The Green Bay Packers are a totally different team when their leader Aaron Rodgers isn’t in the picture. Rodgers left the game for good with a left shoulder injury in the first quarter as his Packers lost 27-20 to the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
There is a chance that Rodgers may be out for a few weeks and that backup quarterback Seneca Wallace (11 of 19 for 114 yards, no touchdown pass and 1 interception last night) and/or a quick-fix veteran signed through free agency, may be the stand in(s) for Rodgers while he is nursing his left shoulder injury.
Wallace who came in on the Packers’ second drive of the game early in the first quarter, did his best to will the Packers to victory but it didn’t come to pass. But a positive to take from this game for Green Bay is that rookie running back Eddie Lacy (22 carries for 150 yards and 1 touchdown) has emerged as their workhorse, as he hasn’t carried the ball less than 22 times in the last five weeks. Currently he has 596 yards rushing on the season. With that yardage total, he is on pace to be the Packers’ first rookie running back to rush for 1,000 yards or more in a season since John Brockington accomplished that feat back in 1971.
Down 3-0 the Bears took over on their own 29 after a Mason Crosby kickoff. On the eighth play of this drive, Bears quarterback Josh McCown (22 of 41 for 272 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions) dropped back and with pressure in his face from Packers defensive end Mike Neal, threw down field to receiver Brandon Marshall who caught the pass versus close coverage from cornerback Tramon Williams and the receiver had the presence of mind to get both feet in bounds while he was falling on his back. With Robbie Gould’s extra point the score was now 7-3 Chicago with 9:48 left in the first quarter.
Later in the first quarter, the Packers took the lead again when running back James Starks (6 carries for 40 yards and 1 score) rumbled through a sizeable hole on the left side and then he proceeded to run untouched down the field and into the end zone to complete a 32 yard run. The Packers led 10-7 with 3:38 to go in the quarter.
Then early in the second quarter, McCown threw an underneath crossing route to running back Matt Forte (179 yards total offense) who caught the pass and then galloped up the field all the way to the GB 25 where he was tackled by defensive back M.D. Jennings. That 33 yard connection set up Forte’s own 1 yard touchdown run behind blocks from left guard Matt Slauson and center Roberto Garza. That run helped put the Bears in the lead at 14-10 with the successful extra point.
Two Chicago offensive drives later, on 3rd and 10, McCown couldn’t find anyone to throw to so he took it upon himself and ran 20 yards down near his left sideline to the Packer 6 yard line for a 1st and goal. His run set up a successful 24 yard field goal by Gould to put the Bears up 17-10 with just :2 seconds left in the first half.
Early in the third quarter, Lacy took advantage of a small hole opened by tight end Anthony Quarless on the right side, then the back proceeded to amble 55 yards down the right side to the CHI 1 yard line where he was tackled by cornerback Tim Jennings who never gave up on the play and used his speed to keep Lacy out of the end zone.
Lacy one play later, used blocks by right tackle Marshall Newhouse and left guard Josh Sitton to bully his way into the end zone. That scoring run eventually tied the score at 17-17 with 13:06 left in the third quarter.
McCown came through again for his team as he fired a 6 yard touchdown pass to receiver Alshon Jeffery, who used his long arms to catch the pass over his head and over the head of covering cornerback Davon House. That score and Gould’s extra point put the Bears up 24-20 with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
Little did anyone know at the time, but that Jeffery touchdown reception would be the winning score. Because the Packers would engage in three more offensive drives that netted no scores.
The Bears put the finishing touches on their win with a Gould 27 yard field goal with :53 seconds left in the game.
