'Dirty?' Packers' LaFleur Reacts to Question About Bears' Hit That Injured Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was asked after Saturday's 22-16 loss to the Chicago Bears whether the hit that knocked quarterback Jordan Love from the game was "dirty," but he was noncommittal in his response.

"That's football," he said of the helmet-to-helmet hit from Austin Booker, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "I gotta see it to—I mean I saw it live, so I gotta go see it again. But stuff happens."

Demovsky noted Love exited in the first half following the hit and was placed in concussion protocol, which leaves his status for the Week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens up in the air.

While LeFleur did not publicly criticize Booker for the hit, Packers left guard Aaron Banks was far more direct.

"What's the flag they called on that, roughing the passer?" Banks said. "I just don't know, guys get kicked out of games for taunting, but if you hit a quarterback late in the head, you know what I'm saying? That should get the same treatment for something as simple as taunting. I think that has to be re-evaluated. I think that's ridiculous."

▶️ Full Packers-Bears Recap

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Despite the injury to Love, backup quarterback Malik Willis gave the Packers an opportunity to win the game.

He went 9-of-11 passing for 121 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions while adding 44 yards on the ground as a dangerous runner. It seemed like that was enough to win when the visitors built a 16-6 lead through the first 58 minutes.

However, the Bears prevailed after a sequence of plays that could be the difference in the NFC North standings at the end of the season.

Cairo Santos' field goal cut the deficit to seven, Green Bay failed to recover the ensuing onside kick that bounced off Romeo Doubs' hands, Caleb Williams found Jahdae Walker for the game-tying touchdown on fourth down in the final minute of regulation, Willis fumbled a snap on a fourth-down play in overtime and Williams then connected with DJ Moore for the winning touchdown.

Chicago is now 11-4 and has some breathing room over the 9-5-1 Packers with two games remaining in the regular season.

But Green Bay has concerns beyond the standings given Love's injury.