6 Winners and Losers from Packers Week 1 Victory over Bears
The Green Bay Packers had to relearn a valuable lesson yet again: when you feed Aaron Jones the ball, he leads you to victory, as they topped the Chicago Bears 38-20 in Week 1.
Jones was nothing short of spectacular before a hamstring injury took him out in the third quarter. However, during his time on the field, he propelled the Packers to consecutive touchdowns at the start of the second half, establishing an insurmountable 24-6 lead.
On the day, Jones topped the Packers in both rushing (nine carries for 41 yards and one touchdown) and receiving yards (two receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown), serving as a potent reminder, especially to the coaching staff, of his explosive potential. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Jones’ hamstring this week, hoping for a speedy return.
Now, let’s dive into some more winners and losers from the Packers’ resounding Week 1 victory over the Bears.
Here are six winners and losers from the Green Bay Packers emphatic Week 1 beatdown of their NFC North rivals, the Chicago Bears.
Packers Loser: Rudy Ford
If the Packers harbor any genuine playoff aspirations this season, addressing the safety position should be a priority, and they need to act sooner rather than later. Rudy Ford’s performance in Week 1 left much to be desired. He seemed a step behind all day, conceding multiple receptions and suffering the ignominy of being bulldozed by Bears’ rookie running back Roschon Johnson in an embarrassing fashion, only to compound his misery with a 15-yard personal foul penalty immediately afterward. It was a dismal start for what appears to be the Packers’ most glaring weakness.
Packers Winner: Offensive and Defensive Lines
Paul Bretl broke down the dominance of the Packers’ offensive and defensive lines, which I highly recommend you check out. The o-line kept Jordan Love clean all day and gave him all the time he needed to find open receivers, conceding only one sack. Meanwhile, the defensive line generated consistent pressure on Justin Fields, making him feel the heat all afternoon long.
Packers Loser: AJ Dillon
When Jones went out, the Packers tried to lead on AJ Dillon. Unfortunately, Dillon seems to have regressed from his rookie year, failing to show off explosiveness or any type of playmaking ability. He finished the day with a team-high 13 carries, but only mustered 19 yards. It’s not looking good for the fourth-year running back in a contract year.
Packers Winner: Rookies
Green Bay will be relying heavily on their 2023 draft class and the rookies got off to a nice start in Week 1. Anders Carlson made all six of his kicks (including a 52-yarder), Daniel Whelan had a 68-yard bomb, Jayden Reed looked explosive on punt returns, Luke Musgrave consistently got open, and Lukas Van Ness and Karl Brooks notched their first career sacks.
Next. Bear Down: ALL the Highlights from Packers' Victory. dark
Packers Winner: Bears’ Ownership
Chicago players and fans had a lot to say leading up to the game, but the Packers reminded them who their daddy is. Green Bay ran away with the game in the second half and put the game out of reach midway through the third quarter. They’ve now won nine straight games over Chicago, tied for the second-longest streak in the rivalry’s history.