GREEN BAY, Wis. – Hold off on that obituary for the Green Bay Packers.
Less than a week after getting pounded on both sides of the ball in a 30-22 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Packers took out their frustrations by beating the Chicago Bears 23-10 at Lambeau Field on Thursday night.
The Packers went 15-1 last season in spite of a defense that statistically was one of the worst in NFL history. Against the Bears, it was the defense that prevented the Packers from falling into an early two-game hole to Chicago in the NFC North.
While Aaron Rodgers was rather ordinary with 219 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception and a passer rating of 85.3, Jay Cutler had a horrendous night. Facing pressure on snap after snap, Cutler was sacked seven times and hit on a number of other occasions. When Cutler did have time, the Packers’ coverage was outstanding. Tramon Williams, who spent most of the night blanketing Brandon Marshall, recorded two of the team’s four interceptions. The last of the Packers’ interceptions, by rookie Jerron McMillian, sent Cutler’s passer rating to 28.2.
Rodgers and the offense weren’t at their best, but they made enough plays to control the action. After Williams’ second interception, Rodgers hit Donald Driver for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 23-3 with 11:17 remaining in the game.
Cutler threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Davis with 6:49 left to close the gap to 23-10.
The Packers, riding a trick play by their special teams and a defense reminiscent of their 2010 championship form, led 13-0 at halftime.
Green Bay led 3-0 and moved into scoring position again when receiver Randall Cobb lined up in the backfield, took a pitch and sped through the Bears’ defense for 28 yards to the 11. The drive stalled, however, when Julius Peppers and Henry Melton recorded back-to-back sacks and Aaron Rodgers misfired on a crossing route to Cobb.
On fourth-and-26, the field-goal unit trotted on the field but coach Mike McCarthy took an unlikely gamble by calling a fake kick. Holder Tim Masthay flipped the ball to tight end Tom Crabtree, who ran through a huge hole off right guard for a shocking 27-yard touchdown to make it 10-0 with 1:50 to go until halftime.
On the ensuing possession, Jay Cutler threw a weak pass off his back foot that was intercepted by Tramon Williams. That set up Mason Crosby’s 35-yard field goal on the final play of the half to build the margin to 13-0.
The Bears probably felt fortunate to be trailing by just two scores. Green Bay held advantages of 201-47 in yards and 13-4 in first downs. Cutler threw for 37 yards but lost 30 yards on three sacks.
Notes: Pro Bowl receiver Greg Jennings (groin) was inactive for the Packers. … The Packers took a 3-0 on a drive that was extended when Rodgers coaxed McCarthy into challenging that the Bears had 12 men on the field on a third-down incompletion. That gave the Packers a first down and the chance to move into field goal range. … Clay Matthews had six sacks last season but had four in the first six quarters this season. … Peppers had two sacks in the first half. … The Packers entered the game having won four in a row and six of seven in the series. … Bears receiver Brandon Marshall caught 10 passes and was targeted 15 times last week against Indianapolis but didn’t have a single pass thrown his way in the first half Thursday.