The Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears in a tight Week 11 showdown, securing a 20-19 victory at Soldier Field.
Green Bay Secures 11th Consecutive Victory Against Chicago
The win marked the Packers' 11th consecutive victory over divisional rivals and improved their season record to 7-3, further cementing their position in the NFC playoff hunt. Meanwhile, the Bears fell to 4-6, dealing with consistency issues as the season progresses.
The game's decisive moments came in the final quarter, with Jordan Love leading a crucial offensive series and Karl Brooks blocking a last-second field goal attempt to seal the victory for Green Bay.
The game started with an early spark by the Packers offense when Jayden Reed caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love, putting Green Bay up 7-0 just over four minutes after the kickoff.
The Bears responded with a 53-yard field goal by Cairo Santos later in the first quarter, cutting the lead to 7-3. The second quarter was a defensive duel for much of the period, but the Bears capitalized in the final seconds.
Roshon Johnson caught a 1-yard ground touchdown with just seven seconds remaining before halftime, putting Chicago in front 10-7 going into the break.
The momentum swung the other way several times during the third quarter. Santos extended the Bears' lead to 13-7 with a 27-yard field goal early in the period. The Packers responded with a methodical series that culminated in a 7-yard Josh Jacobs ground touchdown, regaining the lead 14-13.
Course Changed in the Last Quarter
However, the Bears struck again with a late breakthrough in the fourth, when D'Andre Swift bolted for a 39-yard touchdown on the ground, leaving Chicago up 19-14 with just 31 seconds left in the third quarter.
The final quarter was decisive. Jordan Love led the Packers on a crucial series, highlighted by a 60-yard pass to Christian Watson that took Green Bay deep into Chicago territory. Love capped the series with a 1-yard quarterback sneak, putting the Packers up 20-19 with less than three minutes remaining.
The Bears attempted a late comeback, advancing into Packers territory to set up a 46-yard field goal attempt by Santos. However, Karl Brooks, proving his worth at a critical moment, blocked the kick as time expired, preserving the one-point victory for Green Bay.
The Packers offense relied heavily on explosive plays throughout the game. Christian Watson had a standout performance, catching four passes for a career-high 150 yards.
His contributions included a 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter and two extra plays of 27 and 48 yards. Jordan Love showed poise and efficiency, completing 13 of 17 passes for 261 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Despite an interception in the red zone that stopped an earlier scoring opportunity, Love maintained a 113.0 passer rating and demonstrated his mobility with several breakaways, including his decisive touchdown run.
Two old acquaintances clash in the #UEFANationsLeague! 🇭🇷🔥🇵🇹#LukaModric 's #Croatia are unbeaten at home in the tournament. But up against them will be #CristianoRonaldo, one of the top scorers in the European competition.
Predict now! ➡ https://t.co/HCS0draMpV pic.twitter.com/22aLqtg7F9
- Betcris (@Betcris) November 18, 2024
Key Defense
On defense, rookie Brenton Cox Jr. made a strong impression in extended playing time, recording a tackle for loss of yardage and his first NFL catch. The defensive effort was complemented by special teams contributions, where Brooks' field goal blocking play defined the outcome of the game.
The Packers' defense also contributed critical stops, helping to mitigate the Bears' offensive momentum at key moments.
Statistically, the Packers showed their strength in explosive passing plays, racking up five pass completions of 20 or more yards. Love averaged an impressive 15.4 yards per pass attempt and 20.0 yards per reception, a testament to his accuracy on deep passes and the effectiveness of his receivers.
However, the Packers struggled in the red zone, converting only three of five trips inside 20 yards into points. Missed opportunities, including the interception and a lost fumble on downs, left the game tighter than it could have been.
