As the old saying goes, a win is a win. Despite the defense giving up several big plays and the offense struggling to move the ball for much of the game, the Green Bay Packers came away with the win over the Chicago Bears to improve to 5-8.
With the game behind us, it’s time to go Behind the Numbers with the stats and figures you need to know from the Packers’ performance.
206 v. 203
It was all or nothing for this Bears offense against the Packers. They were either generating big plays, or the Packers were creating turnovers and getting stops. Chicago finished the game with 409 total yards, and 206 of those came on just five plays. Over the Bears’ other 45 plays on offense, they totaled just 203 yards, averaging a measly 4.5 yards per play.
Fileds had a 56-yard touchdown run on a read-option that included a missed tackle, a bad angle from Adrian Amos, and Bears offensive linemen at the second level to create running lanes. Two of the other big plays were 56 and 49-yard receptions by Equanimeous St. Brown and N’Keal Harry, with Jarie Alexander in coverage. Cole Kmet also had a 24-yard catch, and Darrynton Evans a 21-yard rush.
Other than Fields’ big run, he totaled just 15 rushing yards on his other five rushing attempts. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Packers played zone coverage 100% of the time, which allowed the defensive backs to keep their eyes on Fields to limit rush opportunities, rather than playing man, where their backs would be turned. Green Bay was also able to contain David Montgomery, who averaged 4.3 yards per rush but had a long of only nine. We saw the Packers playing with heavier boxes, and overall, the defensive front played better by getting off blocks and setting better edges, along with Kenny Clark having his best game in some time.
With that said, while Green Bay did what they needed to and can only play the opponent scheduled, it’s not as if this was a good Bears offense they were going up against, either. It’s a lot easier to fully commit to defending the run when the Packers don’t have to really be worried about the passing game, as they did against Philadelphia and Buffalo, two other teams with mobile quarterbacks.
3
In a game where the Packers trailed for much of it, their ability to create turnovers — something that hasn’t happened often this season — played a huge role in the win. With the Bears near midfield, Rasul Douglas forced a fumble. Later on, Jaire Alexander came away with an interception that led to a Packers touchdown that put that up nine points. Then Keisean Nixon intercepted a pass to end the game.
28
The Packers scored 28 points, their third-highest total of the season. Green Bay’s three highest-scoring games this season have all occurred in their last four games. It’s not a coincidence that this has happened when the offensive line has been its healthiest and playing its best football, Christian Watson has emerged as a true game-changer, and the run game has been incredibly effective.
As offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said last Thursday when the offense has a big play threat on the outside and a strong run game to lean on, “it is that simple.”
4
Justin Fields had 28 dropbacks against Green Bay, and PFF credited the Bears’ offensive line with only four pressures allowed. Now, an important distinction, Fields was pressured more than four times, but the other six that the Packers were credited with were on Fields for holding the ball–PFF deemed that the offensive line did their job on those plays.
Creating consistent pressure has been a major issue for the Packers since they lost Rashan Gary, and it’s not as if they were facing a lights-out Bears offensive line, either. Joe Barry is going to have to help this group out by using more blitzes and twists to try to manufacture some pressures. For much of the season, Barry has relied on his defensive front to win their one-on-one matchups, but that isn’t working without Gary, and Kenny Clark has seen more double-teams.
5.2
Green Bay had a good run-pass mix in this game, with 29 designed runs to 31 pass attempts. With Aaron Jones banged up, AJ Dillon handled the workload, finishing with 93 yards on 18 carries and averaging 5.2 yards per rush. While the passing game struggled to get going, Dillon and the run game gave the Packers’ offense something to lean on.
Since Week 10, we’ve seen a much more productive version of Dillon. In Weeks 1-9, he was averaging 4.0 yards per rush, but since then, it’s been 5.3, which ranks seventh in that span. He’s also been much better at picking up yards after contact and has five runs of 10-plus yards, the eighth most in the last four games among running backs.
Dillon has certainly been playing with more explosiveness, but he’s also benefitted from a healthy offensive line. Whereas Jones has the ability to create for himself more, Dillon needs that running lane to really get going.
2
Now granted, this is a Bears defense that has been one of the worst at creating pressure, but the Packers’ offensive line continued their impressive play. PFF would credit the Green Bay linemen with only two pressures allowed, while Dillon averaged over five yards per rush. Zach Tom would again fill in quite well at left tackle.
As the offense has been picking up steam, any success will begin with the offensive line play.
182
It wasn’t the usual Aaron Rodgers vs. the Chicago Bears performance that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing throughout the years. He completed 18/31 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown. There were some inaccurate throws and also a lot of what felt like unnecessary heaves downfield. Either the receivers weren’t getting open against a depleted Bears’ secondary, or Rodgers was holding on to the ball too long, far too often.
94 and 2
Game-changing. As I mentioned already, the Packers’ success on offense over the last month coincides with Watson’s play. In addition to his big play ability, having that speed on the outside spreads out the defense, which opens up the run game as well as opportunities for other Green Bay pass catchers.
Watson is entering rarified air over the last month with his production, and at least for me, every time he touches the ball, I’m almost expecting a big play to follow. He finished Sunday’s game with a 46-yard touchdown run and 48 yards through the air with another touchdown.
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