You hear it all the time in football, right? That old chestnut about taking a deep shot after forcing a turnover. Coaches preach it, fans scream for it, and the thinking is pretty simple: catch the defense napping. Maybe they’re still cursing their own QB, maybe they just sat down for a Gatorade, but whatever it is, you want to hit them fast and hard. While you cannot pull it off every single time, that aggressive approach can totally pay off, and it’s something teams are always looking to do. Whether it’s a straight bomb or some tricky play, the goal is to make them regret that turnover on the very next snap. The Green Bay Packers absolutely bought into this strategy during their Week 5 win against the Chicago Bears, and it definitely had some sweet moments.
Turning Picks into Prime Opportunities
The Packers had a total of five turnovers that day, but we are zeroing in on the plays right after their three interceptions. The score was already 31-7 midway through the fourth quarter when the fumbles started happening, so let us focus on those earlier, critical moments. Xavier McKinney was an absolute beast, snagging two interceptions himself. His first pick came with 5:32 left in the first quarter, with the Packers already up 7-0. Tyson Bagent tried to hit Luther Burden, but Javon Bullard tipped it up, and McKinney was there to grab it. That set the Packers up in prime territory, at the Bears’ 45-yard line.
Strategic Shots, Not Always Deep Bombs
Now, this first play after McKinney’s pick? It was the least aggressive call, but you could still see the intent to push it. Green Bay rolled out in 12 personnel, meaning one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers. They lined up in a balanced formation, with a tight end and a wide receiver on each side, and the running back right behind Jordan Love. The play was designed to hit deep curls off play action against a two-high safety look. That is a smart call against that defense. However, the Bears’ linebackers dropped way back, effectively taking those deep curls away. So what did Love do? He took the smart checkdown to MarShawn Lloyd underneath those dropping linebackers. It was not a huge gain, but 6 yards is 6 yards, and it kept the drive moving.
Then came McKinney’s second interception, late in the third quarter with just 34 seconds left, and the Packers holding a comfortable 23-7 lead. Bagent was trying to find Colston Loveland when McKinney, who was initially dropping to cover the motion tight end, smartly read Bagent’s eyes as the tight end stayed back to block. McKinney jumped the throw and picked off Bagent again. This time, the Packers started their drive from their own 45-yard line. What did they do? They came right back out in 12 personnel, showing that consistent commitment to their post-turnover strategy. It proves that even when you are not launching it 60 yards downfield, having a plan to attack right after a takeaway is huge. It puts immediate pressure on the other side and keeps your foot on the gas.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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