Bears commit 5 turnovers and QB Jordan Love leads Packers to a 31-7 rout

Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune on Oct 11, 2026

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After all the magic the Chicago Bears found against the Green Bay Packers last season, Sunday’s first meeting of 2026 between the rivals turned out to be a disaster for coach Ben Johnson’s team.

The Packers clobbered the Bears 31-7 at Lambeau Field, with the visitors turning the ball over five times and failing to get much of anything going offensively behind backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.

It’s the first time the Bears (3-2) turned the ball over five times since a Nov. 5, 2023, loss to the New Orleans Saints — a game Bagent also started.

On the other side, Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-31 passing. The Green Bay offense, which struggled through the first four weeks, looked like a different group entirely, with much of its success coming on the long ball.

Love connected with wide receiver Christian Watson for touchdowns of 42 and 53 yards. Wide receiver Matthew Golden made a 50-yard grab, and tight end Tucker Kraft caught a 46-yard pass.

Coming in, the Bears defense had held three consecutive opponents to 12 points or fewer. But the secondary was leaky Sunday, and the defensive front didn’t fare much better.

It didn’t help that the Bears defense lost linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring), defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (quadriceps) and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hamstring) to injuries. Edwards typically serves as the player with the green dot on his helmet who communicates the play calls from defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. With Edwards out, linebacker D’Marco Jackson took over those duties.

The Packers (3-2) weren’t great running the ball, but they did get two touchdown runs from running back MarShawn Lloyd — their first two rushing touchdowns of the season.

Bagent threw two interceptions, including on the Bears’ second possession when he threw into heavy coverage. The Bears quickly fell behind 14-0 but did find an answer when running back D’Andre Swift scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.

The Bears trailed 14-7 at halftime and the game remained in reach. It didn’t remain so for long.

Love connected with Watson for his 53-yard score shortly after halftime. Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman was in coverage, but Watson went up and grabbed the football over him.

On the next possession, Bears kicker Cairo Santos missed a 43-yard field-goal try, and the struggles continued from there for the Bears offense.

Johnson pulled Bagent in the fourth quarter in favor of third-string quarterback Case Keenum. Bagent finished 12 of 21 for 87 yards and two interceptions. In 15 career appearances, including six starts, Bagent has thrown nine interceptions to three touchdown passes.

Keenum turned it over twice with an interception at the goal line and a lost fumble. Wide receiver Rome Odunze also lost a fumble.

Starting quarterback Caleb Williams, out since Week 2 with a strained hamstring, returned to practice Friday and went through a workout at Lambeau Field about three hours before kickoff Sunday. Williams could be gearing up for a return next week, when the Bears take on the Falcons in Atlanta.

____