4 Takeaways From the Bears’ Win Over the Packers

[ad_1] You actually can’t give Caleb Williams a possibility like he had on Saturday evening.

He’s getting too good at comebacks.

Williams did it once more within the Wild Card Spherical on Saturday evening, throwing two touchdowns within the second half, and the Bears got here again to win, 31-27, over the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Williams now has seven game-winning drives, most in a single season by a QB below the age of 25 since 1950, per FOX Sports activities Analysis. Saturday’s efficiency was the fourth-largest comeback in Bears’ historical past, overcoming a 15-point deficit.

The largest shock won't have merely been Williams’ second-half efficiency. It might need been the Bears protection’s dominance within the second half, throughout which the unit held quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers to only six factors.

Listed below are my takeaways:

1. This throw from Caleb Williams outlined the sport Typically, in huge comeback performances, the largest play is the go-ahead landing.

On this sport, it was a 27-yarder on fourth-and-8 with nearly six minutes left within the sport. The Bears had been down 27-16 at that time. They usually had been close to midfield. Had Williams not transformed the fourth down, the Packers would’ve had a simple time stepping into scoring place.

Williams broke free from the pocket and rolled to his left. He noticed broad receiver Rome Odunze and — falling over — hucked the ball over a pair of Packers defenders who had been in stable place. It was the kind of play that helped everybody neglect the truth that Williams would full simply 50% of his passes.

It was a catalyst play. It lit up the Bears' sideline. It lit up all of Soldier Discipline.

It’s additionally price noting that it reversed their fourth-down woes — which had been important on this sport. (Extra on that in a second.)

It was a reminder that the Bears nonetheless had their magic. They usually might – and would – battle themselves again into rivalry.

2. Let the dialogue about Matt LaFleur’s job start There was an array of choices and errors that led to the Packers’ defeat.

None makes LaFleur look good.

Matt LaFleur's second-half selections can be a scorching matter in Wisconsin after dropping to the Bears. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Photographs)

However let’s begin with what LaFleur mentioned at halftime. In a dialog with Amazon Prime’s sideline reporter, LaFleur famous that the Bears are an excellent comeback crew and the Packers couldn’t let up. However that’s precisely what they did, dropping their edge on offense and failing to reply to the Bears’ physicality within the run sport and stress within the passing sport. A handful of brief drives gave Chicago some actual momentum.

Then there have been the missed kicks. Brandon McManus missed two area purpose makes an attempt and an additional level, which might have bridged the hole on the scoreboard. Each coach has to take accountability for blown kicks, partially as a result of they should know their kicker’s vary from every a part of the sector.

Lastly, there was the timeout that LaFleur burnt throughout the crew’s last drive on a third-down conversion at midfield. It was just too early within the drive — an error exacerbated by the damage to heart Sean Rhyan, who couldn’t depart the sector and required a 10-second run-off. You would — and will — additionally query the truth that LaFleur used his different two timeouts on earlier drives, and left only one for his last drive.All of it added as much as the Bears outscoring the Packers, 28-6 at halftime.

This affirms former Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s choice to carry off taking interviews till this coming week. As a result of who is aware of? Perhaps the Packers gig opens up.

3. Ben Johnson’s fourth-down struggles would possibly change the way in which he calls the down The Bears completed 1-of-4 on fourth down within the first half. Compounding the problem, to conclude the primary half, the Bears had a 0-of-5 run on third down. Compounding the problem even additional, by the tip of the primary half, the Packers had been 4-of-6 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down.

That was how the Packers constructed their preliminary lead, with Love’s three first-half touchdowns.

As a lot as fourth-down conversion makes an attempt have turn into commonplace, Johnson nonetheless found out tips on how to make them controversial when he tried one from his personal 32-yard line and did not convert — after which from the (extra affordable) Packers’ 37-yard line, the place he once more failed. By the tip of the sport, Chicago was 2-of-6 on fourth down.

I want to inform you that Johnson gained’t try a fourth-down conversion from his personal 30-yard line throughout this postseason. However I don’t know. Johnson is among the many most aggressive decision-makers — and he clearly desires his offense (and positively not his protection) to dictate the outcomes of video games. However perhaps this sport — and the primary half — will give him pause.

4. Love deserves some blame for the Packers’ second-half disappearance The Packers QB dedicated two penalties for intentional grounding and one penalty for delay of sport. That penalty was particularly egregious as a result of it instantly adopted a timeout. It got here on a 3rd down and put the Packers in third-and-15. And since Love couldn’t convert that third down, they needed to accept a area purpose try, which they missed.

After halftime, Jordan Love couldn't sustain with Caleb Williams. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Photographs)

The counting stats seemed good: 323 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. However these numbers did not account for the streaky play. He was 3-of-8 for twenty-four yards within the third quarter when the Packers opened the door for the Bears to get again within the sport.

Love might’ve buried the Bears in that third quarter. Heck, he might’ve buried them within the fourth quarter. However he and LaFleur couldn’t make it occur.

And alongside got here Caleb.

4 ½. What’s subsequent? The Bears will host their subsequent playoff sport in Chicago.

The Bears will face the Philadelphia Eagles in the event that they win on Sunday. If the San Francisco 49ers win on Sunday, then Chicago will tackle the Los Angeles Rams, who beat the Carolina Panthers on Saturday afternoon.

The Rams are my choose to make the Tremendous Bowl, in order that’s not an amazing matchup for the Bears. If Chicago falls right into a gap, you'll be able to belief head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford to not let the Bears out of it. However the Eagles could be a greater matchup for Chicago in what may very well be a low-scoring sport that might — naturally — come all the way down to late-game heroics.

As for the Packers, woof. This one should harm.

No matter whether or not the Packers transfer on from LaFleur, they’ll spend the offseason making an attempt to determine tips on how to clean out the inconsistencies of their play. Love is making main strides in changing into a greater participant from all the way down to down and sport to sport, however there’s room for progress. Perhaps the Packers — as an entire — discover extra consistency below new management.

The excellent news is that defensive star Micah Parsons ought to return subsequent season. The unhealthy information is that he won't instantly return in full type and the protection seemed fairly darn unhealthy with out him. So, Inexperienced Bay might want to determine a greater plan to manage with out him if his restoration hits a setback and/or he merely wants time to succeed in his peak once more.

Clearly, the Packers can not run it again. However hopefully, they gained’t have to make wholesale modifications.

Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized e-newsletter each day.