Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears: 2020 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2020 NFL season on 2021-01-03, the Green Bay Packers took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 35–16 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 27 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Trubisky (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with -6.47 total EPA, and +9.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +22.36 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+23.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Green Bay Packers changed the game: (8:40) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 83-M.Valdes-Scantling for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Rodgers · Green Bay Packers · Passing · +22.36 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Valdes-Scantling · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +8.19 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.73 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Adams · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +6.66 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Mooney · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.32 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Trubisky · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +3.17 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.58 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Miller · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.15 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.58 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Dafney · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +3.11 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.11 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Tonyan · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +2.82 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.41 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Chicago Bears — D. Montgomery (Q1 52:37)
• Green Bay Packers — R. Tonyan (A. Rodgers pass) (Q2 45:00)
• Green Bay Packers — M. Valdes-Scantling (A. Rodgers pass) (Q2 38:40)
• Green Bay Packers — D. Dafney (A. Rodgers pass) (Q2 34:03)
• Green Bay Packers — A. Jones (Q4 3:50)
• Green Bay Packers — D. Adams (A. Rodgers pass) (Q4 2:59)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — C. Santos (Q2 40:11)
• Chicago Bears — C. Santos (Q2 30:06)
• Chicago Bears — C. Santos (Q3 20:33)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the GB 2 (Q1 52:37) — (7:37) 69-R.Coward reported in as eligible. 32-D.Montgomery left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q1 52:31) — 2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell..

The second quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 21–6. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the CHI 3 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 85-R.Tonyan for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-R.Quinn].; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q2 44:55) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the GB 12 (Q2 40:11) — (10:11) 2-C.Santos 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the CHI 72 (Q2 38:40) — (8:40) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 83-M.Valdes-Scantling for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q2 38:31) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the CHI 13 (Q2 34:03) — (4:03) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 49-D.Dafney for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q2 33:57) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the GB 9 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 2-C.Santos 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 3–0. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the GB 2 (Q3 20:33) — (5:33) 2-C.Santos 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell..

The fourth quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 14–0. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the CHI 4 (Q4 3:50) — (3:50) (Shotgun) 33-A.Jones right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q4 3:47) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the CHI 6 (Q4 2:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short right to 17-D.Adams for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q4 2:56) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Green Bay Packers (Q2 38:40) — (8:40) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 83-M.Valdes-Scantling for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +23.3% · EPA +6.98]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 42:33) — (12:33) 16-P.O'Donnell punts 53 yards to GB 10, Center-48-P.Scales. 16-T.Austin to GB 17 for 7 yards (86-D.Harris). FUMBLES (86-D.Harris), RECOVERED by CHI-36-D.Houston-Carson at GB 20. [WPA +16.7% · EPA +5.09]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 11:27) — (11:27) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass incomplete short right to 12-A.Robinson (39-C.Sullivan). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -3.45]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 37:46) — (7:46) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass short right to 85-C.Kmet to CHI 26 for 1 yard (23-J.Alexander). FUMBLES (23-J.Alexander), RECOVERED by GB-52-R.Gary at CHI 23. 52-R.Gary to CHI 22 for 1 yard (86-D. [WPA -13.3% · EPA -5.40]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 23:37) — (8:37) 10-M.Trubisky pass deep middle to 11-D.Mooney to GB 9 for 53 yards (26-D.Savage) [91-P.Smith]. [WPA +12.3% · EPA +3.67]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Green Bay Packers (Q2 38:40) — (8:40) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 83-M.Valdes-Scantling for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +23.3% · EPA +6.98]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 37:46) — (7:46) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass short right to 85-C.Kmet to CHI 26 for 1 yard (23-J.Alexander). FUMBLES (23-J.Alexander), RECOVERED by GB-52-R.Gary at CHI 23. 52-R.Gary to CHI 22 for 1 yard (86-D. [WPA -13.3% · EPA -5.40]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 42:33) — (12:33) 16-P.O'Donnell punts 53 yards to GB 10, Center-48-P.Scales. 16-T.Austin to GB 17 for 7 yards (86-D.Harris). FUMBLES (86-D.Harris), RECOVERED by CHI-36-D.Houston-Carson at GB 20. [WPA +16.7% · EPA +5.09]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 3:23) — (3:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass deep middle intended for 85-C.Kmet INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Amos at 50. 31-A.Amos ran ob at CHI 26 for 24 yards (17-A.Miller). [WPA -3.8% · EPA -4.61]

Quarterback report card

M.Trubisky led all passers in efficiency for Chicago Bears, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Trubisky (Chicago Bears) · 46 dropbacks · 71.7% completion · +9.7% CPOE · -0.14 EPA/play · -6.47 total EPA
• A.Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) · 28 dropbacks · 67.9% completion · +14.2% CPOE · +0.80 EPA/play · +22.36 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Green Bay Packers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.37 vs -0.02), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 9 drives, -1.89 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Green Bay Packers: 8 drives, +22.12 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Green Bay Packers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Trubisky (CHI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• A. Rodgers (GB) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 52:37 · GB 2 · Score 0-6
   (7:37) 69-R.Coward reported in as eligible. 32-D.Montgomery left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q1 52:31 · GB 15 · Score 0-7
   2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
3. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · CHI 3 · Score 6-7
   (15:00) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 85-R.Tonyan for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-R.Quinn].
4. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q2 44:55 · CHI 15 · Score 7-7
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.
5. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 40:11 · GB 12 · Score 7-10
   (10:11) 2-C.Santos 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
6. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q2 38:40 · CHI 72 · Score 13-10
   (8:40) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 83-M.Valdes-Scantling for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q2 38:31 · CHI 15 · Score 14-10
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.
8. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q2 34:03 · CHI 13 · Score 20-10
   (4:03) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 49-D.Dafney for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q2 33:57 · CHI 15 · Score 21-10
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.
10. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · GB 9 · Score 21-13
    (:06) 2-C.Santos 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
11. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 20:33 · GB 2 · Score 21-16
    (5:33) 2-C.Santos 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
12. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q4 3:50 · CHI 4 · Score 27-16
    (3:50) (Shotgun) 33-A.Jones right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q4 3:47 · CHI 15 · Score 28-16
    2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.
14. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q4 2:59 · CHI 6 · Score 34-16
    (2:59) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short right to 17-D.Adams for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q4 2:56 · CHI 15 · Score 35-16
    2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-6-J.Scott.