Green Bay, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers made certain their latest showdown with the Chicago Bears would not turn into another painful collapse. Behind a dominant defensive performance and an explosive passing attack, Green Bay controlled the rivalry matchup from the opening quarter and cruised to a 31-7 victory Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Jordan Love threw for 367 yards, the most passing yards by a Packers quarterback against Chicago at Lambeau Field, while Christian Watson delivered two long touchdown receptions. Running back MarShawn Lloyd added two touchdowns as Green Bay forced five turnovers, repeatedly shutting down any possibility of a Bears comeback.
The victory moved the Packers to 3-2, pushing them above .500 for the first time this season. Chicago also entered the game at 3-2 but struggled to generate offense without starting quarterback Caleb Williams.
“I love it,” Love said. “We kept our foot on the gas. (Coach) Matt (LaFleur) was dialing it up. That’s what it needs to look like, right there.”
The result provided some satisfaction for Green Bay after its recent struggles against its longtime rival. The Packers had surrendered double-digit fourth-quarter leads in each of their previous two meetings with Chicago, including a 31-27 defeat in the NFC wild-card round after leading 21-3 at halftime.
Williams celebrated that playoff comeback by grating cheese on the field, taking a playful shot at Green Bay’s famous Cheesehead fan base.
This time, however, Chicago never came close to producing another rally.
Watson Stretches Chicago’s Defense
Green Bay attacked Chicago’s secondary with big plays throughout the afternoon, and Watson was at the center of the offensive surge.
Watson finished with six receptions for 143 yards. His first touchdown, a 42-yard reception, capped a 91-yard opening drive that established Green Bay’s control. He struck again in the third quarter, hauling in a 53-yard touchdown pass despite tight coverage.
On the second scoring play, Watson reached over the helmet of Chicago safety Dillon Thieneman to secure the ball and extend the Packers’ advantage.
Matthew Golden also delivered a career-best performance, recording six catches for 123 yards. His production gave Love another reliable target and helped Green Bay consistently attack downfield.
Watson said the Packers identified opportunities while studying Chicago’s defensive film during the week.
“We watched the film,” Watson said. “We saw the opportunities there, regardless of how good they were in other games against certain teams. We knew what was going to be there and took advantage of it today.”
Green Bay’s passing success was particularly notable because the Packers had struggled to maintain possession in their previous games. Against a Chicago team that entered Sunday leading the NFL in average time of possession, Green Bay controlled the ball for 11 minutes and 45 seconds in the first quarter.
The Packers outgained Chicago 130 yards to nine during that opening period, immediately putting the Bears on their heels.
Turnovers Put Chicago in a Hole
Green Bay’s defense complemented the offense by creating mistakes that repeatedly gave the Packers advantageous field position.
Xavier McKinney intercepted Tyson Bagent twice, and the Packers turned those opportunities into points. His first interception came just two plays after Watson’s opening touchdown, giving Green Bay possession at the Chicago 45-yard line.
Lloyd finished the ensuing scoring drive with a physical 7-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. He powered through cornerback Jaylon Johnson to reach the end zone, recording the first rushing touchdown of his career after previously scoring on a reception against the New York Jets on Sept. 20.
Chicago managed to cut the deficit to 14-7 in the second quarter. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, D’Andre Swift powered into the end zone to give the Bears a needed score.
But the Packers reclaimed control after halftime, and Chicago’s turnovers soon became the defining story of the game.
The Bears gave the ball away on four consecutive second-half possessions, preventing their offense from building momentum or threatening Green Bay’s lead.
Chicago’s inability to protect the football frustrated coach Ben Johnson, who acknowledged that his team failed to execute in all three phases.
“The things that we had done well in the three victories that we had this year, they didn’t show up today,” Johnson said. “We didn’t take care of the football — five turnovers on offense.”
Johnson also pointed to shortcomings in both the running and passing games, while noting that Chicago’s defense surrendered too many explosive plays.
Bears Struggle Without Williams
The absence of Williams was a significant factor in Chicago’s offensive difficulties.
The quarterback missed his third consecutive game because of a hamstring injury, leaving Bagent to make his second start of the season. Bagent completed 12 of 21 passes for 87 yards and threw two interceptions before giving way to veteran Case Keenum early in the fourth quarter.
Keenum completed 11 of 19 passes for 108 yards but also threw an interception and lost a fumble.
The Bears had entered the matchup with confidence after winning their previous two games, defeating Philadelphia with Keenum at quarterback before beating the New York Jets with Bagent. Against Green Bay, however, their offense never found the consistency needed to compete.
Johnson offered an encouraging update on Williams after the game, saying the quarterback was approaching a return.
“He’s on track,” Johnson said. “We’ll see if it’s (next week against) Atlanta or after. I think it’s going to be close.”
Chicago will need a more disciplined performance, particularly in ball security, regardless of who starts at quarterback next week.
Packers Reassert Themselves in the Rivalry
The win represented an important response for Green Bay in one of the NFL’s most storied rivalries.
The Packers had defeated Chicago 11 consecutive times from 2019 through 2024 before the Bears won three of the teams’ previous four meetings. Sunday’s performance gave Green Bay a convincing victory and demonstrated how effectively its offense and defense can complement each other.
Packers safety Javon Bullard made it clear that Green Bay enjoyed the opportunity to reestablish itself against its rival.
“They’re still little bro, man,” Bullard said. “They’re still little bro. Sometimes big bro got to show up, and that’s what we did.”
Despite the lopsided final score, Green Bay had one notable concern on special teams. Rookie kicker Trey Smack made a 35-yard field goal but missed attempts from 43 and 47 yards. He also missed an extra point wide left after entering the game having converted six of seven field-goal attempts during the Packers’ first four games.
The kicking struggles were one of the few blemishes on an otherwise impressive afternoon.
Injury Updates
Chicago Bears: Running back Kyle Monangai, the team’s leading rusher, was inactive with toe and thumb injuries. Linebacker T.J. Edwards left in the first half with a hamstring injury. Defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo suffered a quadriceps injury, while cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and defensive back Cam Lewis were also injured in the second half.
Green Bay Packers: Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave suffered a late fourth-quarter injury. LaFleur said after the game that Hargrave was believed to have an Achilles tendon injury. Wide receiver Skyy Moore injured an ankle in the first half and did not return, while cornerback Benjamin St-Juste sustained a hamstring injury after halftime.
What’s Next
The Bears will travel to Atlanta next Sunday, hoping to regroup and potentially welcome Williams back to the lineup.
Green Bay will return to Lambeau Field next Sunday night to host the Dallas Cowboys.
For the Packers, Sunday’s performance offered more than a victory over a division rival. Love delivered one of the most productive passing performances by a Green Bay quarterback against Chicago at Lambeau Field, Watson consistently won downfield, and the defense turned five takeaways into a commanding result.
Most importantly, the Packers maintained their intensity with a substantial lead, avoiding the kind of late-game collapse that had haunted them in their previous meetings with the Bears.
