All that stuff about great quarterbacks slinging it around? Forget it. This is, after all, the oldest of old-school NFL rivalries. It's not usually pretty when the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears get together.
However, it is 2009. You don't win a football game without your quarterback making a big play. That's what eventually happened Sunday night -- Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers broke out of a game-long funk to find Greg Jennings on a game-winning touchdown pass with 1:11 to go, giving the Packers a come-from-behind 21-15 win over Chicago in a rather strange season opener at Lambeau Field.
Rodgers struggled with his accuracy all night. When he did throw well, normally reliable receivers Jordy Nelson and Donald Driver were charged with multiple drops. Rodgers also missed James Jones and Jennings on deep throws where they were available.
But when it counted most, Rodgers was able to hit his open man in stride. With Chicago clinging to a 15-13 lead late, Jennings beat Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher off the line of scrimmage, and Vasher stumbled as Jennings ran by him. Rodgers, off a play-action fake, flung a perfect pass to his open receiver for the 50-yard score.
The winning drive was just the third game-winning fourth-quarter drive of Rodgers' career. The other two came last season ... against the Detroit Lions.
On the other side of the ball, Jay Cutler's Chicago debut was almost a complete disaster. He had a pair of great downfield throws, one to rookie Johnny Knox and one to Devin Hester for a touchdown, but he also threw four interceptions -- including three in the first half. His fourth was his last throw of the game, as Al Harris picked Cutler off to seal the deal in the final minute.
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A U.S. flag is draped across the field at Cleveland Browns Stadium for the national anthem prior to the NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns pm Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cleveland. The Vikings won 34-20. (AP Photo/The Repository, Scott Heckel) ** MANDATORY CREDIT **
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Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant (25) is tripped up by Chicago Bears' Nathan Vasher (31) and Kevin Payne during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
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Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Steward is stopped by the Philadelphia Eagles' defense. The Eagles defeated the Panthers, 38-10 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, September 13, 2009. (Ron Cortes/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)
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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid watches a replay from the video board against the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter. The Eagles defeated the Panthers, 38-10 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, September 13, 2009. (Yong Kim/Philadelphia Daily News/MCT)
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Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant celebrates with fans after rushing for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
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Chicago Bears' Danieal Manning (38) and Kevin Payne (44) breaks up a pass intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings (85) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
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Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox (13) celebrates with Devin Hester (23) after Knox caught a 68-yard pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
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Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) is tripped up by Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins (36) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
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New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw jumps over Washington Redskins safety Reed Doughty to avoid the tackle during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Johnny Jolly reacts after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
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Before that, Cutler had rallied impressively in the second half. He led the Bears on three scoring drives, the last of which was capped by a 21-yard Robbie Gould field goal that put Chicago ahead with 2:35 left. Cutler appeared to be more resilient in the face of Green Bay's pass rush in the second half. He was forceful on his throws, and willing to step up in the pocket and let plays develop.
In the end, this was a smashmouth, physical football game, just like the Packers-Bears matchups of old. There were shoving matches, some good hard hits, and not a lot of offense until the fourth quarter.
The Packers join Minnesota at 1-0 atop the NFC North. It's early, but it looks like the Packers, Bears and Vikings will battle all year for top spot in the division. As long as that's the case, teams will take wins any way they can get them, and holding serve at home will be vitally important.
Sunday was sure ugly, but it's a "W" for Green Bay. For Chicago, it's time to get the quarterback and his receivers on the same page. Despite a whole offseason of work, they clearly are not there right now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-14-2009 @ 5:25AM
dean said...
It was a terrible game the only thing that saved the Packers was Cutler's interceptions
Reply
9-14-2009 @ 7:26PM
Bones said...
Is that your long way of saying that GB's defense outplayed Da Bears?
9-14-2009 @ 7:12AM
toddsworld05 said...
I thought it was an intense game in the black and blue division, some wicked hard hitting.
Reply
9-14-2009 @ 9:13AM
packerbf4tb said...
Packers won with Bears QB....Cutler must not
know his teammates because he kept throwing
to the Packers....they couldn't run the ball
...Packers defense showed up...Rogers wasn't
impressive...
Reply
9-14-2009 @ 11:35AM
Melvin said...
Been reading all off-season from Bears' fans that
Cutler's "big arm" was going to team up with their "big WR" Devin Hester to lead Chicago to a Super Bowl.
Well, Ryan Leaf and Jeff George also had "big arms" .... Cutler came to Chicago with a 17-21 record, no playoff wins and an interception ratio that was one of the highest in the game. His '08 stats were inflated by the 600+ passes he threw. But the Bears' fans just saw the "big arm".
Well, looks like Chicago is heading for 8-8 at best.
Expect Cutler to lead the NFL in INTs again - maybe those two #1s and the #3 picks are looking better now ????? The "savior" is in reality a whiney, immature spoiled brat. He has to man up in Pittsburgh next Sunday. Even without Polamalou, look for three more INTs from Baby Jay next week.
Reply
9-14-2009 @ 12:35PM
ungs said...
Anytime The PACK beats Da Bears it is a good day. The game was ugly but there were bright spots. The Defense has come to play this year and Rodgers did deliver when it counted the most. GO PACK!
Reply
9-15-2009 @ 9:29AM
John said...
Huh - I hate to pop some of your Packer fan bubbles, but GB won because the Bears was a comedy of errors - Not because the Packers were any good. Rodgers made that TD because the Bears defender slipped. But this year, the Pack is gointg to have to take a win any way they can, because they are not good enough to win against a solid team.
Reply
9-16-2009 @ 10:21AM
Al Lesperance said...
Sounds like you bear fans can't accept reality
Reply
9-18-2009 @ 12:13AM
commonsense? said...
Hey, why are all of you guys jumping all over Cutler? If his receivers had not dropped so many balls he would have had 3 or 4 more completions.
I know Williams dropped a couple and Collins and Woodson could had had one each.
Oh wait, those were the ones that would have been added to the four that Cutler did throw to the Packers. My mistake.
Reply