IT WAS A WIN BUT...

Packers' Offense Shine While Defense Struggles in W over Bears

 

There may have been a few nervous ticks during the Green Bay Packers opener against the Chicago Bears. The Pack opened with a 31 – 23 win over the Bears that showed either the unevenness of the early season or a portent of things to come with another shaky defensive outing against the run. The game’s outcome wasn’t truly decided until Bears QB Jay Cutler did what Jay Cutler usually does that let Clay Matthews do what Clay Matthews usually does. Cutler threw an ugly, untimely pick late after looking impressive through the early parts of the contest. Matthews was the recipient and once again stepped up at a key time to make a huge splash play in a game.

In many ways it was an uneven performance laced with good news/ bad news for Green Bay. The

good news – the Packers won behind an offense that was hitting on all cylinders and MVP QB Aaron Rodgers was almost perfect completing 18 of 23 passes for 189 yards and 3 TD’s. Better news for Rodgers was James Jones stepped right in and contributed mightily in his first game back as a Packer chipping in with key catches and 2 TD’s. RB Eddie Lacy not only showed his bull rushes he also demonstrated great patience behind his offensive line waiting for holes to open. Lacy added soft hands highlighted by a Brett Favre-esque flip/ shovel/ layup of a pass from Rodgers over the head over the Bears Jared Allen for a 1^st down pick up early.

The bad news was familiar. Once again it was an undermanned defense that gave up far too many yards to RB Matt Forte and made Cutler look like an All Pro. Forte ran for 141 yards on 24 carries for 141 yards with 1 TD and Cutler was 18 of 36 good for 236 yards, 1 TD but it was the late INT he tossed that was snagged by Clay Matthews that helped to extinguish the Bears chances.

And the Bears had their chances. Forget about what is on paper. The Bears came out intent on proving they are no one’s doormat and for a while they were taking it to Green Bay. Mike McCarthy will undoubtedly have some harsh words for a team that took too many penalties far too often. Sam Shields in particular had a brutal day being flagged after the Pack D had stuffed a goal line attempt by Chicago that resulted in a field goal, but Shields jumped the gun on the kick and gave the Bears another shot that wasn’t squandered in the 2^nd period as Forte swapped the FG for a TD. The drive was also extended by two foolish holding penalties on Nick Perry and Mike Daniels. The renewed chance gave Chicago a score the defense did not deserve. The overall 10 penalties for 74 yards will get McCarthy’s Irish blood boiling.

The offense was not exempt in the penalty fest. After driving to the Bears 8 the Pack was hit for

penalties by LT David Bahktiari and RT Bryan Bulaga that took a goal shot to a 3^rd and 28. After Rodgers hit the injured Randall Cobb for 10 yards Mason Crosby hit a 37 yard FG in the 2^nd period to close the knot the game up at 10. Robbie Gould’s late FG sent the Bears into the locker room with a 13-10 lead.  Chicago had Green Bay’s full attention and the malaise the Pack had in the first half was a key factor.

Aaron Rodgers was born for moments like this. Green

Bay began the 2^nd half with the ball and Rodgers methodically marched the Pack down the field in 3 minutes that ended with Rodgers hitting Jones on a slant for a lead they would not relinquish. Gould hit another FG to narrow the margin to 17 – 16 but once again Rodgers showed why he is the reigning MVP. He led a 48 yard drive that lasted but 1:46 the ended when Lacy barreled into the end zone that gave the Packers some breathing room.
 

Give the defense this much – while they were undermanned with linemen Datone Jones (1 game)

and Letroy Guion (3 games) out due to suspensions and S Morgan Burnett out with a strained calf muscle it was a gritty group that stepped it up in the second half and down the stretch. When the Pack took control of the game offensively behind Rodgers in the 2^nd half the D also responded in kind. After leaking throughout the first half the defense surrendered 1 first down until the Bears final possession with the game out of reach. While Green Bay lost the time of possession battle the Packers did not turn the ball over. When the defense needed a big play it was Jay Cutler doing what Jay Cutler does best and the Packers’ defensive star shining brightest when it was needed most. Clay Matthews’ pick of Cutler when the Bears were driving was the veritable dagger at that juncture. As TE Martellus Bennett tried a seam slant Matthews had already broke for the ball before Cutler released it. Matthews showed great anticipation all afternoon and could be found running many plays down from behind.  Leading 31 – 16 the Packers felt they could breathe easy.

Forget about it. Nothing comes easy for the Packers when the Bears are involved.

In spite of Matthews heroics Cutler stormed the Bears back late with an impressive 72 yard drive that ended when TE Martellus Bennet hauled in a 24 yarder to close the gap to 31 – 23. Now it was time for the Nervous Nellies to show up and gnaw on their fingernails. The TD only meant that Green Bay would have to face the first meaningful onside kick since the disaster in Seattle last year when Brandon Bostick blew the Pack’s shot at a Super Bowl by misplaying the ball. The funk and stench of that play has hung over Green Bay like a fog on a cold day over Lake Michigan. As the fans covered their eyes with the thought of impending doom the Packers executed the retrieval of the kick flawlessly and finally everyone could breathe a bit easier.

Critics will agonize over the penalties and damn the defense for what appeared to be a soft showing but the inescapable fact is Green Bay is 1 – 0 not just overall but in the division also. The D was

missing 4 key contributors in Jones, Guion, Burnett and ILB Sam Barrington who went out with an ankle injury. Chicago proved to be a worthy and stout opponent and under John Fox they could be better than anticipated.

For Green Bay the reunion of Rodgers and James Jones could not have been scripted any better. Jones’ magnificent TD grab when Bears DB Alan Ball was literally in his face has got to make Giants QB Eli Manning shake his head while he wonders how the hell the Giants ever released Jones. Jones’ presence will help ease newcomers Jeff Janis and Ty Montgomery into the lineup and Montgomery flashed in the return game. The promise of Montgomery’s potential was evident and Green Bay now gets to focus their complete and undivided attention on the Evil Empire from the Emerald City.

Seattle/ Green Bay in week 2… a potential preview? We’ll see.