The Green Bay Packers fell to 11-6 on the season and maintained their position as the NFC’s seventh seed with their 24-22 loss to Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. The loss dropped the Packers to just 1-5 in NFC North this season, with their only win coming on a rare blocked field goal against the Bears in Week 11. It also snapped both Green Bay’s 11-game winning streak over Chicago and the Bears’ 10-game losing streak this season.
Unfortunately for the Packers, the game itself is not the only thing that they may have lost. Wide receiver Christian Watson went down with a non-contact knee injury. While no news of the severity has been announced, such incidents typically result in the revelation of a torn ACL.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Was Taken Out in Favor of Malik Willis
Jordan Love started the game, as was the plan, in an effort to help Green Bay’s offense try to get off to a better start than they did in their loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, it did not work and the Packers punted on their first three drives.
Midway through the second quarter, Love was under pressure and threw a pass while Bears defenders swarmed around him. He was removed from the game with what many believed at the time to be an injury to his throwing hand.
Related: Green Bay Packers Fans Have a Shocking Reaction to Massive Jordan Love Injury Update
It was revealed later, though, that he had hurt his elbow when being taken down. Fortunately, he did not have a major injury and will be ready for Green Bay’s Wild Card round matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He was replaced by backup Malik Willis, ending his day with 69 yards passing while having completed seven of 12 passes.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Malik Willis Made Team History
Wm. Glasheen
Willis, who started two games and led Green Bay to victories in both of them while Love was out earlier this season with a sprained MCL, completed 10 of 13 passes for 136 yards. He did turn the ball over once, fumbling it during one of the three times he was sacked by Bears defenders.
The Packers backup quarterback ended his day with a 109.8 passer rating, which turned out to be quite significant. According to Wes Hodkiewicz, “With a 109.8 passer rating, Willis became the first QB in team history to post a 100-plus rating in each of his first three games with the team in which he attempted 10-plus passes.”
Willis attempted just one pass in Week One, the final Hail Mary throw in Green Bay’s loss to the Eagles. He also entered in relief of Love in Week Eight against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but only threw five passes (he completed four of them).
He did not attempt a pass when he came in against the San Francisco 49ers, and threw only two against the New Orleans Saints.
For the season, Willis had a 74.1% completion percentage for 550 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 124.8 passer rating.
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