer’s defense needs to be the strength of our team.
For too long, fans and media alike sat in front of their TV and expected Rodgers to single-handedly win the game, no matter what performance the defense turned in. With Rodgers gone, it’s like a breath of fresh air. They win as a Team and Lose as a Team; it all starts with the defense.
This game was a perfect example of what the defense needs moving forward. The defense got stops and created short fields for the offense to work. The Packers defense was able to sack Justin Fields 4 times and pile up 7 TFL’s. The Packers also created two turnovers, resulting in a pick-six courtesy of Quay Walker.
Outside of a few defensive assignment issues and missed tackles, the Packers bullied an offense that “on paper” should be significantly improved from last season.
The Bears shiny new weapon, D.J Moore, was held to just two receptions for 25 yards. Overall, Packers fans should be excited about the defense. The group has a young core of talented players that will grow and improve as the season progresses.
Can the Green Bay Packers Compete for the NFC?
Answer: Sunday’s performance showed that even with the 2nd youngest roster in the NFL and without Aaron Rodgers, this Packers Team is still more than capable of winning on any given Sunday. Much growth still needs to happen, but the future looks bright for a team eager to prove itself as a contender. Aaron Jones said it best, ” Nothing’s changed. We are still the Packers”.
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