CHICAGO, Ill (WTAQ) – The latest chapter in the storied Packers-Bears rivalry looked like many others in the recent history of the rivalry, another Green Bay victory thanks to a veteran quarterback against the next in line signal caller for Chicago.
24-14 was the final on a perfect autumn afternoon in front of 62,332 fans who have seen this before.
The Packers have now won five straight in the series, 10 of the last 11 and now own a 101-94-6 record in regular season meetings.
Aaron Rodgers threw a couple of touchdown passes and also ran one in from 6 yards out with just over 4 minutes to play. When he reached the end zone, there was a female Bear fan in the stands, saluting Chicago’s public enemy number one with a pair of middle fingers. Rodgers said he blacked out in the moment but sideline cameras caught him screaming, “I’ve owned you all my f—ing life. I own you. I still own you!”
As teammate Aaron Jones said post-game, he’s right. Rodgers is now 22-5 against the Bears in his career.
Chicago is going headlong into the Justin Fields era at quarterback and this year’s number one pick certainly flashes the ability and has extreme athleticism. He just wasn’t able to make the big plays when needed most.
The Bears first possession had Fields hit Allen Robinson for 20 and from the 27 of Green Bay, had running back Khalil Herbert matched up on cornerback Issac Yiadom, starting for the injured Kevin King. Yiadom got draped all over the back for a pass interference penalty in the end zone. Herbert scored moments later from the 1 to give Chicago the early 7-0 lead.
Sacks by Khalil Mack and then Robert Quinn ended the first two Packer possessions. After the second, Chicago had just crossed midfield when Fields thought he had a free play after movement up front. His receivers never finished running downfield routes and the rookie let one fly anyone. Darnell Savage covered a lot of ground to make the intercepting catch in the end zone. Replays appeared to show Kenny Clark at least in the neutral zone but no flag was dropped and the pick would stand.
Green Bay converted with a 12 play, 80 yard drive. Davante Adams got free over the middle for 32 yards. On third and goal from the one, Aaron Jones motioned out left and Rodgers faked the pitch with Quinn bearing down on him. Instead, he flipped a little shovel pass to Allen Lazard who came left behind the line from a tight end position and he turned up quickly for a well designed touchdown play to get the game even.
Jonathan Garvin chased down Fields trying to scramble on third down to force a punt and Green Bay covered 38 yards in 7 plays. A.J. Dillon ripped off a 36 yard run on the drive but the Packers backed up in the red zone thanks to an iffy flag. Equanimeous St. Brown appeared to be getting held running a route to the end zone and he gave a nudge to the corner before going up for the 15 yard TD catch. OPI was flagged and the Packers had to settle for Mason Crosby’s 39 yard field goal.
Chicago moved to the Green Bay 33 late in the half but got called for delay of game and Fields was sacked on third down by Dean Lowry to send the Packers to the locker room with a 10-7 lead.
Green Bay got a stop to start the third and put together an impressive 90 yard drive to make it a two score game. Jones ripped off a 28 yard run to get the march going and finished it was a 12 yard touchdown catch. It was a late, check down screen in traffic and Jones bounced backward against one of his own lineman before making the catch. He quickly stiff armed Taushaun Gipson onto the ground and sped to the corner of the end zone.
At the end of the third quarter, Corey Bojorquez nailed a punt that got over the head of the Chicago return man and rolled into the end zone for an 82 yard kick, the second longest in franchise history behind Don Chandler’s 90 yard boot against San Francisco in 1965.
The Bears put together one last march with Fields hitting Robinson for 20 and tight end Cole Kmet for 21 on back to back plays. He finished the drive with a five yard scoring strike to Darnell Mooney who crossed in front on dropped linebackers to make it a three point game with 8:44 left.
Chicago had to get one more stop against the dreaded Rodgers, but could not. Quite most of the day, Rodgers and Adams connected for a 41 yard shot over the top. Adams broke a tackle and tightroped the sideline for what looked like a 62 yard touchdown but he was ruled to have stepped out of bounds at the 21.
Three plays later, Rodgers was giving Bears fans an earful with the clinching touchdown.
Matt LaFleur and microphone at Solider Field.
Afterwards, Matt LaFleur on staying perfect in his five games against the Bears with another knock down, drag out affair.
The Packers outgained Chicago 323-277, pounding out 154 yards on the ground and 169 yards through the air. There was very little available downfield and Rodgers said after the game the offense was content with shorter routes and adjusting to more “power” inside zone runs. Trying to get the corners early against Chicago’s outside backers was futile but Jones did get holes inside for 76 yards with a long rush of 38 and Dillon had 59 yards with a big hit of 36. Adams finished with 89 yards on four receptions. Jones also caught 4 out of the backfield for 34 yards.
Chicago was led on the ground by Herbert who gained most of his 97 yards on huge cutbacks. Fields scrambled 6 times for 43 yards. He completed 16 of 27 for 174 yards with a score and a pick for a passer rating of 75.2. Mooney had a team high five receptions for 45 yards.
But the Packers out-sacked the Bears 4-3, something I didn’t anticipate. Mack, Quinn and Akiem Hicks each got one but Kenny Clark had two almost on back to back plays to all but end the game, unlikely sackers Lowery and Garvin also got one.
While it was all smiles again in the locker room, there were more injuries too.
Savage had to leave the game with a concussion, Preston Smith was done by halftime with an oblique strain and Josh Myers injured his knee of the Packers’ opening series but LaFleur didn’t believe it to be season ending.
Already without Jaire Alexander and Kevin King, Yiadom and Rasul Douglas stepped in at corner. When Myers went down, Lucas Patrick jumped right back in at center where he started last week. Elgton Jenkins did return and manned the left tackle spot.
As Rodgers, the annual Chicago tormentor said, “We’ve got to get healthy, but we’re still playing winning football.”
Against the Bears, the nearly win’ ’em all.
