Second-year defensive lineman Karl Brooks received the game ball from coach Matt LaFleur after a blocked field goal that allowed the Green Bay Packers to escape Soldier Field with a 20-19 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Brooks got just enough of Cairo Santos' 46-yard field goal attempt to force a miss and secure the win as time expired.
“I have a game ball here. Represents the field goal block unit. Where is KB?” said LaFleur on Sunday in the victorious visitors’ locker room.
The Packers trailed at halftime, gave up a lead in the second half and were on the verge of a crushing defeat late in the fourth quarter, but Brooks saved the day.
The win improved the Packers' record to 7-3. Brooks' blocking prevented the Packers from suffering a third straight division loss and a fourth conference loss in 10 games.
“First of all, we will never apologize for winning this league,” LaFleur said after the game. “Never. All right? It wasn't up to our standard. And there's a lot of (expletive) we need to improve on. But I'll tell you something. We're talking about competitive endurance. And that was a competitive (expletive) game that turned out stretched to the last play. So give it up for yourself.”
LaFleur said special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia often says the toughness and spirit of the field goal blocking team is what makes a football team. On Sunday, the field goal unit made the game-winning play and saved the Packers from a tough loss in Chicago.
Here's LaFleur's locker room speech and game ball presentation after Sunday's win:
