What We Saw: Week 2

The What We Saw team recaps everything you missed from a crazy Week 2

Ben Brown
What We Saw 2 Years Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Chargers @ Chiefs
Dolphins @ Ravens
Jets @ Browns
Commanders @ Lions
Colts @ Jaguars
Buccaneers @ Saints
Panthers @ Giants
Patriots @ Steelers
Falcons @ Rams
Seahawks @ 49ers
Bengals @ Cowboys
Texans @ Broncos
Cardinals @ Raiders
Bears @ Packers

Bears @ Packers

Final Score: Packers 27, Bears 10

Writer: Justin Havelock (@HavelockJustin on Twitter)

 

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,” and in primetime on Sunday Night Football, Aaron Rodgers delivered the Chicago Bears their own Red Wedding. A little bit of rain near the end of the second half even helped set the mood, without influencing the actual outcome of the game.

Cue HBO static sound and theme music.

 

Chicago Bears

 

Quarterback

 

Justin Fields: 7/11, 70 Yards, Int | 8 Carries, 20 Yards, TD, Fumble (Recovered)

 

Justin Fields and the Bears’ offense looked sharp on the opening drive. A flea flicker set up by David Montgomery allowed Fields to complete a 30-yard pass to Equanimeous St. Brown. Then a pair of quick carries from Montgomery put the Bears within striking distance for Fields to do what he does best and run it right into the endzone himself.

 

 

The opening drive score would eventually stand as Fields and the Bears’ lone touchdown of the night. In fact, the Bears did not convert another first down until the fourth quarter. Fields found himself unable to move the sticks all night as he was relentlessly besieged by the Packers’ defense, taking three sacks including two from Green Bay pass-rusher Preston Smith. His night would come to a close after throwing an interception to Jaire Alexander just outside of the two-minute warning.

 

 

Running Back

 

David Montgomery: 15 Carries, 122 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 14 Yards

Khalil Herbert: 4 Carries, 38 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards

 

Both sides put an emphasis on the run game in Lambeau Field, as David Montgomery appeared in all but two of the Bears’ offensive drives. The first Montgomery-less drive was interrupted by the halftime whistle after a single play and the second coming when Fields threw an interception to Jaire Alexander to end the game for the Bears.

Montgomery thrived in the primetime spotlight as well, managing over 8.1 YPC against a Packers defense that held Dalvin Cook to only 4.5 YPC last week.

 

 

The Bears found some momentum in the second half with their run game once they started rotating in Khalil Herbert. Keep an eye on Herbert in the coming weeks as the Bears have struggled in the passing game and may have liked what they saw from Herbert this week.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Equanimeous St. Brown: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 39 Yards

Ryan Griffin: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 18 Yards

Cole Kmet: 1 Target

Darnell Mooney: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, -4 Yards

 

The 30-yard flea flicker to Equanimeous St. Brown on the opening drive was the Bears’ longest pass play of the game and accounted for over 56% of this group’s receiving yards. It is worth noting that St. Brown appeared to be Fields’ favorite target, as he also made this big catch that was called back due to an illegal forward pass.

 

 

The Bears are going to need to find a way to get Darnell Mooney and the rest of the passing game going or risk even worse blowouts this season.

 

Green Bay Packers

 

Quarterback

 

Aaron Rodgers: 19/25, 234 Yards, 2 TD | 5 Carries, 10 Yards, Fumble (Lost)

 

After struggling last week against the Minnesota Vikings, Aaron Rodgers was back to his usual field general self in this game. While the Packers were still missing left tackle David Bakhtiari this week, lineman Elgton Jenkins made his season debut at right tackle.

Familiarity appeared to be the key to Aaron Rodgers’ success as he was unafraid to lean on a veteran Randall Cobb when needed.

 

 

There were still a couple of miscues in this game with Rodgers fumbling on a handoff to AJ Dillon.

 

 

However, despite the Packers leaning heavily on the backfield, Rodgers still managed to find moments to show off his arm.

 

 

Running Back

 

Aaron Jones: 15 Carries, 132 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 38 Yards, TD

AJ Dillon: 18 Carries, 61 Yards | 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards | Fumble (Recovered)

 

No HBO package is truly complete without Showtime or in this case Showtyme. Aaron Jones was dominant against the Bears rushing for 8.8 YPC and scoring touchdowns both on the ground and in the air. In the absence of Davante Adams, Jones has emerged as the focal point of this offense and easily led the team in scrimmage yards (170) this week.

Those worried about AJ Dillon’s role can rest easy as well. The Packers alternated heavily between Jones and Dillon, and Dillon led the team in carries for the second week in a row. Dillon was a necessary part of the deception coming out of the Packers’ backfield this week and even with the fumbled handoff, he should be expected to play a large role in this offense.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Sammy Watkins: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 93 Yards

Randall Cobb: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 37 Yards

Romeo Doubs: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 27 Yards

Allen Lazard: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards, TD

Robert Tonyan: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards

Christian Watson: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 9 Yards

Tyler Davis: 1 Target

 

The Packers have fully unleashed their new wide receiver by committee approach. Sammy Watkins may have led the team in targets and receiving yards, but be wary of assuming he is the new WR1 in Green Bay as most of his yardage came on one 55-yard bullet from Aaron Rodgers.

Allen Lazard made his season debut after missing Week 1 with an ankle injury. Lazard scored a touchdown and would have actually had two on the night if it wasn’t for rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon defending a pass in the endzone on the opening drive.

 

Series Navigation
Introduction
Chargers @ Chiefs
Dolphins @ Ravens
Jets @ Browns
Commanders @ Lions
Colts @ Jaguars
Buccaneers @ Saints
Panthers @ Giants
Patriots @ Steelers
Falcons @ Rams
Seahawks @ 49ers
Bengals @ Cowboys
Texans @ Broncos
Cardinals @ Raiders
Bears @ Packers

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