Like a golfer who scratches out a respectable score when not having their best stuff, the Packers ground out a victory over the Bears despite not playing well on offense and giving up some big plays on defense. It was a game that was ugly on both sides but the fact that the Packers pulled it out when they had no business winning is still a good way to start the season. The Packers did beat the Bears physically and it has been a long time since we used the word “physical” to describe the Packers.
The Packers’ defense did a good job of shutting down Matt Forte and putting pressure on quarterback Jay Cutler, forcing him into four interceptions. Cutler did burn the Packers for a long TD to Devon Hester and a 68-yard pass to Johnny Knox, who burned Charles Woodson on the play.Woodson didn’t have one of his better games as he was burned on the long one to Knox, had a part in the TD to Hester and almost caused a turnover when he knocked the ball of teammate Tramon Williams’ hand as Williams was trying to score on an interception return. For the life of me I don’t know what Woodson was doing, get out of the way and let the man score. If Williams wouldn’t have stepped out at the two the Bears would have had the ball on a touchback. Wow!
The Packers main problems were on the offensive line, which couldn’t pass block at all. They didn’t run block much better. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hurried all game and rarely had a chance to set and throw, even on the game-winner he had a guy in his face. He also took a late hit from Bears’ linebacker Brian Urlacher that was blatant and certainly avoidable. If that was Tom Brady Urlacher hit he might have been ejected.
Right tackle Allen Barbre is going to get another shot but after watching the film today I don’t why, probably because the Packers have nobody better to put out there. I wonder where Mark Tauscher is on his rehab? If Barbre doesn’t clean up his act and soon the Packers’ opponents will be taking advantage of him and the Packers will constantly have to be giving him help, which limits what they can do on offense. So much for picking the offensive line early.
I’m not surprised the Packers had trouble running the ball against the Bears but the pass rush they produced was unexpected. If the Packers had been better able to run the ball it might have helped but Ryan Grant could only average 3.8 yards a carry on his 61 yards. There is a lot to clean up offensively heading into week two against the Cincinnati Bengals. Kicker Mason Crosby also needs to get his act together or the Packers may end up looking for a kicker in midseason like they ended up looking for a punter last year. On that note, Jeremy Kapinos had a good night and that problem appears to have been fixed for the time being.
The offense was also hindered by two dropped passes by wide receiver Donald Driver, both would have been huge plays and who knows the positive effect that follows if Double-D makes those catches. When I think about it after all the hype of the preseason this could turn out to be an excellent wake up call for the Packers’ offense. They were the greatest thing since sliced bread for four weeks and were pretty much shut down on opening day. Only the maturity of Rodgers and a great play call by head coach Mike McCarthy saved the day. The third-and-one bomb was perfected by Bart Starr in the 1960s and it was great to see McCarthy and Rodgers pull it off it again and for a game-winner to boot. Good stuff and now Rodgers has a huge monkey off is back and that monkey ain’t no joke. Rodgers just keeps getting better and better, this is going to be fun to watch if the o-line can keep him healthy.
Overall I can’t complain, we got the win and we will certainly will play better on offense than against the Bears, who I still think will have a good defense this year with Lovie Smith calling the shots. Losing Urlacher for the season won’t help, though. The Packers’ defense will have to work on the breakdowns that lead to the big plays the Bears were able to make while keeping the running game shut down. I can’t see them getting four interceptions every game and I especially don’t see Carson Palmer doing that next week when the Bengals come to town.
The Packers beat the Bears on national TV and can’t afford a letdown next week against Cincinnati. I watched much of the Bengals game Sunday and I will give you my take in my next entry.