That felt good. So good.
After all the talk. The Chicago Bears entering Lambeau Field as favorites without their starting quarterback. Ben Johnson wanting to make the Green Bay Packers "quit." We've heard it all since the playoff humiliation in January.
Mike McCarthy used to say the Packers were "nobody's underdog," and those words couldn't be more true today. This was a team ready to prove a point, and they sure did. Let's break it down, shall we?
Instant takeaways from the Packers' emphatic win over the Bears
1. Jordan Love is back to his best
Jordan Love understandably lacked rhythm early in the season after some disastrous offensive line performances, but he was back to his brilliant best on Sunday. This is how you put the team on your shoulders.
The Bears had no answer. Love completed 25 of 31 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns, earning a 137.5 passer rating. Pro Football Focus' early breakdown gives Love a ridiculous 95.4 passing grade, which is about as elite as it gets. PFF credits Love with five big-time throws and only one turnover-worthy play, a fumble he luckily recovered.
Love played fearless football.
After throwing what would've been a 43-yard touchdown pass to undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant, which was called back due to a penalty, Love went deep again for a 53-yard touchdown strike to Christian Watson.
In his past two games against Chicago, Love has completed 49 of 77 passes for 690 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions, good for a 118.4 passer rating.
Jordan Love is back to doing Jordan Love things.
2. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are becoming a problem for defenses
The Packers quietly have one of the most dangerous wide receiver duos in the league. Chicago's secondary had zero answers for Christian Watson and Matthew Golden.
Watson caught six passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while Golden hauled in six passes for 123 yards and a two-point conversion. That'll do. Watson now has five touchdown catches in his past four games against the Bears. His home-run ability was simply too much for the secondary, and Love never hesitated to go deep.
Through five games, Watson has 26 catches for 474 yards and six touchdowns. Golden has 24 catches for 397 yards and two touchdowns.
Watson is on pace for 1,611 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, Golden 1,349 yards and seven touchdowns. That's how impressive they've been.
3. Jonathan Gannon's defense makes a statement
Green Bay's defense was still reeling after an embarrassing showing against the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago. This is how you respond.
The Packers limited the Bears' No. 1-ranked rushing attack to just 81 yards. Sure, the game script undoubtedly helped, but Chicago wasn't particularly efficient, either, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry.
Gannon's unit took advantage of opportunities with five takeaways. Xavier McKinney intercepted Tyson Bagent twice before Ty'Ron Hopper picked off Case Keenum. The Packers also forced two fumbles.
Had it not been for Trey Smack missing two field goals and an extra-point, those takeaways would've pushed the Packers closer to 40 points.
4. Packers' run game shows flashes, but problems remain
There were positives. MarShawn Lloyd looked far more desicive with the ball in his hands, and he displayed some real power by running over Jaylon Johnson on his first of two touchdown runs.
But Green Bay's rushing attack remains a problem, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. It took 26 hard-fought carries to put up 70 yards, though the two touchdowns belong in the Louvre. Lloyd bulldozed his way into the end zone on the first and was untouched on the second.
5. Ben Johnson does his best Michael Scott impression during the postgame handshake
All eyes were on Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson's postgame handshake 👀
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 11, 2026
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/hzdO2ApGQa
All eyes were on Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson after the game. The handshake was pretty uneventful compared to the smugness Johnson displayed last season. He did, though, give a deflated look straight into the camera lens like Michael Scott or David Brent from The Office when they realize they've been caught lying.
LaFleur didn't add insult to injury. That's not his style. He let his team's performance do the talking.
