Dairyland Express
Fansided

Green Bay Packers: Instant Takeaways after Clinching No. 1 Seed

By Paul Bretl

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 03: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter in the game at Soldier Field on January 03, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 03: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter in the game at Soldier Field on January 03, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Green Bay Packers beat the Bears and clinch the NFC’s top seed in the process. Here are your instant takeaways from their performance.

Regression? What regression? For the second season in a row the Green Bay Packers win the NFC North, finish 13-3, clinch a first-round bye, but this year, the NFC playoffs go through Titletown. Things got a little dicey in the third quarter, but the Packers come away with the win. Let’s dive into my instant takeaways.

  • It’s a divisional game, the Bears had a lot to play for as well, and with nothing to lose, you knew they were going to throw the kitchen sink at Green Bay. I’m not terribly surprised at how close this game was.
  • Chicago found some success with Montgomery, Kmet, and Mooney, but for the most part, this Green Bay Packers’ defense came to play once again, holding the Bears to 16 points and less than five yards per play.
  • Snacks Harrison has been in Green Bay for a few days and he’s already their second-best interior run defender.
  • Kenny Clark was so good.
  • If there was any question before the game, there shouldn’t be now. Aaron Rodgers is your NFL MVP. This will be his third.

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1345861429187014656

  • With no Bakhtiari, the Packers used the same configuration that they did when he was out earlier in the season. Turner was at LT, Patrick at RG, and Wagner at RT.
  • And the offensive line held up fairly well against a good Chicago pass-rush.
  • I don’t know what else there is to say about the Green Bay Packers’ special teams unit. The game began with a kickoff out of bounds, their opening kick return attempt barely made it to the 20-yard line, and Tavon Austin fumbled.
  • This was a typical MVS game. We saw Rodgers find him with a mismatch as Danny Trevathan was covering him. However, in the second half, MVS dropped what would have been an easy touchdown. This is just who he is.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1345857242923323393

  • In the second half, the Bears just started attacking Kevin King in the passing game.
  • Just another All-Pro caliber performance from Jaire Alexander.
  • The Bears did what they needed to do against Green Bay, and that’s dominate the time of possession.
  • What a season for Davante Adams, he now holds the Green Bay Packers’ single-season reception record. And oh yeah, he missed two and a half games.
  • That offsides by Preston Smith before half was huge. It negated a forced fumble by Amos and ended with a Chicago field goal, making it a one-score game.
  • The red zone defense was very good again, holding Chicago to only one touchdown on five trips.

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1345859885204987904

  • Entering the game I was curious how LaFleur would split the RB carries. As he should, he gave Jones the bulk of them, while Williams and Dillon didn’t see much action for most of the game.
  • It was a quiet day for Allen Robinson.
  • Trubisky did what he’s done over the last month, complete easy passes when they’re given to him. Coming into the game I was really hoping there would be an emphasis on taking this away by Mike Pettine. But ultimately, he’s the same player we’ve seen the last few seasons.
  • What a beautifully schemed final scoring drive by Matt LaFleur.
  • Amos. Dagger.

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1345884521334452224

Home/Green Bay Packers