GREEN BAY, Wis. — A trick play on a punt return gave the Bears a 94-yard landing and a lead towards the rival Packers, who misplaced two of their most essential gamers within the first half of Sunday’s game at Lambeau Discipline. The Bears lead 14-13 at halftime.
Jordan Love left the sport within the second quarter with what the group referred to as a proper elbow harm, although trainers additionally seemed on the Packers quarterback’s hand. Broad receiver Christian Watson suffered a non-contact harm within the second quarter and is questionable to return with a knee harm. Each are alarming accidents for the Packers, who will play a playoff sport subsequent week.
The Bears don’t have any such issues, and are enjoying prefer it.
About eight minutes into the sport, the Bears put receiver DJ Moore again to return the punt with their common returner, Josh Blackwell, lined to dam on the Bears’ left flank. When the ball was kicked, Blackwell sprinted again to the 6-yard line and caught it close to the Bears’ sideline. Moore, on the alternative finish of the sphere, pantomimed that was tenting underneath the ball, drawing the eye of the Packers protection unit.
Blackwell, caught the punt behind a wall of blockers and ran untouched for 94 yards.
Former Bears particular groups coordinator Dave Toub ran the identical play in 2011 towards the Packers, with Johnny Knox returning a punt 89 yards for a landing. A holding penalty on Corey Graham negated the landing, which got here with the Bears down 10 late within the fourth quarter.
Sunday’s landing gave the Bears their first lead because the first quarter of Week 12, a span of 361 minutes and 10 seconds. That they had solely led as soon as on the highway all season — once they scored 25 seconds earlier than the Commanders’ game-ending Hail Mary.
The Bears constructed on their lead within the second quarter, scoring on a four-yard D’Andre Swift run three performs after cornerback Jaylon Johnson punched the ball out of Jayden Reed’s arms. Jonathan Owens recovered the fumble and returned it 14 yards to the Packers’ 21.
The Packers scored the final 10 factors of the half — on a nine-yard Josh Jacobs landing run and a 30-yard Brandon McManus area purpose.
