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Packers shock Karl Brooks’ game-winning block

CHICAGO – The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears as usual – a simple sentence that doesn’t tell half the story of a dramatic victory.

The Bears had a chance to upset the Packers in stunning fashion and finally get a win in their age-old rivalry.

Instead, Karl Brooks blocked Cairo Santos’ 46-yard field goal as time expired. The Packers sideline sprinted onto the field to celebrate an improbable 20-19 victory.

“Just the way you draw it, right?” said coach Matt LaFleur.

The Packers have won 11 straight games against the Bears, including six straight at Soldier Field. Jordan Love was 13 of 17 passing for 261 yards and improved to 3-0 vs. the Bears.

Green Bay has won six in a row and 14 of 15 at Soldier Field.

“It’s special,” Love said. “Obviously every time we play the Bears we want to get that win and obviously we want to continue this winning streak. Obviously, to end the game on that last play and to come up with that field goal block in a big way is special.”

After the Packers took a 20-19 lead with 2:59 to go, TJ Slaton and Rashan Gary had back-to-back sacks of Caleb Williams to get third-and-19 after the 2-minute warning. Kingsley Enagbare had a chance to sack Williams but actually jumped over Williams, who extended the play and hit Rome Odunze for 16. On fourth-and-3, Williams made a fade to Odunze over Keisean Nixon for 21.

With the Bears on the edge of field goal range, Williams fired a pass to Keenan Allen for another 12 to the 28.

That set the stage for Santos, who entered the game with 12-of-14 field goals this season after making 35-of-38 last year. Brooks got a good push, extended his arm and grabbed the winning block.

“Yes, that’s what you dream about,” Brooks said. “It was just a great play, man. Blocking a kick to win the game is huge.

The Packers improved to 7-3. They are two games behind the Lions (9-1) and one game behind the Vikings (8-2) in the NFC North.

“Yes, it’s a relief,” LaFleur said. “It was a rollercoaster game, but that’s this competition and you have to be resilient. Not everything always goes your way and you have to keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, try to block the scoreboard, whatever has happened has no bearing on what is going to happen and you just have to keep pushing forward.”

Trailing 19-14, Green Bay took possession at the 22-yard line with 4:17 left and needed a touchdown. On the second play, Jordan Love fired a pass to the left to Christian Watson. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson fell and Watson made an incredible diving catch at the 45.

There was no one near Watson when he got up and left down the left sideline. He broke one tackle, went back to center and was taken down at the 14. The Bears challenged the ruling of Watson’s catch, but lost.

On the next play, Love scrambled to his right and nearly scored with a dive toward the pylon — LaFleur lost the challenge — but scored stealthily on the next play. Jacobs was full on the 2-point run, so it was 20-19 with 2:59 to go.

As everyone predicted, it was a back-and-forth matchup between the Packers, who owned the Bears and were coming off a bye, and the Bears, who had lost three straight and fired their offensive coordinator earlier in the league. week.

Green Bay put together an excellent drive at halftime to lead 14-10. Jacobs had a 21-yard catch early in the drive and capped the possession with a 7-yard touchdown.

The bears took revenge. After starting the game with 23 consecutive possessions without a touchdown, they scored their second of the game late in the third quarter on D’Andre Swift’s 39-yard touchdown run after a coin toss. The Bears, overcoming a first-and-20 on possession, failed on the two-point play and thus led 19-14 with 31 seconds left in the quarter.

The Packers were in position to regain the lead early in the fourth quarter. Love’s ill-advised bomb into double coverage turned into a 48-yard gain when safety Elijah Hicks slipped and Christian Watson made an excellent catch at the 8.

However, Green Bay got nothing out of it. On fourth and goal at the 6, LaFleur opted to keep the offense on the field. The Packers entered the game ranked 29th in red zone offense; the Bears were No. 1 in red zone defense.

The better unit won. Love was flushed from the pocket and couldn’t get past linebacker TJ Edwards for a huge stop with 11:19 left in the game.

On the ensuing possession, the Bears couldn’t get the knockout, but they did consume 7 minutes converting three times on third down.

The Packers trailed 10-7 at halftime.

The game couldn’t have started better, as Green Bay threw 70 yards in eight plays for the opening touchdown. After Emanuel Wilson ran over two defenders for a 13-yard run to the 15, the Packers rushed to the line to make their next play. Love not only caught the Bears with 12 men on the field, but also fired a laser at Jayden Reed for a touchdown.

The Packers led 7-3 when they got into scoring position in the second quarter. However, the Packers turned a second-and-1 from the 5 into a third-and-11 from the 15 before Love’s high fastball went through Tucker Kraft’s fingers and was intercepted at the goal line.

Chicago drove 76 yards before the go-ahead goal to end the first half. New offensive coordinator Thomas Brown turned Williams into a dual-threat quarterback. Williams had runs of 13, 7 and 12 yards to set up Roschon Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run with 7 seconds left in the half.

Williams, who was sacked nine times last week, was sacked just once in the first half and ran six times for 60 yards.

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