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| Bears vs Packers |
Key stat: With the Green Bay Packers facing third-and-1 near midfield on their second drive of the game, the Bears stopped running back Ryan Grant short of the first down, forcing a punt and keeping it a 7-0 game with about 3 minutes remaining in the quarter.
Key drive: Green Bay’s opening drive was a methodical march downfield. Working without a huddle, the Packers moved the ball 80 yards in nine plays, needing only 4:34 to score their first touchdown. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers went 8 for 8 for 70 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jermichael Finley.
Key stat: In his first career start, Bears running back Kahlil Bell had 11 carries for 59 yards in the quarter, and looked elusive and fast while carrying the football.
Analysis: The Packers scored on their opening drive, as they seem to always do against the Bears, with Rodgers slicing through the defense. The Bears’ offense looked effective early, too, though, with Bell running well, but a couple of penalties and a missed 49-yard field goal try by Robbie Gould left them empty-handed after their opening drive went 11 plays for 60 yards. Still, Josh McCown looked better at quarterback than Caleb Hanie had, at least early, and the Bears were able to limit the Packers to two first-quarter possessions.
Second quarter – Packers 14, Bears 3
Key stat: With the Bears facing second-and-5 from Green Bay’s 22-yard line with 8:25 before halftime, McCown’s short pass was intercepted by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, and the Bears again came away empty-handed after driving 59 yards in eight plays.
Key drive: After the Bears finally got on the board with 1:56 before the half, the Packers took the ensuing kick and drove 65 yards on seven plays, with Bears cornerback Charles Tillman getting burned on a couple of long pass plays. Green Bay scored on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to wide receiver James Jones with 16 seconds remaining.
Key stat: The Bears made the only turnover of the first half, and it cost them at least three points.
Analysis: The Bears’ run game was effective, and it helped them tremendously, not only in moving the ball but also in keeping Rodgers and the Packers’ offense off the field for long stretches of time. The Bears’ defense forced three three-and-outs in the first half, but couldn’t stop Green Bay on its final possession of the half. Matthews’ pick and Gould’s miss both cost the Bears, and the Packers’ scoring drive to close the half hurt even more. Although the Bears’ offense and defense both looked good at times, an 11-point halftime deficit seemed steep.
Third quarter – Packers 28, Bears 10
Key play: After the Bears’ first touchdown, Bears safety Major Wright was burned deep by wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who hauled in a 55-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to make it 21-10 Green Bay with 10:02 remaining.
Key drive: The Packers added to their lead with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took 6:27 off the clock and ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jones that made it 28-10 Packers with 1:54 remaining in the third.
Key stat: Rodgers had two touchdown passes in the third, bringing his total for the game to four. He would finish with five.
Analysis: The Bears’ offense gave fans hope early with its first touchdown, but the Bears’ defense couldn’t keep it up in the third quarter. Rodgers’ 55-yard touchdown pass to Nelson was a huge momentum shift, and the Packers kept their foot on the gas with a touchdown on their next drive. Had the Bears prevented at least one of those touchdowns, their offense might have been able to stick with the run game, which had been effective. Instead they had to go to the air, which led to McCown’s second interception, which set up a back-breaking Packers touchdown early in the fourth.
Fourth quarter – Packers 35, Bears 21
Key play: Rodgers hit Nelson for a 2-yard touchdown on the first play of the quarter, giving the Packers a 35-10 lead, and the rout was on.
Key drive: The Bears might have been out of it, but they didn’t give up. Trailing, 35-10, they drove 67 yards in 12 plays early in the fourth, again with a good mix of run and pass, and McCown found tight end Kellen Davis for a touchdown, then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 35-18 with 7:54 to play. Unfortunately, the drive took almost 7 minutes, too much time.
Key stat: Despite all the talk about the Packers’ depleted offensive line, the Bears did not register a sack.
Analysis: Once again it was all about who was playing quarterback – only this time it was about who was playing quarterback for the Packers. Rodgers was magnificent, going 21 for 29 passing for 289 yards and five touchdowns. The Bears never sacked him, never forced any turnovers, and there was no way their offense could keep up, even though the running game worked well and McCown looked like an upgrade over Hanie in his debut. The Bears are eliminated from playoff contention with the loss, but Bell and McCown gave them something to think about for next year.
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