Bears’ Brisker Rips Packers’ Receivers; Jones Gets Last Laugh

Jones’ savage response following a 10th consecutive win in the series?

For a bunch of nobodies, the Packers destroyed a powerful Bears defense that was No. 1 in points allowed, interceptions and opponent passer rating during a 4-1 run. In a 17-9 victory, Jordan Love was 27-of-32 passing for 316 yards. Love was magnificent but his young fleet of receivers made play after play after play.

The Packers might not have any stars but that doesn’t mean they won’t become stars. Of Love’s total, 286 yards were delivered by players who entered this season with zero career catches.

- Rookie Dontayvion Wicks caught six passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

- Bo Melton, a seventh-round pick by Seattle last year who didn’t get his first catch until last month, caught five passes for 62 yards.

- Rookie Jayden Reed caught all four targets for 112 yards with gains of 59 and 32 yards.

- Rookie Tucker Kraft caught three passes for 31 yards.

- Rookie Malik Heath caught three passes for 9 yards.

- Rookie Luke Musgrave caught one pass for 11 yards.

With Christian Watson (hamstring) inactive and Romeo Doubs (chest) missing most of the game, the only veteran to catch a pass was Jones, who caught five passes for 30 yards to go with his 111 rushing yards.

“Man, the group of guys we got in our room, we all together,” Reed said. “We been with each other since the jump and just learning off each other, feeding off each other, and the coaches keep pushing us to be the best we can be, and that's what I think translates to the field.”

Wicks caught 6-of-7 targets and scored both touchdowns. On the second, he ran through Brisker to get to the goal line.

“We look at Rome as a leader,” Wicks said. “When he goes down, the other side probably got happy, but we got a lot of guys who want to step up as you all see. Bo making plays, J-Reed making a lot of plays and Malik Heath getting in and making plays. Everybody can make a play. Everybody is capable. J-Love trusts us. We go out to practice and shows that every week. It’s nothing (new) in the game.”

With all those future stars at receiver and the current star at running back, the Packers are back in the playoffs.

“It means a lot,” Jones said. “There were a lot of ups and downs. People counted us out before we even got an opportunity, and then when we were down, people were really counting us out.

“But I think the best part is we believed in this locker room. We stuck together and that’s all you need. The process was there. We got better each week and to come out on the right side of this is amazing, especially after being in this situation last year and not coming out on the right side.”