Packers up 17-10: Half Time Update

 

Rodgers cadence, arm propels Packers 80 yards to six points on their opening drive.  Two off-side penalties by the Bears, one coming on the short touchdown pass to Finley.  We don’t have to @MikePeriera on that touchdown.

Crosby gives Hester a present, can’t get it to the back of the end zone, but Hester can’t capitalize.  How could you when going up against the Packers’ special teams.

Cutler threw a 30 yard pass to a wide open Morgan Burnett.  It was his second interception of the season and the second one thrown by Cutler.

Packers fail to capitalize on the interception, as Bulaga went down with a potentially scary injury to his leg.  Immediately after Bulaga goes out, Sitton gets a false start and Clifton tries to prevent an inevitable sack as he gets called on a holding penalty.  Our line looks shaky.  I don’t know whether it is Starks, or our line, that has been making Starks looks horrible this first game.  I count 6 rushes for maybe as many yards.

No sacks yet surprisingly.  Early blitzes have shown promise, with Clay Mathews taking out Forte 4 yards behind the line.  Cutler not looking sharp as he horribly overthrows his 3^rd down target.

Cobb, not Hester, has been providing the entertainment thus far as it relates to returns, as he juked his way 20 yards downfield after a Bear three and out.  Heck, Cobb almost provided even more entertainment, and not the good kind, but not calling fair catch on the punt before that one.

Another off-sides by the Bears.  We are liking these free yards.  Grant takes over as starting running back, and shows why.  A couple of very nice gains as he showcases his experience, and his lack of speed as he hits the hole, but can’t find the break-away corner.  Rodgers shows why he has the most jersey sales in the NFL as he makes it look easy, connecting to Finley a couple of times, including his second touchdown pass of the game.  This is Finley’s 6^th multi-touchdown game of his short, but very promising career.

Crosby must have read my mind as he shows the leg I’ve been looking for, knocking it into the back of the end zone for a touchback. 

Cutler finally shows up, shows why he is the starting quarterback of the Bears, and completes a fury of long 20+ yard passes to a wide range of players: first 37 yards to Hester, then Sam Hurd 20 yards, Knox another 20+ yards, and then an almost impressive stand by the Packer’s defense turns into six points as Cutler finds Sanzenbacher in the end zone(Born in 1988, guy is younger than I am).

This cadence is starting to backfire a little bit, with a false start, followed by a delay of game threatening to de-rail a late first half drive.  The Bears don’t seem to respect Ryan the way they have been Starks, as Ryan runs through the Bears defense for another big run.  Nelson, Jones, Finley all make catches as the Packers now threaten again with 2 minutes to go in the half.  Not even the metallic coil sticking out (at this point, you probably know more than I on that one!) will deter this offense from scoring.  Actually Starks deterred it for us, as Crosby knocks in a short field goal.  

Cutler threatens again, throwing a 40 yard pass to Knox after Crosby did his part in knocking another kick off into the back of the end zone. What I thought was a done post turns into a late first half attack by the Bears, Forte wide open for another 40 yard gain and the Bears are in the Packers red zone.  Still hasn't been sacked. Thank goodness it's Cutler back there and they have to settle for a field goal.

Packers vs. Bears Late Week Report

The Packers and the Bears are deep in preparation for a huge NFC North match-up on Sunday.  The Packers come into the game with a 2-0 record, after surviving a scary trip to Carolina in week two.  The Bears had a great game and victory in week one against the Falcons but came up short in New Orleans last week.  This game is big for both teams if only for the reason it is Packers v. Bears.  It is the oldest rivalry in the National Football League.  It harkens back to the days of Halas and Lambeau.  Great coaches like Lombardi, Ditka and Holmgren have coached in these games.  We are entering another golden age of the Packers and Bears rivalry with the emergence of Aaron Rodgers and the belief by the Chicago faithful that Jay Cutler will bring another Championship to Chicago.
 
This is the 183rd time the teams will play against each other and both teams come in a little dinged up.  For the Packers; Nick Collins, Frank Zombo, and Mike Neal have all been declared out for this game.  Collins is out for the season with a neck injury and will be place on Injured Reserve next week.  Zombo continues to rehab a scapula injury and is still a couple weeks away.  Mike Neal underwent knee surgery a week ago and will miss “significant time” as Mike McCarthy said last week.  Starting cornerback Tramon Williams and linebacker Vic So’oto both returned to practice in a limited compactly this week.    They are both expected to play on Sunday against the Bears.  Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson were both added to the injury report and did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday with a thigh and foot injury respectively.  Both are expected to practice Friday and play on Sunday.  Look for the Packers to run the ball more in this game and open some big holes against the Bears.  The defense should get a lot of pressure on a make shift offensive line like the Bears have.  Charlie Peprah will get the start for Nick Collins and should provide stability through this injury to Collins.

The Bears have suffered some major blows for early in the year.  They will be without first round draft pick and starting right tackle Gabe Carimi, who dislocated his knee in last week’s loss to the Saints.  They may also be without starting safeties Chris Harris, who missed last week’s game with a hamstring, and Major Wright, who suffered a head/neck injury against the Saints.  Look for the Bears to be more balanced on offense and relay on Matt Forte a lot against the Packers.  Their defense always plays Aaron Rodgers well and I expect that to continue, but can they stop James Starks and Ryan Grant?  If they can then it will be close, but if they can’t it could be a long afternoon for the Bears.

My prediction: I predict the Packers will control the line of scrimmage and control the game.  Cutler will get hit hard and often, and the Packers will leave Chicago on Sunday evening with a victory and a 3-0 record.     

Packers 28 Bears 13

Matt