8 takeaways from Packers’ 24-14 win over Bears in Week 6

The Green Bay Packers took down the rival Chicago Bears and improved to 5-1 with a 24-14 win on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Matt LaFleur’s team went on a 17-0 run during the second and third quarters to overcome a 7-0 first-quarter deficit and then slammed the door shut with a touchdown run by Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter.

Here are all the top takeaways from the Packers’ Week 6 win:

Overcoming another poor start

Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

For the fifth time in six games, the Packers fell behind in the first quarter. And for the third straight game, the Packers overcame a 7-0 deficit in the first quarter to win. The Bears forced a punt and then drove the field for a touchdown, but the Packers eventually responded with 17 straight points. The team’s inability to start fast stands in stark contrast to last season, when the Packers scored early and often and were usually playing with a lead. This year, the Packers are learning how to come from behind early and win. Playing better early in games will be a focus moving forward, but there’s value in being able to adjust and overcome.

Terrific tandem

(AP Photo/David Banks)

Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon are doing a lot of heavy lifting for the Packers offense. Over the last three games, the running back tandem has created 553 total yards and two scores, including 169 on Sunday. They both have value in the passing game, and both are producing big plays leading to scores. Dillon ripped off a 36-yard run setting up a field goal in the first half, and Jones had a 28-yard run setting up a touchdown. The Packers have one of the better 1-2 punches at running back in the NFL.

Offensive line settles in

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12).

Elgton Jenkins returned at left tackle but the starting offensive line lasted all of four plays. Center Josh Myers exited with a knee injury on the first series and didn’t return, and the Bears feasted early. But credit Lucas Patrick for stepping in at center, and credit Matt LaFleur for helping to get the entire group settled in with a mix of power run plays. Once the Packers started running the ball more consistently, the battle at the line of scrimmage evened. And once the Bears weren’t dominating up front, the Packers moved the ball consistently over the final three quarters.

More explosive plays from Davante

Photo by Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

Five targets for Davante Adams was a season-low and his lowest in a game since Week 2 of last season when he exited with a hamstring injury. But the All-Pro made the most of his limited opportunities, and once again he created explosive plays. He caught passes of 32 yards and 41 yards. Both catches set up scores; the first got the Packers’ game-tying touchdown drive going in the second quarter, and the second helped set up Aaron Rodgers’ touchdown run in the fourth quarter. On both explosive plays, Adams cooked Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson from the slot. He averaged 17.8 yards per target, his highest in a game since October of 2018.

Banged-up defense holds on

Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97).

Facing a rookie quarterback and one of the worst offenses in the NFL certainly helped, but the Packers defense deserves credit for allowing only two scoring drives, especially considering all the injuries. By the second half, the Packers were down five preferred starters: Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Jaire Alexander, Kevin King and Darnell Savage. A lot of backup players were playing important snaps into the fourth quarter, and yet the group didn’t fold. The Packers gave up the early touchdown drive, but Joe Barry replaced Isaac Yiadom with Rasul Douglas and the Bears didn’t score again until the fourth quarter. Savage’s interception in the first half was a turning point, and the pass-rush consistently affected Justin Fields.

Defensive line disruption

Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers defensive line is starting to affect more games. Dean Lowry and Kenny Clark combined for three sacks on Sunday, and all three were impactful. Lowry’s sack pushed the Bears out of field goal range at the end of the first half, and Clark’s pair of sacks killed the Bears’ final drive in the fourth quarter. Lowry is starting to heat up as a pass-rusher, and Clark is enjoying a dominant run of play. This defense looks a lot different when the defensive line is consistently resetting the line of scrimmage and affecting the quarterback.

Red-zone revival

Photo by Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

No, the Packers defense wasn’t able to get its first red-zone stop of the season, but the offense rebounded in an impressive way. Facing the third-ranked red-zone defense, the Packers scored touchdowns on three-of-four trips inside the 20-yard line on Sunday. A creative playcall on a shovel pass to Allen Lazard created the first touchdown, and individual brilliance from Aaron Jones (12-yard touchdown catch after breaking a tackle) and Aaron Rodgers (6-yard scramble) produced the final two red-zone scores. The one failure shouldn’t have been one; a 15-yard touchdown pass to Equanimeous St. Brown on third down was nullified by a highly questionable penalty, and the Packers weren’t able to convert 3rd-and-goal from the 25.

Close to what?

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Packers special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton keeps saying the third phase is “close” to be being good. They look closer to giving up a touchdown than being good. The Bears had three kickoff returns over 25 yards, and all three looked threatening before an open-field tackle. Chicago also had a long punt return by Jakeem Grant that was called back on a penalty. Long snapper Hunter Bradley had a couple of off-target snaps, too. The Packers special teams look as shaky as ever. Then again, Mason Crosby made all four of his kicks, and Corey Bojorquez had an 82-yard punt (the second-longest in team history), so it could be worse.

1

1

1

1