The Green Bay Packers had a tough luck on Saturday. The team lost 22-16 in an overtime NFC North matchup, diluting their playoff hopes. What made it worse was seeing their quarterback Jordan Love exit Soldier Field in the second quarter with a possible concussion after the Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker sacked him twice. The aftermath of it all has now seen the league catch Booker up with what was expected all along.

Booker told the Chicago Tribune’s Phil Thompson on Wednesday that the NFL has fined him $5,000 for each of two roughing-the-passer penalties on Jordan Love. That said, he has already appealed a part of the ruling, waiting for the league’s response which he believes roughly takes about a week’s time.

“One hundred percent,” Booker said. “The first one I’ll take full responsibility for. Like, I landed on him, I should have braced myself more.

“But I think the second one could definitely go both ways.”

The first sack came in the first quarter, within just two minutes into the regulation. On a 3rd & 1, from Bears’ 44, Love threw an incomplete pass to Romeo Doubs. Just as the QB was throwing the ball, Booker grabbed the Packers’ No. 10 with his full body weight and was immediately flagged for a 15-yard penalty. But the second one that came in the second quarter was a lot more grievous, the replay of which was what led Booker to suggest there is enough that can serve as a mitigating factor in his appeal.

This time, Love was setting up to pass the ball at the Packers’ 17, but Booker got to him first for a head-on, helmet-to-helmet contact. Booker was flagged for a 15-yard penalty, but the incident had left Love knocked out for the rest of the game, later placed under concussion protocol, and soon after, appeared on Tuesday’s estimated report with a left shoulder injury and concussion. The replay of the second sack attempt revealed that as Booker was closing in on Love, the latter lowered his head and forced a helmet-to-helmet contact, and so far, Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson agrees with Booker.

“That’s 100% a flag where he ends up getting concussed, and that’s not what anybody wants. But at the same time that one is a more difficult one to coach just from a technique perspective, just because we’re trying to go after the quarterback and it’s a bang-bang play like that.”

If the league stands with its original call, this would be Booker’s fourth penalty this season. Interestingly, his last penalty was against the Packers in Week 14 as well for a neutral zone infraction. Comparatively, the second-year defensive end only had one penalty throughout his rookie season.

The way the Bears are going, Booker understands a total of 30-yard penalty is a lot and could’ve been the reason the team lost. He knows it has to be cleaner next time. The next game matters too much for mistakes like that.

Still a lot at stake for the Bears and the Packers

The Chicago Bears are officially headed back to the playoffs since 2020 after clinching a spot Sunday, thanks to the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But with two games left, there’s still plenty at stake. The NFC North is still in play, and the 11-4 Chicago has a clean path to take it. Beat the 49ers on Sunday night, and the Bears lock up the division in Week 17. They might not even need that much help. If the Ravens take care of the Packers on Saturday, Chicago could clinch the NFC North before kickoff.

Right now, the Bears sit as the NFC’s No. 2 seed heading into Week 17, trailing the Seattle Seahawks. And the top seed isn’t off the board. If Chicago wins out, at San Francisco and then Detroit, and the Seahawks stumble in either of their final two games against Carolina or San Francisco, the Bears would grab the No. 1 seed.

On the other hand, the Packers are entering a crucial phase as well. If Love has a concussion, these last two games become more crucial. They are trailing the Bears in the NFC North at 9-5-1. However, their next games are against teams under .500: the Baltimore Ravens and the Vikings.

If luck and talent side with the Packers, they can at least try their hands at a wild-card appearance after a good start to the season. So, Sunday still matters.