Santos’ 50-yard field goal on the game’s opening possession gave the Bears a 3-0 lead. Fields completed 4 of 4 passes for 32 yards on the drive.
The Packers were in position to tie the score late in the first quarter, but Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard field goal attempt wide left. The kick came after Tyrique Stevenson broke up a pass intended for receiver Romeo Doubs in the end zone on second down and DeMarcus Walker sacked Love on third down.
Green Bay later took a 7-3 lead on Love’s 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Dontayvion Wicks midway through the second quarter. The TD capped an 11-play, 92-yard drive that was the Packers’ longest scoring drive of the season.
Santos’ 39-yard field goal drew the Bears to within 7-6 with 1:17 remaining in the first half. Fields sustained the drive with a 1-yard sneak on fourth-and-1 from the Green Bay 43 and a 33-yard pass to DJ Moore over the middle on third-and-four from the 50.
The Packers had a chance to increase their lead, facing second-and-10 from the Bears’ 22 with :11 left in the half and no timeouts remaining. But Stevenson stopped Wicks’ forward progress inbounds after a 3-yard reception and time expired.
Green Bay opened the second half with a 9-play, 75-yard drive capped by Love’s 12-yard TD pass to Wicks, increasing the margin to 14-6.
The Packers were on the move again before Stevenson forced a Love fumble on a scramble and Jaquan Brisker recovered the ball at the Chicago 42.
The Bears converted the takeaway into Santos’ 35-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 14-9 with 13:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Packers answered with Carlson’s 25-yard field goal, which widened the margin to 17-9 with 10:54 to play. The kick was set up by Love’s 59-yard pass to receiver Jayden Reed on Green Bay’s first play from scrimmage on the drive.
Still trailing 17-9, the Bears pinned the Packers at their own 6 following a Trenton Gill punt with 6:08 remaining in the game. But Green Bay proceeded to pick up two first downs and ran out the rest of the clock as Love completed 4 of 4 passes for 46 yards.
“The defense got them in a couple third downs where we needed those stops,” Eberflus said. “That’s where you have to win the game in the fourth quarter or at least get a chance to tie it there.”
On the shelf: Receiver Darnell Mooney (concussion), quarterback Tyson Bagent (illness) and cornerback Jaylon Johnson (shoulder) sat out Sunday’s game. Other Bears inactives were running back D’Onta Foreman, guard Ja’Tyre Carter, cornerback Greg Stroman Jr. and safety Quindell Johnson.
The Packers played without running back AJ Dillon (thumb/neck), receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) and inside linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (concussion/neck).
Line change: With Lucas Patrick placed on injured reserve Saturday with a calf injury, Dan Feeney made his first start of the season at center Sunday.
Feeney, who appeared in 16 games this season, was flanked by left tackle Braxton Jones, left guard Teven Jenkins, right guard Nate Davis and right tackle Darnell Wright. It was the ninth different offensive line combination for the Bears this year.
Unfortunately, Davis exited in the first half with a foot injury and was replaced by veteran Cody Whitehair.