Packers beat Bears, Jordan Love throws 3 TD passes
Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers attempts to pass against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field on September 10, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO - Jordan Love looked like he might be ready to follow in the footsteps of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, throwing for three touchdowns to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 38-20 season-opening victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Aaron Jones ran for a touchdown and caught one, helping the Packers pull away in the second half for their ninth straight win over the Bears. Green Bay was 25-5 against Chicago with Rodgers, counting an NFC championship game win at Soldier Field in the 2010 season, and the Packers were 22-10 in games Favre started.
The Bears came in thinking bigger things are in store for them and quarterback Justin Fields after a busy offseason. But for a team that set a franchise record for losses with 14 last year, this was a discouraging start.
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Love completed 15 of 27 passes for 245 yards and posted a 123.2 rating. It was a promising outing for a quarterback whose only other start was a loss at Kansas City in 2021 when Rodgers was sidelined with COVID-19.
Jones caught two passes for 86 yards, including a 51-yarder off a screen that led to a scoring run for him in the third quarter.
Rasul Douglas #29 of the Green Bay Packers is congratulated by Rudy Ford #20 and Jaire Alexander #23 after recovering a fumble against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field on September 10, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Mi
Romeo Doubs added two touchdown catches. Quay Walker returned an interception 37 yards for a TD, and the Packers won for the 13th time in 14 games at Soldier Field.
The Bears lost their 11th straight game overall, and their 10th in a row against NFC North opponents.
Fields was 24 of 37 for 216 yards. He had a touchdown pass and an interception in a performance that did little to answer the biggest question hanging over the team: Can he become the passer the Bears need him to be?
Fields also ran for 59 yards.
Prized acquisition DJ Moore had two catches for 25 yards. Darnell Mooney added 53 yards receiving and a TD.
Tucker Kraft #85 congratulates Romeo Doubs #87 of the Green Bay Packers on a touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field on September 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Packers scored touchdowns on their first two drives in the second half to break open a four-point game.
Jones set up a TD on the opening drive of the third when he took a screen from Love — throwing off his back foot and across the field — and turned it into a 51-yard gain to the 7. Jones ran it in from the 1.
The Packers' Jayden Reed returned a punt 35 yards to the Chicago 42, leading to another score. Love hit Jones on a slant for a 35-yard TD, making it 24-6.
The Bears pulled within 10 with about a minute left in the third when Darnell Mooney caught a 20-yard TD pass from Fields. Khahlil Herbert converted the 2-point run.
But the Packers quickly quieted the crowd with a 61-yard touchdown drive. Love found a wide-open Luke Musgrave for a 37-yard pass to the 4 after fumbling the snap and threw TD to Doubs on the next play, making it 31-14 with 13:30 remaining.
Walker then picked off Fields and returned the interception 37 yards for a touchdown to make it a 24-point game.
Green Bay visits Soldier Field
The Packers won the coin toss and deferred. The Bears would receive as play began Sunday afternoon in Chicago.
DJ Moore #2 of the Chicago Bears fails to convert a two point conversion against Rasul Douglas #29 of the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Soldier Field on September 10, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Packers' defense stopped the Bears on fourth and one, and there was no score after Chicago's first possession.
Jordan Love threw to Romeo Doubs for a Packers touchdown, and the extra point was good. It was 7-0 Packers after Green Bay's opening drive.
The Bears' next possession ended with a 47-yard field goal, making it 7-3 Green Bay.
Jordan Love's second drive was a three-and-out.
The Packers led the Bears 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
A Bears' field goal in the second quarter made it 7-6 Packers.
Romeo Doubs #87 of the Green Bay Packers is congratulated by his teammates after a touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field on September 10, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Image
Anders Carlson's 52-yard field goal was good to end the half, and the Packers extended their lead to 10-6.
As the second half began, Aaron Jones found the end zone for the Packers. The extra point was good, and Green Bay led 17-6.
An Aaron Jones 35-yard touchdown reception brought the score to 24-6 Green Bay with under 7 minutes left in the third quarter.
A Bears' drive aided by Packers' penalties led to a Darnell Mooney touchdown and two-point conversion, cutting Green Bay's lead to 24-14.
Cole Kmet #85 of the Chicago Bears is tackled by De'Vondre Campbell #59 and Isaiah McDuffie #58 of the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Soldier Field on September 10, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
The Packers answered with a touchdown catch by Romeo Doubs, bringing the score to 31-14 early in the fourth.
Then came a Quay Walker Pick 6 to bring the score to 38-14 with under 13 minutes left in the game.
A Bears' touchdown brought the score to 38-20 late in the fourth, which was the final score.