The special teams unit came up clutch for Green Bay in Chicago last Sunday. Green Bay found themselves with their backs against the wall as the Bears drove down the field and got within field goal range to attempt a walk off win.
Defensive lineman Karl Brooks had other plans as he blocked the 46-yard field goal attempt, and Green Bay’s win streak against the Chicago Bears was kept alive. Brooks was selected out of Bowling Green in the 6th round of the 2023 draft.
The Packers started the game hot and ultimately received the opening kickoff. They pieced together an eight play 70-yard drive and took the lead 7-0 early as Jordan Love found Jayden Reed for the touchdown. The drive was efficient and was arguably the best opening drive Green Bay has had all season. The Packers did not face a 3rd down that opening drive.
The next drive Caleb Williams ripped off a 16-yard run on 3rd and 9. Williams would go on to the finish the game with nine carries for 70 yards, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. Chicago’s new offensive coordinator certainly played Williams to his strengths.
The Bears would go on to kick a 53-yard field goal making the score 7-3 in the 1st. The next few drives resulted in punts for both teams, but Green Bay seemed to find some life on the ensuing drive. After starting at their own 24 the Packers found themselves in a short 4th and 3 at their own 47. Green Bay managed to get Chicago to jump, and a neutral zone infraction penalty continued their drive.
Green Bay would drive all the way down the field and find themselves in a 3rd and long at Chicago’s 15-yard line. Despite Tucker Kraft being open, Jordan Love overthrew him, and Chicago would take advantage and snag the interception. Chicago would then go 13 plays for 76 yards to take the lead 10-7 before the half.
Coming out of the half, Green Bay avoided major damage as they managed to hold Chicago to yet another field goal, now finding themselves down 13-7 early in the third quarter. The Packers would respond on the next drive, putting together a six play 70-yard drive for a touchdown. Josh Jacobs put Green Bay back on top 14-13 in the middle of the 3rd quarter.
Chicago would then get the ball back and go 11 plays for 78 yards for a touchdown to retake the lead 19-14 as the two-point attempt failed. The redzone struggles would continue the next drive for Green Bay. Jordan Love heaved a deep ball for Christian Watson 48 yards down the field to set the Packers up at the Chicago eight-yard line.
1st and goal, Josh Jacobs runs for a loss of one yard. 2nd and goal, Josh Jacobs runs for a gain of four yards. 3rd and goal at Chicago’s five-yard line, Jordan Love is sacked for a loss of one. The Packers would go for it on 4th down. Jordan Love found no one open and attempted to scramble for the touchdown but was stopped short at the one-yard line. Yet another redzone turnover.
Chicago’s next drive resulted in a punt, leaving Green Bay with a little over four minutes remaining in the game to make a move. The drive began with a short run from Josh Jacobs for a gain of four. Jordan Love would then go on to find Christian Watson again, this time for a gain of 60 yards on a diving catch.
After a scramble to Chicago’s one yard line, Jordan Love would punch it in on the next play on a quarterback sneak. Green Bay would attempt the two-point conversion with a run from Josh Jacobs that was stopped short. Green Bay then led 20-19 leaving over 2 minutes for the Bears to respond.
The defense was quiet all game until the final drive. Chicago opened their drive on their own 30. Caleb Williams was sacked on 1st and 10 by T.J. Slaton for a loss of one. On second down Williams got sacked again, this time by Rashan Gary for a loss of eight. The two-minute warning arrives, and Chicago found themselves faced with 3rd and 20.
Despite the defense coming alive on the final drive, Caleb Williams commanded the Bears offense well. Williams completed a pass to rookie Rome Odunze for 16 yards on 3rd and 20, leaving the Bears with a short 4th down attempt. Williams found Odunze again, this time for a gain of 21. Chicago was now on Green Bay’s 42-yard line.
Chicago tacked on another 12 yards with a catch from Keenan Allen, setting them up at Green Bay’s 30-yard line. Despite having a timeout remaining, Chicago made little effort to get any closer. The game would then be decided on a 46-yard field goal that was then blocked by Karl Brooks.
It was later revealed that Green Bay’s special team’s coordinator Rich Bisaccia told the team the night before the game “I will not understand if we come out of this game without a block.” Bears kicker Carl Santos had only missed one field goal attempt on the season prior to the block.
“Rich challenged us to get a block, so I took it personally,” said Karl Brooks. Defensive lineman Kenny Clark added “They’ve got holes in their field goal protection and a couple of them they got close. So, we’ve been talking about that all week. It was a problem, so, Coach Rich has been telling them all week and we ended up getting one.”
Karl Brooks moved Green Bay to a 7-3 record and Chicago has now fallen to 4-6. Green Bay takes on the San Francisco 49ers at home this Sunday. Green Bay has ruled out cornerback Jaire Alexander and standout rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper for Sunday’s game.
San Francisco will be without starting quarterback Brock Purdy due to a lingering shoulder injury along with defensive end Nick Bosa. The 49ers ended Green Bay’s playoff run last season in the 2nd round.
“Just knowing that that’s the team that knocked us out, we’re definitely hungry for this game” said Jordan Love. The 49ers sit at 5-5 on the season and are in last place in the NFC West. Green Bay has the opportunity to not only get their revenge but also make it nearly impossible for the 49ers to reach the playoffs. Will the Packers finally beat San Francisco?
