Jordan Love is coming off one of his most impressive outings of the season - and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Against a tough Detroit defense, Love didn’t just manage the game; he dissected it.
He ripped off four completions of 20-plus yards through the air, a season high, and three of those came with defenders within three yards of the receiver. That’s not just arm strength - that’s confidence, timing, and trust in his guys to make plays in tight windows.
Now, as Green Bay prepares for a pivotal NFC North clash with the Bears, the vertical passing game could once again be the difference-maker. Chicago’s secondary has been vulnerable to explosive plays all year, and the numbers back it up: only the Bengals have allowed more completions of 20 yards or more. Cincinnati leads the league with 45 given up - Chicago sits just behind at 42.
The Bears are hoping the return of cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson can help patch that leak. Both saw significant action last week after missing extended time.
Gordon, back for the first time since Week 7, logged 67% of the snaps. Johnson, who had only played in Week 2 before returning, was on the field for 61% of the defensive plays.
That’s a big ask for two guys easing back into game speed, especially against a Packers offense that thrives on stretching the field.
And the Packers might be getting even more dangerous this week.
Jayden Reed, who’s been sidelined since Week 2, has his return window open. Rookie wideout Matthew Golden could also make his way back after missing the last two games. If either - or both - suit up, it could be the first time all season that Green Bay has its top three vertical threats on the field together: Reed, Golden, and Christian Watson.
That trio brings serious downfield juice. Reed led the team last season with 15 receptions of 20-plus yards.
Watson wasn’t far behind with 12 - and he’s already matched half that total in just six games this year. Golden?
He’s got six such catches of his own in just nine games, and 25% of his total receptions have gone for 20 or more yards. That’s not just stretching the field - that’s flipping it.
If Reed and Golden are back, it could cancel out the Bears’ reinforcements in the secondary. And for the first time all year, Matt LaFleur might have the full vertical arsenal at his disposal - just in time for a game that could shift the balance of the NFC North.
Even without his full complement of weapons, Love has been letting it fly. He ranks seventh in the league in both completions of 20-plus yards (40) and yards per attempt (7.7). When LaFleur opens up the playbook and lets Love sling it, the Packers’ offense hums with big-play potential.
But that aggressiveness comes with risk - especially against a defense like Chicago’s. The Bears lead the NFL in interceptions with 17, and they’ve made a habit of turning chaos into takeaways.
Love will need to walk the line between aggression and caution. The deep shots will be there, but forcing one into tight coverage against this opportunistic group could flip the game in a heartbeat.
Chicago may look to borrow a page from Carolina’s playbook. Back in early November, the Panthers went into Lambeau and played two-high safety looks all day, daring Green Bay to stay patient and beat them underneath.
The Packers struggled with penalties, a fumble, and a missed field goal - and the result was a 16-13 loss. Even then, they still managed three completions of 20-plus yards, but the rhythm was off.
After the game, LaFleur acknowledged how much his offense leans on explosive plays to function.
“We thrive on some explosive plays,” he said. “And when you’re not getting them … it’s going to be tough to win football games like that.”
That’s the tightrope Green Bay walks this week. Chicago’s defense can give up chunk plays - but they can also take the ball away in a flash. Love’s ability to hit on a few big plays without turning it over could very well decide this one.
Much of the pregame buzz has centered around the Bears’ ground game against a Packers front missing Devonte Wyatt. That’s a storyline worth watching. But just as important - maybe more - is whether Love and his receivers can light up a Chicago secondary that’s been prone to giving up big plays all season.
If Green Bay’s passing game hits its stride, they won’t just be walking out of Chicago with a win. They might be walking out in first place.