CHICAGO — In a thrilling finish, Jordan Love sprinted for a crucial touchdown in the final minutes, leading the Green Bay Packers to a narrow 20-19 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The game concluded dramatically when Karl Brooks successfully blocked Cairo Santos’ 46-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
With this win, the Packers improved to 7-3, maintaining their position in the NFC North and pushing back against the challenges posed by Detroit and Minnesota. This victory over the Bears marks the Packers’ 11th consecutive win in this classic rivalry, a streak unmatched in its history.
Love took charge late in the game, scoring from the 1-yard line with just 2:59 remaining after a 60-yard connection with Christian Watson, who made a diving catch and dashed to the Bears’ 14. However, the subsequent 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
On the following Bears’ drive, Green Bay’s defense intensified, sacking Caleb Williams three times during the first two plays. The Bears regrouped and advanced to the 28-yard line but faced disappointment as Brooks stormed through to block Santos’ field goal attempt, sealing the win for the Packers.
Earlier in the week, the Bears had shaken up their coaching staff by relieving offensive coordinator Shane Waldron of his duties and promoting passing game coordinator Thomas Brown in an effort to energize their struggling offense.
In this contest, Love completed 13 of 17 passes for a total of 261 yards and added one touchdown, though he also recorded his league-leading 11th interception. Meanwhile, Josh Jacobs contributed significantly for the Packers, rushing for 76 yards and scoring a touchdown. Defensive contributions came from Brenton Cox, in his first appearance this season, alongside Rashan Gary and T.J. Slaton, as Green Bay triumphed over Chicago for the 26th time out of their last 29 games.
For the Bears, Williams showed signs of improvement, throwing for 231 yards and rushing for an additional 70 yards following a disappointing stretch in previous games. D’Andre Swift led the Bears’ rushing effort with 14 carries for 71 yards and scored a 39-yard touchdown that put Chicago ahead 19-14 late in the third quarter.
The Packers kicked off the game with an impressive 70-yard scoring drive, capped by a 15-yard touchdown reception from Love to Jayden Reed, a player from the Chicago area. In response, Santos nailed a 53-yard field goal, tying his franchise record with his seventh successful kick of 50 yards or more this season.
Green Bay missed an opportunity to extend their lead early in the second quarter when Love’s pressured throw undercut Tucker Kraft, allowing Terrell Smith to intercept the pass in the end zone. This interception set the stage for the Bears to score their first touchdown since late in their previous game against Washington, as Roschon Johnson plunged in from the 1-yard line right before halftime, completing a 13-play drive.
The Bears continued to struggle but were able to take a brief lead in the third quarter when Santos added a 27-yard field goal to make it 13-7. Green Bay responded with an efficient 70-yard drive capped by Jacobs’ 7-yard touchdown run. Eventually, the Bears regained the lead through Swift’s powerful 39-yard touchdown run, but their failed 2-point conversion attempt left the game locked in suspense.
In terms of injuries, the Packers were without cornerback Jaire Alexander, who missed the second half due to knee issues. Additionally, they placed rookie guard Jordan Morgan on injured reserve, while the Bears evaluated left guard Ryan Bates for a concussion during the first quarter.
Looking ahead, the Packers will host the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday, while the Bears will face off against the Minnesota Vikings at home the same day.