Coming off of an embarrassing defeat in their season opener, the Green Bay Packers returned to Lambeau to host the Chicago Bears. With Allen Lazard and Elgton Jenkins coming back from injury, the Packers hoped for a better outing on offense than they saw last week, where everything went wrong for them, save for one AJ Dillion touchdown.
After the offense struggled for a bit in the first quarter, they found their footing in the first half as Aaron Jones helped open the run game wide open. The offense showed promise in the receiving game, with some big chunk plays from Romeo Doubs and Randall Cobb, and capping off their final drive of the half with an Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to Allen Lazard. The defense wasn’t much different, after letting up a long opening drive touchdown to Justin Fields, they clamped down and didn’t allow any points for the remainder of the half as the Packers went into the locker room leading 24-7.
The second half started off strong with the defense forcing a quick three-and-out and Jones leading the offense down the field; however, a fumble on an exchange between Dillon and Aaron Rodgers killed the drive and would begin a quarter and a half long stretch where the Packers would struggle on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Packers would continue to make mistakes that would kill otherwise strong drives. Defensively, the Bears’ run game would carve them up on the ground; however they held strong in the red-zone on back-to-back drives, including a monster of a goal line stand made possible thanks to a touchdown saving tackle by Quay Walker. After that, the Packers offense would drive down the field for one more field goal, before a Jaire Alexander interception sealed a 27-10 Packers victory, their first of the 2022 NFL season.
Players of the Game
Aaron Jones:
Aaron Jones must’ve been upset with his lack of touches last week because he completely took this game over for the Packers. On 18 touches, Jones racked up 170 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Jones was a monster on the field and helped the Packers open up the passing game for Rodgers.
Quay Walker:
While Preston Smith led the Packers in all statistical categories, the plays Quay Walker made to stall the Bears offense cannot be overlooked. Quay Walker was all over the field, showing off his ability to shadow the QB and the ball carrier. Walker would be the tackler to save a Fields rushing touchdown late in the 4th quarter that would set up the eventual goal line stand for the Packers. Walker also nearly sealed the game with a near interception on the Bears final offensive drive. Walker so far has shown why he was the Packers’ first pick in this years draft.
Injury Report
N/A
There is still much to improve on for both sides of the ball, but the Packers looked like a different team in their week two showing. Next week will be a real tough challenge though as they head to Tampa Bay to take on Tom Brady’s Buccaneers (2-0) for the first time since the heartbreaking NFC championship loss in the 2020 season.
