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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Zach Kruse

Instant analysis of Packers’ 20-19 win over Bears in Week 11

Jordan Love engineered a go-ahead scoring drive and Karl Brooks produced a dramatic blocked field goal as the Green Bay Packers escaped Soldier Field with a remarkable 20-19 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The Packers are now 7-3 overall after winning their 11th straight game over the Bears.

Here is an instant analysis of the Packers’ win over the Bears in Week 11:

Final score: Packers 20, Bears 19

1 2 3 4 F
GB (7-3) 7 0 7 6 20
CHI (4-6) 3 7 9 0 19

Live scoring

First quarter

GB 7, CHI 0: Jayden Reed 15-yard catch (11:15)
GB 7, CHI 3: Cairo Santos 53-yard field goal (7:53)

Second quarter

CHI 10, GB 7: Roshon Johnson 1-yard run (0:07)

Third quarter

CHI 13, GB 7: Cairo Santos 27-yard field goal (10:17)
GB 14, CHI 13: Josh Jacobs 7-yard run (3:43)
CHI 19, GB 14: D’Andre Swift 39-yard run (0:31)

Fourth quarter

GB 20, CHI 19: Jordan Love 1-yard run (2:59)

It was over when…

… Karl Brooks penetrated inside, got a hand up and blocked Cairo Santos’ 46-yard field goal attempt as time expired, preserving the one-point win for the Packers.

Game balls

Offense — WR Christian Watson: He caught four passes for a season-high 150 yards, including a diving 60-yarder that helped set up the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Watson also had catches of 27 yards and 48 yards.

Defense — DE Brenton Cox Jr.: In his first extended NFL action, Cox produced two negative plays — a tackle for loss against the run and his first career NFL sack.

Special teams — DL Karl Brooks: His big hands saved the day on the final field goal attempt.

Key stat

3-for-5: The Packers scored three touchdowns on five red zone trips, but an interception thrown by Jordan Love and a turnover on downs led to two empty trips inside the 20. This game didn’t need to come down to a blocked field goal. Green Bay must get better in the red zone down the stretch.

Deciding factor

Explosive plays in the passing game: Jordan Love averaged 15.4 yards per attempt and 20.0 yards per completion, and the Packers finished with five passing plays of 20 or more yards. Christian Watson had three — including two setting up touchdowns. Josh Jacobs added two more as an underneath weapon. When the Packers had to have a big play late, Love hit Watson for 60 yards to set up the go-ahead score.

Jordan Love watch

A wild day at the office for Jordan Love. Get a look at this stat line: 13 for 17, 261 yards, one touchdown, one interception, one rushing touchdown. Love put the Packers up 7-0 on a free-play touchdown pass in the first quarter, created five explosive plays in the passing game and scored the go-ahead touchdown. He also threw a bad pick in the red zone. His passer rating was 113.0. Of his four incompletions, one was a drop and another was a throwaway. His interception sailed over Tucker Kraft’s head. On a positive note, Love looked completely healthy — he scrambled three times and looked mobile in and out of the pocket.

Play of the game

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1858253418785104130

Karl Brooks saves the day.

Injury updates

Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was questionable to play, started the game but exited midway through and didn’t return because of a lingering knee injury.

What’s next

The Packers will return home next Sunday for a visit from the San Francisco 49ers. Matt LaFleur’s team escaped Soldier Field, but the Packers need to play considerably better next week to beat the mighty 49ers. Kyle Shanahan’s team is currently 5-4 and hosting the Seattle Seahawks in the late Sunday timeslot in Week 11.

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