The 2023 season started with a thud for the Chicago Bears after an offseason filled with activity and hope. The Bears welcomed the Green Bay Packers into Soldier Field to begin Week 1 and were run out of the building when it was all said and done, losing 38-20.
It was one of the more anticipated opening weeks in recent memory given how the Bears brought in impact players to build around quarterback Justin Fields, while the Packers were turning the page to a new era with Jordan Love taking over as their signal caller. Many believed this would finally be the turning point in the Bears-Packers rivalry. Instead, it was much of the same that left fans feeling a different type of hopelessness.
The Bears were aggressive early but failed to convert a fourth down, resulting in a Packers touchdown to begin the game. Things were tight for much of the first half, but adjustments coming out of halftime made the difference. Green Bay changed up their plays to attack on offense while dialing up the pressure on Fields on defense. The Bears had no response, and the game was blown open.
It was a failure on almost every front, and while the coaching staff may want to bury the tape, the team needs to learn from this experience for the rest of the year. Here are our takeaways from the unacceptable loss to the Packers: