7 winners (and 2 losers) for Packers after sweeping Bears to clinch playoff berth
Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers own the Chicago Bears. What's new? Here's what's new: The Packers are going to the playoffs.
Matt LaFleur's young team has overcome the odds and will head to Jerry World for a showdown with Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys in next week's wild-card round. But before we turn the page to the postseason, let's reflect on what was an outstanding performance by the Packers in Week 18.
It was a high-pressure game. The Packers had to win. The Bears had won four of their past five and were desperate to end Green Bay's season in similar fashion to the Detroit Lions' victory at Lambeau this time last year.
But the Packers overcame all of that to take down the Bears for the 10th time in a row, punching their ticket to the postseason. Who were the biggest winners and losers?
Winner: Jordan Love
Jordan. Love. What more is there to say?
This may have been Love's finest performance of the season, which is saying something. Love only had five incompletions, two of which were dropped touchdowns. He finished 27 of 32 for 316 yards and two touchdowns. Love looked in control the entire game.
The Packers never punted. They were their own worst enemy. A dropped TD and missed field goal cost the Packers points on the first time, and awful time management left points on the board at the end of the second quarter. But Love was flawless, finding seven different receivers in yet another impressive victory over the Bears.
In his past eight games, Love has completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 2,150 yards, 18 touchdowns, one interception, and a 112.8 rating. That's MVP-level quarterback play.