The Magnificent 7

Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 28-21 loss to the Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field:

1. Jordan Love

This game did not settle the Jordan-Love-or-Caleb-Williams debate one way or the other. Love can't make plays out of the pocket Like Williams, but with adequate protection, his experience in Matt LaFleur's offense (five seasons, 46 starts) gives him the edge for now. Love blinked early with a confounding interception thrown right to C.J. Gardner-Johnson on the Packers' first possession of the game, but that was his only big mistake. Love completed 17 of 25 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns — 23 and 41 to Christian Watson and 45 to Bo Melton.

2. Caleb Williams

Until the final throw, this was the essence of the Caleb Williams developmental experience under Ben Johnson: Williams started poorly, found a run/pass rhythm in the second half and by the final minute was in a groove that probably instilled a fear that Packers fans have not felt from a Bears quarterback in a long time. Williams ended up blinking last — intercepted by Keisean Nixon an an underthrown ball for tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone when he could have run for a first down. But he still looks like he was "built for this." Williams was 13 of 21 for 154 yards, two touchdowns and the interception for a 96.1 rating. It was 121.7 before the last pass.

3. Keisean Nixon

The veteran cornerback was having a frustrating day. He was called for an illegal use of hands penalty in the second quarter, then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for not allowing Luther Burden to choke him, and later had a Williams pass somehow go between his hands to Olamide Zaccheaus for a one-yard touchdown. But the football gods made it up to him in the end, with an easy game-saving interception of an underthrown Williams pass for Kmet in the end zone with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter. It was his first pick of the season.

4. Christian Watson

Playing in his seventh game since suffering a torn ACL against the Bears in Week 18 last season, Watson was a fitting hero, with four receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns — a 23-yard reception that gave the Packers a 7-0 lead in the second quarter; and a 41-yard reception on a well-designed, well-executed slant pass that gave the Packers a 21-11 lead in the third quarter. The Bears haven't faced many receivers who exposed their short-handed secondary this season — a big reason for their success. But they missed Kyler Gordon (groin injury in pre-game warm-ups) and a top-form Jaylon Johnson (not his best day) against Watson.

5. D'Andre Swift/Kyle Monangai

As Fox analyst Tom Brady noted at halftime — when the Bears trailed 14-3 and had just 71 yards of total offense (2.5 per play), one key to rallying in the second half was not abandoning the run — a trap many coaches fall into. Ben Johnson didn't do that. The Bears had 19 carries for 90 rushing yards in the second half, with Swift (9-45) and Monangai (6-32) producing in workman-like fashion — their longest carry was nine yards. Monangai added a two-point conversion after Williams' touchdown pass to Zaccheaus to cut the Packers lead to 14-11. Overall, Swift (13-63) and Monangai (14-57) combined for 27 carries for 120 yards.

6. Micah Parsons

The Packers' standout edge rusher was credited with one assisted tackle, no sacks and two quarterback hits — but he makes an impact on every play and on a few occasions forced Williams to think twice before trying the mad-dash scrambles he's known for. The "hidden stat" of the game is that Parsons drew zero holding penalties — the Bears' only holding call was on Darnell Wright against Rashan Gary. If Phil Jackson were coaching the Packers, the Bears would not be so lucky on Dec. 20 at Soldier Field.

7. Jaylon Johnson

With Kyler Gordon out after suffering a groin injury in warm-ups and a normally dependable secondary having a tough day, the Bears needed Johnson — a two-time All-Pro cornerback — in top form against the Packers' passing attack and a threat like Watson. But in his second game back from injured reserve after missing nine consecutive games, he's just not there yet and is still on a pitch count. Johnson had two tackles and no impact plays on the stat sheet. With all due respect to his resume, he didn't pass the eye test, either. The Bears need Johnson in prime form sooner rather than later.

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