Packers Top Bears in Sloppy Game, Improve to 3-0

This game was nowhere near as close as the score indicates.  The Packers thoroughly outplayed the Bears on Sunday afternoon at Solider Field.  It was at times your classic, hard hitting Bears and Packers game and at other times it was Green Bay talent overload.  The Bears defense did all they could but at the end they were no match for all of the playmakers on the Packers offense.  

The Packers starting the game the same way they began the NFC Championship in January.  They took the ball and behind a red hot Aaron Rodgers marched right down the field and scored.  This time around it was Rodgers finding Jermichael Finley on a free play (the Bears jumped offsides) for a quick touchdown.  Finley was on his way to a career day with three touchdowns.  The offense at times looked unstoppable against a very good defense but at other times looked sluggish and lack-a-daisical.  Ryan Grant showed a great burst throughout the entire game and made up for two lackluster games prior.  The Packers rushed for 100 yards on the dot and that is the third straight game at or over 100 yards rushing.  The Packers did a good job of opening big holes and getting blocks on the second level by guards Josh Sitton and TJ Lang.  The Packers did get another injury scare to one of their starters.  Right tackle Brian Bulaga left the game and did not return with a knee injury.  We will see what the injury is on Monday when Coach McCarthy speaks to the media; the early reports are a bruised knee.  My player of the game on offense was Jermichael Finley with 7 catches for 85 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Packers defense was brutal in the first half.  Yes I know they only gave up 10 points but those 10 points came in a ten minute span in the second quarter and there were too many big (plays of 20 yards or more) plays.  Also there was very little pass rush against Jay Cutler and they gave him way too much time to find his receivers downfield.  After halftime the defense made the adjustments and got into gear.  Sacks by Jarius Wynn and Jarrett Bush gave them three for the game.  The defense did an amazing job against the run and held Matt Forte to 2 yards on nine carries.  For the game the Bears had 13 yards rushing their lowest total since 1950.  Clay Matthews did a great job on stopping the run and blasted three running plays in the backfield in the first half.  That was believed to be the only weakness in Matthews’ game and if this game is an indicator of things to come, he may be unstoppable.  Morgan Burnett also had two interceptions and five tackles.  My player of the game on defense was Morgan Burnett.

Some problems for the Packers to work on are penalties, pass rush, turnovers and giving up too many big plays.  They had 7 penalties for 35 yards but most of those penalties killed drives and put the offense in 1st and 15 or 1st and 20 holes.  The Packers have got to clean up the penalties, stop me if you’ve heard that before.  After the first half the pass rush increased and Jay Cutler hit the ground a few times but they have to get it done from the opening kickoff.  The offense had two big turnovers (their first turnovers of the year) in the fourth quarter that made this game closer than it should have been.  Leading 27-10, James Starks fumbled on a great play and read by Lance Briggs.  Julius Peppers recovered the ball and set up the Bears with great field position, which it took them one play to score and bring the score to 27-17.  The next possession ended with Aaron Rodgers first interception of the season.  Brian Urlacher faked a blitz and dropped off into coverage on Finley.  Rodgers didn’t see him and throw a bullet that was picked by Urlacher.  The defense also has given up a lot of big plays so far this season.  

The Bears were able to exploit some of the coverage and made some big plays down the field.  I was really impressed with the Packers special teams play.  They covered punts and kickoffs well and had some good punt returns by rookie Randle Cobb.  Probably the play of the game was that crazy punt return by Johnny Knox in the final minute that was returned for a touchdown but brought back because of a holding penalty.  Devin Hester looked like he was going to make a fair catch and run to the sideline.  Then entire coverage team followed but the ball was at the far sideline and caught by Knox and he had nothing but green to the end zone.  It was a bizarre play and would have worked brilliantly if not for the holding penalty that negated it.  Aaron Rodgers said, “That was the most amazing play I’ve ever seen.”   

This was a huge game because the Packers beat a division rival.  They had to keep up with the Lions who won and are 3-0 also.  The Bears fall to 1-2 and 0-1 in the division which will come into play for tiebreakers at the end of the season for playoff seeding.  The Packers are 3-0 for the second time under McCarthy and are still looking for their best defensive game.  They come home and will face a underachieving Denver Broncos team next Sunday.  Can’t wait!

Matt