A new era for the Green Bay Packers

A different style of football and a similar outcome: Packers dominate the Bears

With their first new starting quarterback since 2008 and being the youngest team in the NFL to start the season, nobody really knew what to expect from the Green Bay Packers when they traveled to Chicago to face the Bears for Week 1 of the 2023 season. As one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL, the Packers have had the edge over the Bears for many years, boasting a 26-5 record in the last 15 seasons, with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback. Rodger’s departure to the New York Jets this offseason and the call up of 2020 first round draft pick Jordan Love provided some questions about whether the momentum would shift in the Bear’s direction. Yet all those questions were answered as the Packers went into Soldier Field on Sunday and came out with a commanding 38-20 win. Green Bay went into halftime with a 10-6 lead but then outscored Chicago 28-10 in the second half, never taking their foot off the gas.

While the young Packers team definitely had some mistakes, from a few dropped passes to miscues on defense, they also played an incredibly strong game, not necessarily one we were expecting in the first week of the season with their number one wide receiver Christian Watson out due to a hamstring injury.

Love had a great game in his second ever career start, consistently finding the open man and making some great throws. He was also very protected from the offensive line, which didn’t put him under many high-pressure situations. Most importantly, he remained calm and collected and seemed ready for this moment after learning from Rodgers the past three seasons. He posted 245 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. While he will definitely face some tougher defenses in the weeks to come, this was a great game to give him a huge confidence boost and get him going, also earning himself the game ball in the locker room. It is evident that he has gained the trust from his teammates, and it will be fun to see him continue to find his way.

Aaron Jones, one of the Packers longest tenured offensive players, will need to be hugely relied on this season for his experience. He definitely showed up in game one, with 127 total yards and two touchdowns. On his second score, he came up grabbing his hamstring and sat out the rest of the game, but the Packers thankfully didn’t need him, giving him some extra time to stretch and rest before next week. Rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed and tight end Luke Musgrave also had big receiving games and we hope this gives them a confidence boost after their first official NFL game. Second year player Romeo Doubs, probably our second-best receiver behind Watson, had a strong game with two touchdowns.

On the defensive side, Devonte Wyatt posted 1.5 sacks and the Lucas Van Ness, the Packers first round draft pick from this past year, also got his first sack. In the third quarter, Quay Walker intercepted Bears quarterback Justin Field and returned it 37 yards for a score. Besides allowing some big runs, especially from Fields, the Packers defense limited big time plays from some of the Bears biggest offensive weapons, especially their receivers. Overall, it was a fun game to watch, and it was evident that the Packers players were playing hard but enjoying themselves too.

I’ve been a Green Bay Packers fan for most of my life, especially after their 2010 Superbowl win. My dad grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, a small town about 30 miles south of Green Bay. He grew up an avid Packers fan, attending many of their home games at Lambeau Field or always catching their games on television every week. Therefore, I grew up surrounded by green and yellow, with my brother fully embracing the team, donning his room with posters, bobbleheads, jerseys, stuffed animals and other merchandise. Back in 2016, we traveled to Green Bay to watch a training camp practice and attend a preseason game. Lambeau Field really is one of the greatest stadiums in the league and was rocking even in a game that didn’t count in the record books. With its old school metal benches and the constant ‘Go Pack Go; chants, it is such a nostalgic place, especially for my dad. My brother, dad and I also saw the Packers play at MetLife Stadium in 2019 against the New York Jets. We were sitting in a section where there was an equal mix of both teams' fans, and it was incredible to be a part of that section and experience both the highs and lows of the game with both fanbases. The Packers ended up winning that game in overtime and I will never forget that moment of Aaron Rodgers running into the endzone to give them the victory.

My family, even my mom, has become incredibly passionate about the team the last few years, tuning into the game on television each week or following the live stream blog on the Packers website. There have been some heartbreaking playoff losses and trades the past few seasons, and we were extremely nervous about this upcoming season with all the changes, which the Packers organization in general hasn’t seen many of. While the team looks very different this year, our support isn’t going to waver. It is a new but exciting era for the team, and while there may not be as many expectations as there have been in years past, this just means that there is even more room for surprises and for the team to prove some people wrong.