5 Takeaways From Packers 20 - 19 Bears: Welcome to the Party, Christian Watson
Watson sent a reminder of the immense impact he can have on Green Bay's offense with a 150-yard performance against Chicago.
By markoldacres
It seems that no matter what happens in the 60 minute contest, how well or how poorly they play, Matt LaFleur's Packers will always beat the Bears.
Green Bay escaped Illinois with a victory which was questionably deserved and left plenty of concerns to be mulled over for a team which hopes to be a Super Bowl contender come January. But as the old adage goes, never apologize for winning, especially against your bitter rivals. It was a sickening loss for Chicago, who must be wondering, if they couldn't beat the Packers yesterday, when will they?
The Packers got away with one, taking their season record to 7-3 after beating a game Bears team, and extending LaFleur's record against them to a pristine 11-0.
Here are five key takeaways from another frustratingly chaotic afternoon orchestrated by the Green Bay Packers.
Welcome to the party, Christian Watson
Green Bay’s receivers could not get much going on Sunday, but Watson was the exception, coming up with just enough big plays to propel his team to enough points to eventually come out on top.
Watson ended the day with four catches on four targets for 150 yards, including two crucial grabs to set the Packers up in scoring range.
He bailed Love out on his worst decision of the day, a YOLO ball into double coverage while Kraft streaked wide open underneath, by coming down with the pass, before registering a 60-yard catch on the final drive.
The third-year receiver shook a Bears defender on the route, causing him to fall down. As it was man coverage, this meant no one was within an acre of Watson as he dove to make the grab.
It was then a heady play by Watson to get up and scamper for plenty of extra yards, taking the Packers inside the red zone.
After tallying just 224 yards in the first nine games, Sunday’s performance served as a reminder that Green Bay’s offense is at its best when Watson is featured heavily. Hopefully his display against Chicago focuses the coaching staff’s minds on that reality going forward.
We need to talk about Quay Walker
The Quay Walker experience has not been trending positively for quite some time, and has arguably not been positive at any point since he stepped foot in Green Bay, but this Sunday’s game was the nadir of a massively disappointing two and a half years.
All of his faults were laid bare, from his lack of ability to diagnose what the opposing offense is doing, to his bafflingly poor stopping power for a linebacker of his size and general lack of on-field dynamism despite being a top-tier athlete on paper.
Perhaps the most crucially of all, Walker had chances to make two huge plays on fourth down which could have made Green Bay’s task of escaping Chicago with a win easier.
He had Caleb Williams dead to rights for a sack on a blitz, which is supposedly the only thing he actually excels at, and for some reason, he hesitated, allowing the Bears quarterback to find a completion to pick up the first down.
Later, the Packers had a quarterback keeper on 4th and short played perfectly, with Walker simply needing to stop Williams in the hole to force the turnover on downs. He barely laid a finger on the rookie as he easily scooted for the conversion.
The selection of Walker in the first round back in 2022 was a questionable one. He was a freak athlete for the position based on his pre-draft testing, but had never shown much ability to translate it into his play on the football field.
He did not have the elite instincts needed to succeed at linebacker at the NFL level then, and unfortunately, that is something that can not really be taught. It can be argued Walker has never been good at the sport of football either in college or at the professional level.
Thrust into a larger role in the defense as the man relaying plays from coordinator Jeff Hafley to the rest of the defense, he has regressed from ‘not great’ to absolutely terrible’, and yet remains on the field for 100% of the snaps each week.
Excuses will probably continue to be made for him by coaches, explaining away his immense struggles as part of ‘adapting to a new defense’, but the truth is that the Packers already know everything they need to know about Walker.
It would be insane to continue trotting Walker out for every defensive snap the rest of the way. He is being outperformed by every other linebacker on the roster. Whether it is a reduction of snaps or an outright benching, a change needs to be made this week.
Green Bay’s offense is consistent, for better or worse
Packers fans will have been hoping for some adjustments during the bye week as the offense looked to become more clinical in the second half of the season, but what they saw on Sunday was more of what they witnessed in the first nine games.
At this point, Love, LaFleur and co have shown they can move the ball on absolutely anyone. They are an exceptional offense between the 20s, but far too often stall in the red zone. This continued on Sunday.
Against a very competitive defense, Green Bay’s offense moved the ball into scoring position on all but one of their drives, but on two occasions came away with nothing to show for it.
The first failure began on 2nd and 1, when Love pulled the ball on an RPO and held it too long, which meant the Packers had an offensive lineman illegally downfield.
After a second down sweep with Jayden Reed lost them even more yards, Love threw too high for Tucker Kraft, leading to an interception. It was three straight plays which completely encapsulated the struggles they have had in the red zone all year.
Later, LaFleur’s impatience may have gotten the better of him, as the Packers went for it on 4th and goal from around the six yard line, eschewing a field goal attempt. Love’s scrambled attempt to reach the end zone came up short, and Green Bay turned it over on downs.
Had the Packers managed to get two field goals from those two drives, they could have clinched victory in a much less dramatic fashion.
It’s back to the drawing board for LaFleur and the coaching staff as they try to find the answer to their red zone woes, although it may be a simple case of a lack of execution.
Bisaccia’s special teams makes a play
Considering Bisaccia is one of, if not the highest paid special teams coordinator in the NFL, the results during his tenure have been mostly uninspiring outside of finding Keisean Nixon to return kicks.
But on Sunday his unit stepped up when the team needed them most, coming through with a field goal block to win the game.
Some self-proclaimed special teams expert may be able to tell you if Cairo Santos’s kick was too low, but regardless, Karl Brooks deserves a huge amount of credit for wedging his way between two Bears and reaching just high enough to get fingertips on the ball.
With Green Bay’s problems at kicker appearing to be mostly solved, the Packers are starting to become a special teams unit you don’t notice, in a good way, and Sunday’s big play puts some serious credit in the bank of Bisaccia and his group.
Hafley’s defense put on their heels
While the offense mostly played well amid the moments of chaos, Green Bay’s defense endured a tough afternoon in Chicago.
They seemed caught off guard by the wrinkles introduced by new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who provided Williams with easy completions and also gave him the freedom to use his legs when his initial read was not there.
It became quite clear the Bears had little intention of throwing the ball deep, yet the Packers defense too often allowed underneath passes, helping their opponent to stay in favorable down and distance for most of the game.
There will be criticisms once again of Green Bay’s lack of pressure, especially given the fact Williams was sacked nine times a week ago, although the quarterback had been more to blame than the offensive line, which has actually pass protected quite well.
Still, Williams was far too comfortable in the pocket for most of the day.
Brenton Cox, pushed up the depth chart after the Packers traded Preston Smith, made two plays, a sack and a tackle for loss, but he was completely unblocked for both, and Rashan Gary showed up late in the game with a sack after another quiet performance prior to it.
The lack of pressure is exposing the cornerback group, which mostly had to operate without Jaire Alexander again as he exited with the knee issue which has been bothering him since the Jacksonville game.
Carrington Valentine finally supplanted Eric Stokes in the starting lineup, but did not light the world on fire.
The turnovers have dried up for Hafley’s defense after an early-season hot streak, and with a tougher matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers on the horizon, another weak performance like the one the defense turned in on Sunday could be punished severely.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (44)
Lphill
November 18, 2024 at 10:14 am
take the 3 Lefluer what a dumb ass call my God! and what a terrible play call on the 2 point failure.
Green Bay Shareholder
November 18, 2024 at 11:41 am
Question - what's worse than not scoring 7 in the Red Zone - Answer Not scoring 3 ! Especially in a Nail Biter when you actually finally have a kicker that isn't going through puberty -utilize them. Hope we get this methodology "Cleaned Up" before the playoffs. If you can't score a TD in 3 downs sorry, it's time to take 3.
T7Steve
November 18, 2024 at 01:50 pm
Isn't nice to bitch about a win rather than a loss?
Leatherhead
November 18, 2024 at 10:19 am
I was watching this game with a friend and he was agog over the ending, with the blocked kick.
I reminded him I watched the Packers and Bears battle to a 6-6 tie, and in overtime a chip shot FG was blocked and went directly back to the kicker who ran around the left side for a game-winning TD. I've seen them play in a monsoon. I watched a fat NT intercept a pass and take it in for a TD in a playoff game. So, this was just another log on the fire.
Takeaways. We can run the ball We can protect Love. We can strike downfield.
greengold
November 18, 2024 at 10:26 am
Paging Edgar Bennett...
LambeauPlain
November 18, 2024 at 10:57 am
We have seen a fat NT named The Fridge run for and catch TDs on the Pack.
My favorite nail biter is still the Instant Replay game. Sat next to a Bear fan in Lambeau. He was a good guy...we had a lot of fun trading joy and sadness.
Tundraboy
November 18, 2024 at 11:58 am
Yep same here. I know it sounds crazy after what was a meat grinder of a game, but when the end came for the kick, I got the this odd calm about me and said , well after all that they will miss the kick We're going to win this!
But getting a block who the hell ever thought that!
Just going to enjoy it and leave it at that
greengold
November 18, 2024 at 02:42 pm
Got fed up with game. My wife switched off, and I went back downtown to work. Dialed in the Wayne Larrevee radio broadcast... Couldn't believe we were up 20-19.
Of course the Bears got into FG range. I sat down, hand on the G I was carrying on my RED HOT JULIUS PEPPERS t-shirt (purchased before RHCP's Cease & Desist!!! LOLZ), saying, "BLOCK IT! BLOCK IT! BLOCK IT!"
Holy balls! Karl Brooks & Co. did it!!! Damn. That was fun.
TKWorldWide
November 18, 2024 at 01:48 pm
That Chester Marcol play which I watched on an old black and white TV is forever seared into my memory. Awesome!
greengold
November 18, 2024 at 02:36 pm
Same. Wild. Didn't know Dan Devine selected Chester Marcol in R1 of the 1972 NFL Draft... #34 Overall, and that he went on to be named the NFC Rookie of the Year - the only time the honor has been awarded to a Kicker. Marcol scored 128 points as a rookie, leading the NFL in scoring.
Whoosh. Who knew?
For myself, I just tried my best to forget the Dan Devine years.
barutanseijin
November 18, 2024 at 04:57 pm
I won a Wheaties (urp) polo as a kid for picking the Rookie of the year in both conferences. Of course i picked Chester! Can’t remember the AFC guy.
greengold
November 18, 2024 at 05:07 pm
That. Is. Cool. Now... WHO does THAT???!!!
barutanseijin. That's who.
Tundraboy
November 23, 2024 at 08:36 pm
Ditto!
EricTorkelson
November 18, 2024 at 03:55 pm
Leather, I was at a Halloween game on Monday when a NT named Gilbert and the gravedigger was born , And at a Monday game when Favre threw a 99 yrd TD pass to R Brooks ...and at Lambeau when Sanders lost 2 yrds in the playoffs against Detroit ...Also I was at County Stadium when Favre ran in for the winning score against Atlanta in what I believe the last game played there ... One more I was there when Leroy Butler jumped into the stands at Lambeau against the Raiders ... it was zero degrees and my feet froze .... So yes I put some logs on the fire too...
porupack
November 18, 2024 at 10:41 am
Lafleur is just setting up the upcoming opponents. Don't worry. He's making the opponents plan for a tepid pass game. And baiting them to play deep for a few jump balls. All part of a grand scheme to begin playing in December..... me think, me hope.
T7Steve
November 18, 2024 at 11:11 am
This is what I'm holding on to with hope. He's being cagey and doesn't want to show everything before it matters most and almost lost, but didn't.
Fingers crossed.
ricky
November 18, 2024 at 11:12 am
Is this a time to have a serious, adult conversation about Jordan Love? There seems to be a regression from the second half of last year.The interceptions are bad, but it is the decision making that causes those interceptions and the incomplete passes that needs to be addressed by the coaches. It seems that Love is pressing, trying to make plays when the smart thing to do would be to throw it out of bounds. As noted in the article, the long completion to Watson, when he had double coverage on him, though successful, was very risky. It also seems he needs to get more "touch" on the ball. Of course, we can point to the amount of drops the receivers have made, and that certainly doesn't help. But Love needs to start playing better. He has shown what he is capable of accomplishing. He needs to find that groove again, but get into it for a full season.
Packerpasty
November 18, 2024 at 11:19 am
well im not all in on J Love but I also noticed J Burrow and Herbert toss some untimely INT's yesterday, along with Josh Allen with a few blunders...hopefully Love will keep learning but I think its just the way he plays, as in college and the NFL so fans will have to live with it...hopefully more good than bad..
ricky
November 18, 2024 at 07:08 pm
Love has 11 interceptions in eight games he has played this year. Herbert has one in nine games. Burrow has four in five games. Josh Allen has five in eleven games. Maybe this is part of his maturing process, or learning the game. Or maybe we shouldn't worry so much. Because right now, Love is tied with Geno Smith (Seattle) and Patrick Mahones (KC) with eleven interceptions this season. Stats, gotta love 'em.
Green Bay Shareholder
November 18, 2024 at 11:49 am
No idea why they aren't utilizing the TE's and running backs more in the passing game as it seems to be lethal and pretty easy throws that are always available - and not throws behind the line of scrimmage. Middle of the field gimme's in space that can utilize YAC. The effect can be devastating and keep us out of the mistake prone dreaded 3rd and long with the acrobatic Love toss ups that end badly.
Leatherhead
November 18, 2024 at 06:06 pm
We just had a game where we averaged over 15 yards per ATTEMPT and you think we should throw more short passes to the backs and TEs??
Our big guns are Jacobs, Reed, Doubs, Kraft, and Watson. We only ran 46 plays, only 17 passes.
The Packers like to throw the ball downfield. That's what they like to do. That's what they look for in receivers.
greengold
November 18, 2024 at 11:30 am
"Uninspiring?"
Credit where credit is due: Rich Bisaccia has coached Dan Whelan to the #10 ranked Punter in the NFL this season. Whelan finished the 2023 regular season as the #8 Punter in the NFL. Whelan's Net Yards currently ranks #6 in the NFL this year at 44.0 yds. His Long of 74 yds also ranks #6 Overall. His Return % also ranks #6 Overall at 34.4%. Whelan ranks #7 Overall in Return Yds with just 77 in total through 10 games and #7 in Yards Per Return with 7.0. Whelan also ranks #10 in Fair Catches with 11. He ranks #12 Overall in Punts Downed by Kicking Team with 4.
Whelan ranks #4 in the NFL for Punters in Hang Time with a 4.64 seconds average.
ST is multi-faceted, and Bisaccia has done a nice job with Daniel Whelan. I'll never forget how important "Punting as a weapon," was to Mike Holmgren with Craig Hentrich being the Packers steady foot to flip field position.
Bisaccia having found the weakness at G in CHI's FG unit, and having his guys (Brooks, Wyatt and Van Ness) prepared to exploit that was money.
As for pressure on opposing QBs, Hafley is finding out what he has to work with in a very big way. My hope is that they move Kenny Clark back to his most productive position in his career, NT, to rotate with Slaton, making more opportunities for all of Wyatt, Brooks, Wooden and LVN. Brenton Cox Jr. should benefit greatly from the Preston Smith trade. Hafley could also give LB Eric Wilson a shit ton more reps. Wilson ranks #13 in Coverage in the NFL with a 75.1 PFF grade.
As a Team, GB's Defense ranks #27 in Pass Rush with a 62.3 grade, and #24 in Run D with a 57.2 grade. The Bears rank #2 in the NFL in tackling with a 72.8 grade, while GB ranks #16 with a 53.4 grade.
The Packers highest graded pass rushers per PFF:
Keisean Nixon 93.0
Edgerrin Cooper 85.4
Eric Wilson 76.5
Xavier McKinney 70.3
Javon Bullard 67.6
What does that say?
Brenton Cox Jr. 65.6
Colby Wooden 65.2
Rashan Gary 63.4
TJ Slaton 60.0
Aaron Mosby 59.5
Devonte Wyatt 58.6
Karl Brooks 58.5
Quay Walker 58.2
Preston Smith 58.0 (gone)
Kingsley Enagbare 57.9
Kenny Clark 57.8
Lukas Van Ness 53.3
Isaiah McDuffie 53.2
Best Defenders in Missed Tackl%
Brenton Cox Jr. 0.0
Aaron Mosby 0.0
Corey Ballentine 0.0
Rashan Gary 6.9
Eric Stokes 6.9
Xavier McKinney 9.8
Quay Walker 9.9
*All the other Packers defenders have a Missed Tackl% > 11.1 (Jaire and Valentine tops with a 20.0)
The Bears rank #5 in Coverage, also 72.8, while the Packers rank #8 with a 70.5 grade. I think the Packers will improve on all of that moving forward through the end of the season.
GB currently ranks #1 in Pass Blocking per PFF with an 82.5 grade. Sadly, GB ranks #27 in the NFL in Run Blocking with a 54.7 PFF grade, which we all would love to see improve...
The Packers are currently ranked #7 overall in Turnover Differential with +5 by Football Database. The Packers Defense ranks #4 in the NFL with 21 Total Takeaways, #1 in Fumbles with 9, and #8 in INT with 10. Green Bay's Offense ranks #4 with 11 INT giveaways, and #27 in Fumble giveaways with only 3. GB Offense ranks #9 in Total Giveaways with 14.
I don't care what anyone says, but that was a vastly improved Bears team GB faced yesterday than we might have originally thought. The Packers Offense scored the third-most points that the #1 ranked scoring D in CHI had given up all season with 20.
coolhand
November 18, 2024 at 04:45 pm
I hope Coach B can do something about the long snapper. Whelan made a great recovery and place hold on a terrible snap yesterday. Seems there is at least 1 bad snap each game.
greengold
November 18, 2024 at 04:54 pm
Totally agree that Gutekunst should be able to improve the position, if Bisaccia cannot.
LambeauPlain
November 18, 2024 at 11:44 am
Love was 13/17, 261 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int, 113 rating on 17 pass plays. The team rushed for 106 yards on 25 plays.
Balanced, efficient offense that moves into the KryptoniteZone with ease. There our warriors stall, become hesitant. Points left behind.
The Defense is the greatest concern for me...by far. Painful to see Barry Ball back on the menu. More prevent (the win) soft off ball. It may be Hafley realizes he simply does not have the right DL to play Attack defense.
Clark, Gary, Wyatt, Van Ess...4 first rounders who totaled 6 tackles in 57 plays.
Walker is an ideal sized LB with tremendous athletic skills and horrible instincts and awareness. He must be benched.
The reason this game was another nail biter with the bares was the D could not get off the field. Caleb Williams did sprint drills and played catch in the Packers soft middle all day.
The undependable Alexander was consistent and undependable. I see why Valentine was not getting many snaps. He plays CB the way Walker plays LB. Not much vision and break there. Nixon is a back up CB pressed to start.
The starting 5 DBs had 36 tackles. The starting front 7 had 26 total!
And the great equalizer, turnovers, have abandoned the Defense. Perhaps Saleh should earn consulting fees sitting with the Defense this week. Niners would shred yesterday's defense.
This is a good team lacking consistency. But 7-3 with great room for improvement!
Lphill
November 19, 2024 at 06:43 am
good points ,on paper the offense looked pretty good with limited snaps ,just imagine if the defense made some stops and gave the ball back to Love then maybe we would have had the blowout expected.
NickPerry
November 18, 2024 at 11:56 am
"Excuses will probably continue to be made for him by coaches, explaining away his immense struggles as part of ‘adapting to a new defense"
I'd say it's a little late into the season for the Packers to still use THAT excuse...But if they do, then besides a really crappy football player, you could add complete and utter dumbass to his growing list of...?
Tundraboy
November 18, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Yes. And can't be soon enough. Time to start seeing if he can be at least useful on STs. Maybe even generate a turnover.
LambeauPlain
November 18, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Listening to Wilson vs Walker discussing football is revealing. Why Walker wears the green dot is perplexing.
Cooper and Wilson need to start, McDuffie the 3rd and maybe give Hopper some snaps. Gonna take some courage to bench a first rounder.
stockholder
November 18, 2024 at 12:09 pm
We know what happened when Walker
was out.
The Lbs couldn't stay with anybody.
Let alone go sideline to sideline.
Giving up on a #1 pick won't sit well with anybody.
How many #1s do you want on the bench?
But why didn't Gute believe in the scouting reports?
If Walker goes. Gute must go.
I'm with the coaches.
Play Walker and get that Tudor in his ear.
The MLB must attack and wrap up..
I never see him with coach, looking at the pad.
jannesbjornson
November 18, 2024 at 01:47 pm
Tutor. They both need to move on out the door. You cannot waste a high pick on 50/50 players. Belichick went right past him. When Walker was out the defense was on the correct page and the blitzing was more electric. I have no issues with Wyatt. Keep him stunting with Cooper. What was discussed pre-draft, "Bag a CB with the high pick." Q.Mitchell was falling and DeJean. If you select Morgan, he needs to be on the perimeter. Then Walker is your WLB.
stockholder
November 18, 2024 at 04:30 pm
JB - They both need to go.
If I wrote that it would get 10 sure
dislikes.
Bag the CB was Correct.
TKWorldWide
November 18, 2024 at 01:51 pm
Once again, GB is going to need an infusion of defensive players. At any/every level of the D. Argh.
greengold
November 18, 2024 at 03:04 pm
We'll see. A lotta ballgame left. PLUS, the Packers just signed Robert Rochelle to the roster at CB off the PS. And, man, I cannot wait to see them bring Jamin Davis up at LB for some reps. That dude can light it up.
A lot of other solid talents on our PS. DEs Deslin Alexander & James Ester, along with Kalen King, who was showing off his ball hawking skills in preseason.
We'll see...
LuvPack
November 21, 2024 at 04:36 pm
HUH? You have witnessed this? Then, why aren't they activated!
Mikybul22
November 18, 2024 at 02:15 pm
Starting with changes . Quay Walker is a terrible linebacker and out of position and takes himself out of the play almost always. Ederrin Cooper is a stud and when he is in good things seem to happen a lot. If your back up cornerback is Nixon you better get yourself a better one. Zaire Alexander is a fine cornerback but he seems to be out of the game more than he is in due to injuries. I thinks its time to unload Zaire he is getting way to much salary for his return. Even when he was healthy against Detroit , Amon Ra St Brown made him look silly. The defensive line needs needs real help. Yes the Bears quarterback were getting the ball out really quick to stop the rush . How many times did all 4 over run the quarterback in leaving him way too many lanes to run for first downs. Now after seeing how fast Chicargo was getting rid of the football did they really need to put the safety 12- 14 yards behind the line every time? Every Packer fan I talked to is in love with Jacobs , with his durability and talent . Saying that I think we have become too predictable . Ist down is almost always a run and 2 down with less than 5 yards is another run. This leaving one of the best receiving corps highly under utilized Kraft , Reed , Watson and Doubs is one of the best in the league. It's leaving Love with a lot of 3rd and shorts from the run and not utilizing the Packers offensive strength. Some people will say Watson had 4 passes for 150 yes but mostly only after they were down. Also maybe it was me but that call for the 2 point conversion was terrible. All the runs were up the middle and every time they went wide they had bad results.
jlc1
November 18, 2024 at 02:40 pm
Predictable? Maybe. The Pack put together drives of 78, 75, 70, 70 and 61 yards. They punted once. Which is ample evidence that they moved the ball well and consistently. So if the Bears knew what was coming they did very little to stop it. The play calling seemed pretty effective overall.
greengold
November 18, 2024 at 03:15 pm
Eh. That was my perception going into the game, but Quay made a critical stop to force a punt, had a great PBU and leads the Packers D in tackles. PFF gave Quay Walker a 74.2 Coverage Grade v. CHI yesterday. He had a 60.0 Tackling Grade, but had 9, missing 2 against Swift and Caleb Williams... which happens to the best of them. Both players are elusive AF.
Quay is #16 overall at LB in the NFL in Solo Tackles with 58. He's also got 7 pressures, 2 sacks (#13) and 5 Hurries.
Maybe compare Quay Walker with other players at the position. Walker has not given up a TD, unlike Fred Warner who has given up 2 TDs, Devin Lloyd who has given up 3 TDs... TJ Edwards, Nick Bolton and Logan Wilson have given up 2 TDs... Kwon Alexander gave up 1. Bobby Wagner, Zaire Franklin, Lavaonte David, Eric Kendricks, Devin Bush all gave up 1 TD each. Kenneth Murray Jr. has given up 6 TDs.
***Quay Walker (96.1) has a better Passer Rating Against than every single one of those LBs except for Fred Warner at 90.7. It's a new system for Walker too. I expect him to improve moving forward, like all the rest of Hafley's players as they make adjustments and get more comfortable with their roles. If Quay Walker can improve his ball skills and get a better grip on D concepts through these next 7 games, then we're onto something big.
Bitternotsour
November 18, 2024 at 09:51 pm
and they gave up 19 points. in a win, but apparently numerical player ratings by some obscure analytics groups take precedence over, you know, results.
jlc1
November 18, 2024 at 02:31 pm
I believe the Bears got their 2 starting tackles back this week so protection and run blocking would be expected to improve from previous weeks. That said these are the guys the Packer D needed to beat on each play and they rarely did.
Ihappydirt
November 18, 2024 at 04:32 pm
A huge mistake by Walker was flinging the RB toward the goal line after getting his hands on him at the 3. If he had just stood him up, help could have stopped the back no closer than the 2 or 2-1/2. There also was no large OL to tush push him the other way to worry about.
Thegravedigger
November 18, 2024 at 06:12 pm
The author is right he has no football instincts. He's just not the guy man. He was okay with devondre Campbell next to him but as the play called he's gotta be on the bench. Wilson has made plays all year, put him at Mike and let cooper and McDuffie rotate in. Cus Kyle shanahan is going to expose him if not
Thegravedigger
November 18, 2024 at 06:09 pm
I remember the quay walker blitz very vividly and he just froze man. He had a clear shot and he just stopped. This D was at its best when he was out and Wilson played Ilb and it's not even close.
White92
November 18, 2024 at 06:15 pm
Seemed like they really underestimated Williams ability to run. It looked to me like they did make an adjustment after the half to playing more zone and less man to try and keep him from scrambling so much.