Packers: Three winners from Week 17 victory against Bears
By Cody Young
The Packers went into Chicago and dominated their rival once again.
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears were set up to face off in a Week 17 clash with major playoff implications. For the Packers, they controlled their own destiny with a win giving them the number one seed. For Chicago, they also controlled their own destiny, a win would put them in the playoffs.
I think the game was a little closer at times than the final score showed but Green Bay went on to steamroll the Bears 35 to 16. The Bears are, however, able to limp into the playoffs with a Rams’ victory over the Cardinals.
This win put a stamp on a fantastic Green Bay season. For the second year in a row, the team will finish with a 13-3 record and receive a bye in the playoffs. Also, for only the second time in Aaron Rodger’s career, the NFC goes through Lambeau.
As we always do after a Packers win, which has been plentiful this season, let’s look at three people who performed well on Sunday starting with our first winner:
Krys Barnes makes an impact for Packers defense
Winner #3: Krys Barnes
Krys Barnes was phenomenal against the Bears on Sunday and is really cementing his place as a starter going into 2021. Barnes was all over the field, leading the Packers in total tackles with 14, including getting one of those in the backfield.
I’ve been beating the drum for both of the rookie linebackers to get more playing time over Christian Kirksey, but I have been high on Barnes especially. Barnes has looked solid all season, dating all the way back to Week 1 against the Vikings where he burst onto the scene.
Barnes has battled injuries and COVID-19 this season but the rookie has played some impressive football and should be a key piece of this defense moving forward.