Saturday’s NFL doubleheader wrapped up with a classic, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in frigid temperatures with strong winds. Unlike matchups in previous seasons, though, Saturday’s game had the NFC North at stake.
Let’s dive into the winners and losers from an iconic Packers vs Bears duel at Solder Field.
Winner: Malik Willis, QB, Green Bay Packers
When Jordan Love went down with a concussion, it felt like things could get ugly in a hurry for Matt LaFleur and the Packers offense. Malik Willis promptly came in and led the team on a scoring drive, including a fourth-down conversion with his legs, to give Green Bay a 6-0 lead. In the second half, Willis engineered a 62-yard drive that put the Packers at the goal line and might have ended in a touchdown if not for a Josh Jacobs fumble. After that turnover, he got Green Bay into the end zone with a downfield strike to Romeo Doubs for a 10-point lead. Willis’ career has been revitalized with this franchise, and he has rewarded them for the second chance by saving their season multiple years in a row. He is going to cash in nicely this offseason as a free agent quarterback who should get high-end backup money ($8-plus million a year), and maybe a team is willing to give him a chance to be a bridge starter.
Related: NFL Playoff Clinching Scenarios Week 16
Loser: Green Bay Packers’ Health
Coming into Saturday night, the Packers offense was without Tucker Kraft, Elgton Jenkins, and Zach Tom, with other key starters missing defensively. Things only got worse in Chicago. Jordan Love suffered a concussion in the second quarter, forcing Matt LaFleur to rely on backup quarterback Malik Willis and running back Josh Jacobs. Mind you, Jacobs was using crutches on Monday and did not practice all week due to a knee injury. To make matters worse, they were left with just one healthy tight end after blocking tight end John FitzPatrick went down with a non-contact Achilles injury. The only good news for Green Bay is that Love could return in Week 17 along with Tom and safety Evan Williams.
Read More: Winners, Losers from Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Commanders
Winner: Nahshon Wright, CB, Chicago Bears
Playmakers make plays in critical spots. Nahshon Wright has been exactly that for this Bears defense this season. Typically, it is interceptions (five) that Wright has used to show off his hands and instincts. On Saturday night, he found a different way to generate a massive stop. On 1st-and-Goal from the 4-yard line, Wright ripped the football out of Josh Jacobs’ hands, and Chicago recovered it. While the Bears offense could not turn it into points, the takeaway essentially prevented Green Bay from potentially extending a 13-3 lead, instead giving the football back to the Chicago defense at its own 2-yard line.
Loser: Drew Dalman, C, Chicago Bears
There is rightful criticism of Bears head coach Ben Johnson for getting far too cute on the fourth-down attempt, but you can also safely say that Chicago practiced that play multiple times. Somehow, center Drew Dalman snapped it to running back Kyle Monangai (5-foot-8) like he was Caleb Williams (6-foot-1). A great effort by Monangai to chase after the football and recover it prevented an awful snap on a bad play call from being even costlier for Chicago. Then, with Chicago driving late with 3:30 remaining and down by two scores, Dalman was called for a holding penalty that made it 3rd-and-20 from the 46-yard line.
Winner: Emanuel Wilson, RB, Green Bay Packers
What a night for the Packers’ backups. This is not even to mention how relatively well the defense played without Evan Williams, Micah Parsons, and Devonte Wyatt. Green Bay was forced to center its offense around Malik Willis and Emanuel Wilson, and they each delivered. Receiving his largest workload since putting up 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns versus Minnesota, Wilson led the team in rushing and averaged over 5 yards per carry, with nearly every touch seeming to go for 3-plus yards. For a team that came into the season hoping MarShawn Lloyd would be their No. 2 running back, Wilson has now twice come up clutch for the Packers.
Loser: Packers’ Onside Kick Woes
What is it with the Packers and onside kicks? Leading by 7 points with just under 2 minutes left, the Bears attempted the onside kick. It bounced right into Romeo Doubs hands and he let it slip through, allowing Chicago to recover it. Eight plays later, the Bears found the end zone and tied it up with 24 seconds left. Will Green Bay suggest banning onside kicks this offseason?
Winner: Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
The first three quarters from Caleb Williams and this Bears offense were ugly. Then, the fourth quarter hit and Williams led an incredible comeback against the Bears’ biggest rival. He led two scoring drives and when Chicago’ special teams came up huge with a recovery of the onside kick, Williams delivered a game-tying drive with the NFC North crown at stake. He took the Bears into overtime and then delivered when it mattered again with a perfect game-winning touchdown strike to DJ Moore.
