GREEN BAY – On another big day for the Packers' offense, it's a treat to see how some plays are executed just as they're drawn up.
In addition, much of the offensive film became the Aaron Jones and Bo Melton show, for the variety of ways they contributed.
Last but not least, the bonus plays review three of the defense's five sacks, which were teamwork sacks in every sense of the phrase.
Play No. 1: First-and-10 from the Chicago 44, first quarter, 6:15 left
Result: 14-yard run by Jones
This is the Packers' sixth offensive snap of the game, and just the second handoff to Jones, but wow does it open up. This is the vision when it's designed for the playbook. It starts with Bears DL Dominique Robinson (90) overrunning the play at the point of attack, and TE Tucker Kraft (85) smartly letting him go as he's crossing sides of the formation. From there, the Packers have everybody blocked on the left side of the field – Kraft takes LB T.J. Edwards (53), LT Rasheed Walker (63) has LB Tremaine Edmunds (49), TE Josiah Deguara is on DB Jaquan Brisker (9), and WR Romeo Doubs (87) takes CB Tyrique Stevenson (29). Jones literally isn't touched until he's across the first-down marker.
Play No. 2: Second-and-6 from the Green Bay 12, second quarter, 13:32 left
Result: 32-yard completion to WR Jayden Reed
As the Packers look to get out of a field-position hole, they send all five eligibles out on routes and again, this is exactly how the offense hopes the defense reacts. In the back end, three defenders are occupied by two vertical routes. Underneath, three more defenders are occupied by two shallow options. The middle of the field is wide open for Reed, who starts the play running jet motion and then runs a deep curl into the void while Bears DB Kyler Gordon (6) gets caught in no-man's land. Up front, the protection for QB Jordan Love is textbook and he has a crystal clear throwing lane to hit Reed for a big play.
Play No. 3: First-and-10 from the Chicago 31, second quarter, 9:34 left
Result: 12-yard run by Jones
Seven plays later into this first TD drive, another run for Jones opens up just as envisioned. Offensive linemen C Josh Myers (71), RG Sean Rhyan (75) and RT Zach Tom (50) are 3-on-2 on the interior, while Kraft spins DL Montez Sweat (98) out of the way. Hello hole. From there, Reed loses leverage on Gordon, but Jones' sees it and cuts to the outside as WR Dontayvion Wicks (13) comes across to pick off Edmunds to create more space, and it's a first down in the red zone.
Play No. 4: Third-and-1 from the Chicago 10, second quarter, 7:25 left
Result: 10-yard TD to Wicks
Shifting gears to some of the other things Jones brings to this offense, here's the TD ending the 11-play, 92-yard drive to get the Packers on the board. The Bears' best pass rusher is Sweat, and TE Ben Sims (89) has to get the first block on him, but Sims can't stay on him because he has to get out on his route for Love. Who's there to finish the job? Jones. He gives Love the time necessary to find Wicks cutting across the end zone and delivers.
Play No. 5: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 25, second quarter, 1:17 left
Result: 24-yard completion to Melton
On the first snap of the Packers' next drive, Jones is split out wide to the left, and it's his short stop route that draws the attention of Stevenson, who slips when he attempts to recover back to Melton, allowing all kinds of space to get the offense moving again.
Play No. 6: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 36, third quarter, 13:36 left
Result: 17-yard completion to Melton
This is about as good as it gets in blitz pickup by Jones, who takes on Edwards in the hole and leaves a nice, clean pocket for Love to fire to the boundary as he layers a difficult throw over one defender and in front of another.
Play No. 7: First-and-10 from the Chicago 47, third quarter, 13:02 left
Result: 17-yard run by Jones
Not to be outdone in the dirty work category, Melton provides his share of assistance on the very next snap, which happens to be Jones' longest run of the game. At the point of attack, Kraft and Tom double-team DL Rasheem Green (94) to give Jones an initial lane. But then from off the screen, here comes Melton to wipe out Gordon at the same moment Sims arrives, and the Packers are once again in scoring range.
Play No. 8: Second-and-9 from the Chicago 41, fourth quarter, 2:00 left
Result: 10-yard run by Jones
The Packers need one more first down to run out the clock, and it's fitting Jones and Melton are key players in getting it. First, G Elgton Jenkins throws a powerful block on LB Jack Sanborn (57) to create some serious space. But second, there's Melton to pick off Stevenson and spring Jones for the yards needed to put the game away.
Now for some of the defense's teamwork sacking Bears QB Justin Fields.
Bonus play 1: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 26, first quarter, 11:06 left
Result: 6-yard sack by LB Lukas Van Ness
The Bears move into scoring territory on the opening drive of the game, but the first of the defense's five sacks helps force a field goal. This is a classic coverage sack, as the Packers send a five-man pressure and are man-to-man on five routes with one safety playing centerfield. Fields has nowhere to go with the ball, and Van Ness disengages with LT Braxton Jones (70) deep in the pocket to finish the play.
Bonus play 2: Third-and-6 from the Green Bay 13, second quarter, 2:00 left
Result: 8-yard sack by DL Kenny Clark
If there's such a thing as an assist on a sack, DL Karl Brooks (94) deserves one, as he runs a stunt here with Clark and ends up occupying not one, not two, but three Bears linemen. Clark loops around the mess with a clear path to Fields, and the Packers force another field goal.
Bonus play 3: Third-and-7 from the Green Bay 48, third quarter, 5:44 left
Result: 3-yard sack by LB Quay Walker
Defensive teamwork at its best yet again. Brooks and Clark run another stunt similar to the previous play, and Brooks intentionally throws his body sideways into multiple blockers to muddy the waters. Only this time, that move actually puts him right where Fields wants to step up in the pocket to avoid the pressure from LB Preston Smith (91) off the edge. Fields spins away from Brooks, but Walker is there to clean up and the Bears have to punt.
