GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love completed one thing in his first season as a beginning quarterback that his four-time MVP predecessor failed to realize final 12 months.
He has the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the playoffs.
Love threw for 316 yards and linked with Dontayvion Wicks on a pair of touchdowns because the Packers earned a wild-card berth with a 17-9 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The Packers bounced again from a 2-5 begin by successful seven of their final 10 video games, together with three straight.
“I feel everybody knew what we had been able to,” Love mentioned. “All of the video games we misplaced had been shut video games that we knew there have been little issues we might repair that will put us over the hump to win these video games. I feel we had been all the time proper there in each recreation, in order that was the factor that was straightforward for us to maintain believing.”
The Packers (9-8) wanted a win to succeed in the playoffs. Inexperienced Bay delivered by beating the Bears (7-10) for a tenth consecutive time.
Inexperienced Bay was in an identical state of affairs for its regular-season finale final 12 months, however misplaced 20-16 at house to the Detroit Lions in Aaron Rodgers’ final recreation with the Packers. The Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets lower than 4 months later to make manner for Love, a 2020 first-round draft choose from Utah State.
Love guided the NFL’s youngest staff to the postseason by throwing 18 landing passes and one interception over his final eight video games.
“I mentioned it again in camp: He’s the most effective quarterback within the league,” Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander mentioned. “And he’s been proving it these previous few weeks.”
Inexperienced Bay is the NFC’s No. 7 seed and can go to NFC East champion Dallas (12-5) in a matchup with Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, who guided the Packers from 2006-18 and led them to their final Tremendous Bowl title.
Love went 27 of 32 as Inexperienced Bay by no means punted all day. Love threw a 10-yard landing cross to Wicks that put Inexperienced Bay forward for good halfway by way of the second quarter and located the rookie fifth-round choose in the long run zone once more for a 12-yard rating within the third.
“He is a tough-minded sucker,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned of Love. “His household did a hell of a job elevating him simply when it comes to what he is all about.”
Love spent most of this season throwing primarily to rookies and second-year execs. These guys helped win the sport Sunday, although they did not win any reward from Bears security Jaquan Brisker.
Jayden Reed caught 4 passes for 112 yards. Wicks had six catches for 61 yards to go along with his two touchdowns. Bo Melton had 5 receptions for 62 yards lower than every week after the Packers signed him to their energetic roster from the observe squad.
“I really feel like we might have tightened up on the receivers much more than we did at present,” mentioned Brisker, who recovered a fumble by Love. “We gave them an excessive amount of room. I don’t actually don’t have any respect for them in any respect, simply to be trustworthy.”
Inexperienced Bay’s Aaron Jones rushed for 111 yards on 22 carries, his third straight 100-yard efficiency.
Chicago now heads into the offseason going through a significant query about its quarterback state of affairs. The Bears have the No. 1 choose within the upcoming draft and should determine whether or not to maintain Justin Fields or choose his potential substitute.
“I management what I can management,” Fields mentioned. “And I’m going to get wholesome this offseason, spend time with my household and get higher. Like I mentioned, we went by way of the identical factor final 12 months. We had the No. 1 choose, everyone was asking, ‘What if? What if? What if?’ And nothing occurred. I’m not saying that nothing may occur, as a result of, shoot, all of us don’t know.”
The Bears had the primary total choose final 12 months however traded it to Carolina, which used it to pick Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger. A part of the package deal the Bears obtained in change was Carolina’s No. 1 choice this 12 months, which would be the high total choice for the reason that Panthers (2-15) had the NFL’s worst report.
Fields went 11 of 16 for 148 yards on Sunday, however he could not get the Bears into the tip zone. He was sacked 5 occasions and had eight carries for 27 yards.
The Bears reached Packers territory on every of their six collection, however had solely 9 factors to point out for it.
Cairo Santos capped the sport’s first collection with a 50-yard area aim that bounced off the left upright earlier than going by way of. Santos additionally had a 39-yarder late within the second quarter and a 35-yarder early within the fourth.
The Bears obtained inside Inexperienced Bay’s 35 halfway by way of the fourth quarter, however a holding penalty and a sack prompted the drive to stall and compelled a punt. Inexperienced Bay took over at its personal 6 with 6:08 left and held the ball the remainder of the sport.
“We knew going into that final drive that we needed to complete with the ball and preserve the protection off the sphere and never even give them an opportunity to get the ball again,” Love mentioned. “I feel that is simply that killer mindset that everybody within the locker room on offense has.”
INJURIES
Bears RG Nate Davis damage his foot and Packers WR Romeo Doubs injured his chest within the first half. … Bears DB Terell Smith damage his quadriceps and Bears TE Cole Kmet injured his forearm within the second half.
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