3 Takeaways from Bears' Week 2 Loss

In recent years, the Chicago Bears have had trouble with the Green Bay Packers. That didn't change Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

The Bears went on the road for the first time this season and couldn't sustain their early momentum, falling 27-10 to the Packers, who took control of the game with a 21-point second quarter. Since the start of the 2016 season, Chicago has won only one of its 13 meetings with Green Bay, and that came in Week 15 of the 2018 campaign.

Justin Fields scored on a 3-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, and the Bears had a 7-3 lead going into the second. However, Chicago's only other points came on a 44-yard field goal by Cairo Santos in the third quarter.

Here are three takeaways from the Bears' Week 2 loss.

The Offense Flashed Positives, Especially Early

AP Photo/Mike Roemer

Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) runs from Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Chicago's first offensive possession of the night was an impressive one. The Bears drove 71 yards on seven plays, capped off by Fields' 3-yard TD run, the game's first touchdown. They were doing everything well, and it seemed like the unit might have a strong night.

However, things didn't go nearly as well from there. Chicago punted on four of its next five possessions, and the other concluded when the clock ran out at the end of the first half. The Bears' final two drives resulted in a turnover on downs and a Fields interception.

“We had that first drive was excellent, scoring that touchdown, and then we had three drives right there where we got behind the sticks a little bit with penalties or tackle for losses or those type of things,” Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus said, per Steve Megargee of the Associated Press. “You’ve got to stay ahead of the sticks in that regard.”

One bright spot was David Montgomery's bounce-back performance. After a sluggish showing in Week 1, he ran for 122 yards on 15 carries.

The Bears averaged 6.7 yards per rushing attempt with Montgomery, Fields and Khalil Herbert all showcasing what they can do on the ground. So that's an area of Chicago's game it should likely lean on moving forward.

The Defense Has a Lot to Work on Moving Forward

AP Photo/Mike Roemer

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard (13) catches a 5-yard touchdown pass between Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson (4) and cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Aaron Rodgers had an efficient night, but the Packers quarterback also didn't put up the huge numbers he's capable of. While completing 19 of his 25 pass attempts, Rodgers threw for 234 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

When Green Bay moved the ball through the air, Chicago couldn't stop it. But the Bears were really hurt by the Packers' ground game, as Aaron Jones (15 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown) and AJ Dillon (18 carries for 61 yards) both contributed. And sometimes they were even on the field at the same time, making it more difficult for Chicago.

“Just gotta tackle—that’s one of the biggest things,” Bears safety Eddie Jackson said, per Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. “We missed a lot of tackles in that first half, and we preach tackling. We’ve gotta correct that.”

The Packers had 414 total yards, dominated the time of possession (37 minutes and 15 seconds) and put up points on four of their five first-half drives. By the second half, the Bears were facing an uphill battle and couldn't get back into the game.

Chicago's defense has a lot of young players, so it could be a unit that improves as the season goes along.

The Bears Have a Good Chance to Get Back on Track

AP Photo/Mike Roemer

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, center, watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Many people likely would have predicted the Bears to get off to an 0-2 start, considering they had a tough beginning to their schedule. But they beat the San Francisco 49ers at home in Week 1, so they're at 1-1 heading into Week 3.

Now, Chicago has two games that could be a bit more winnable than Sunday's challenging road matchup vs. Green Bay. In Week 3, the Bears return home to host the Houston Texans. Then in Week 4, they go on the road to take on the New York Giants.

Of course, Chicago will need to correct some of its issues from the first two weeks if it wants to improve to 3-1, or at least 2-2. But the Bears' inexperienced players are gaining valuable experience that should help them and be apparent in their likely improvement each week.

Three of the four teams in the NFC North are 1-1, and the Minnesota Vikings could be too if they lose to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. So while it would be a surprise if Chicago wins the division this year, perhaps it can stick around in the race for a bit.