In the first game of the post-Aaron Rodgers era, the Chicago Bears were hoping to make a statement against their divisional rival Green Bay Packers. Rodgers owned the Bears for much of his career and the Packers dominated them throughout his 18-year tenure with the team. However, not much changed in Week 1 of the 2023 season.
The Bears were dismantled by the now Jordan Love-led Packers on their home turf. After suffering a 38-20 loss to the Packers, Bears promising young signal-caller Justin Fields said: “This one hurts. I’m not going to lie to you.”
Fields wants to turn the tide and establish a new culture in Chicago, and it starts with being able to get past the Packers. However, he and the rest of the team were unable to get the job done. Fields completed 24 of his 37 pass attempts for 216 yards, throwing a touchdown and an interception.
The offense was not able to get much going in the passing game, as the Packers’ defense amassed four sacks en route to their impressive road victory. Despite the struggles throwing the ball, Fields looked like his usual dynamic self as a runner, totaling nine carries for 59 yards.
It wasn’t the way the Bears were looking to start the 2023 campaign after overhauling their roster this offseason against a Packers team that recently traded away their future Hall of Fame quarterback. Fields and the Bears will need to adjust if they want to right the ship in Week 2 when they travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers.
