The Chicago Bears' comeback win over the Green Bay Packers wasn’t just dramatic-it was layered. It gave us the kind of high-stakes rivalry moment fans live for, and it also brought with it a collision that’s sparked plenty of conversation, especially in the aftermath of Packers quarterback Jordan Love exiting the game with a concussion.
The play in question came when Bears rookie defensive end Austin Booker delivered a hit on Love that ultimately knocked the quarterback out of the game. Booker was flagged for the hit, and that was the right call under the current rules.
Helmet-to-helmet contact is going to draw a flag every time, regardless of intent. But as with most things in football, the replay tells a more nuanced story.
Former Bears cornerback Jerry Azumah chimed in with a take that’s been gaining traction. After reviewing the film, Azumah pointed out that Love appeared to lower his head just before the collision-something that, in real time, may have contributed to the severity of the contact. His comment:
“Went back and watched the Bears/Packers game from last night. Love ducked his head into Booker's helmet but y’all aren't ready to have that discussion!”
Now, whether or not you agree with Azumah, it’s a fair observation. The replay does show Love dipping his head slightly as Booker closed in. And while that doesn’t absolve Booker-it’s still a foul-it does add some context to what was a fast-developing, bang-bang play.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson echoed that sentiment earlier this week, describing it as a “bang-bang” moment. And he’s right.
Plays like that happen in a flash, and when a defender is closing in at full speed, there’s often little room for adjustment. Booker was doing what pass rushers are coached to do: finish the play.
But when Love instinctively ducked-something any quarterback might do when bracing for contact-it set up a dangerous helmet-to-helmet collision.
This isn’t about blaming the victim. Love’s reaction was human.
When you see a 6-foot-6, 240-pound edge rusher bearing down on you, instinct kicks in. You brace.
You flinch. You duck.
And that’s exactly what Love did. Unfortunately, that natural reaction put him in harm’s way.
As for Booker, there’s no evidence this was a dirty hit. He didn’t launch, he didn’t lead with the crown of his helmet, and he didn’t go high with malicious intent.
The flag was warranted, but the intent? That’s a different discussion entirely.
This is the kind of situation that lives in the gray area of football’s rulebook and reality. The rules are designed to protect quarterbacks-and rightfully so-but they also have to be enforced in a game that moves at lightning speed. What looks dirty in real time can often look different when you slow it down frame by frame.
None of this changes the fact that the Packers lost their starting quarterback to a concussion. That’s a tough blow in any game, let alone one against a division rival. And for Love, who’s been steadily growing into his role as Green Bay’s franchise quarterback, it’s a setback that no one wants to see.
But it’s also a reminder of how quickly things can turn in the NFL. One second, you’re leading your team into a crucial drive. The next, you’re being helped off the field.
There’s no joy in seeing a player go down, especially not a young quarterback still finding his footing. But there’s also value in looking at these moments with a clear lens-understanding that sometimes, what looks like a dirty hit might just be the unfortunate result of two players making split-second decisions in a violent, fast-paced game.
So yes, the Bears got the win. And yes, the hit on Love was flagged.
But in the bigger picture, this was one of those plays that reminds us how thin the line can be between aggressive football and dangerous contact. It’s a tough call, and it’s one the league will continue to wrestle with as it tries to protect players while preserving the physical nature of the game.